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As I write this, a great Test match is unfortunately being thrown away by England captain Andrew Strauss by his stubborn and absurd insistence on bowling Stuart Broad at crucial times at the start of every 2nd session. Despite removing the out of form Mike Hussey by possibly his only ball that moved a few inches off the straight, he looks a medium pace net bowler at best and is easily the least threatening of England's 5 bowlers. England will not go on to win this Test, and questions must be asked of Strauss's faculties and favouritism.

The decision to bowl Broad at such a crucial time to let Australia off the hook in this Ashes series ranks right up there with Ricky Ponting's laughable choice to bowl occasional part timer Mike Hussey at a crucial time in the final Test of last year's tour of India.

England will go to Headingley only 1-0 up, and will be too afraid of changing their side and bringing in arguably the most dangerous bowler in England, Steve Harmison, as Broad played a good innings as a batsman regardless of this not being his primary role. It all reeks of heavy conservatism and muddled thinking and is diluting the quality of cricket being played, and possibly compromising England's series chances should Australia, who are the more positive side at the selection table and brave enough to change their side, be good enough to fight back and make them pay.

p.s. I shouldn't have mentioned Hussey because now Strauss has brought England equivalent Ravi Bopara into the attack, with all of 1 Test wicket to his name. And now Strauss himself has dropped a catch. All in a top day at the office for the captain, who has shown he still has much to learn of this game. Could this be the turning point (another turning point) of the Ashes?