The Pietersen factor

Michael Vaughan's innovative field placings — at one point Paul Collingwood bowled to Neil McKenzie with a short mid-off, short cover, short mid-on and short mid-wicket — were equalled only by his use of Kevin Pietersen's off spin. After all, England's best batsman (pictured below catching Graeme Smith) was once better known in South Africa for his bowling than his explosive batting, and, most important of all, Graeme was on strike. Surely he could not resist trying to belt his great rival over the top? If England are to field just the one left-arm spinner in Monty Panesar, why not utilise Pietersen on flat pitches? He is so well established with the bat, surely can revert to the skill of his youth.

The captain's payback

In a sense, Smith (pictured below celebrating his century) had immersed his team in the mire by putting England in to bat — although Vaughan would have done the same — and he had to dig them out of it. Contrast this innings with another long innings, when playing for Somerset against Leicestershire at Taunton in 2005. William Rees-Mogg, the former Editor of The Times, eulogised over his triple century in this newspaper. Yet in county cricket he could afford to relax, to play some shots.

Yesterday, a scoring rate of two runs an over was a throwback to an era before New Twenty20 — when cricket was a proper game.

Best end for Panesar

Should Monty bowl from the Pavilion End or the Nursery End at Lord's? Does he favour the slope? As has been apparent in this match, he seems undecided. The ECB was contemplating earlier in the season asking the great Derek Underwood to coach its up-and-coming spinners, and doubtless he could have had a word with Monty as well. Underwood favoured the Nursery End, spinning the ball across the right-hander and hence effectively down the slope, although his preference might have had more to do with an end from which he had been successful.