Englands second game versus Canada was almost overshadowed by the events preceding it…. Firstly was the sad death of Bob Woolmer, pakistan coach, which was a complete and unexpected shock, and then there were the antics of a few England players.

6 England players went out late to a nightclub and were photographed, the England vice-captain Freddie Flintoff arriving back at the hotel around 4am then decided it would be an ideal time to take a pedalo out into the sea. He had to be rescued and brought back.

Now let me say first off I think the whole thing has been blown out of all proportion by our blessed media. Far worse things used to go on and while I accept this is the age of the professional, the bottom line is these guys need to perform on the pitch and pre-judging them because they went out for a few drinks one night is too harsh. I haven’t seen any evidence they were drunk or doing anything other than having a little r+r. Freddie is perhaps the one person who may have taken things a little too far but by dropping him from the team he has been denied some needed time at the crease, and also not allowed to show if it would have affected his performance in any way.

The game against Canada was pretty poor, tight restrictive bowling being he only way England could defend a decidedly average 280. Much more improvement needed.