A weekend of intrigue, if nothing else...

First of all, some time needs to be taken to absorb the news that there is a reported 'captaincy battle' going on behind closed doors in the England camp.

As you would expect, all parties 'involved' have denied any split, fissure, or crack in a team they like to present as a cricketing equivalent of the Famous Five. But as we all know, especially with journalists, players and PR people working in such close proximity, there is little smoke without fire.

Andrew Strauss, who did so well in the summer tests against Pakistan is probably still feeling aggrieved that he was not picked as captain for the winter tour. However, if these rumours have started with Strauss, his timing is far from impeccable. Half way through a critical tour is not a time to raise concerns or to start Chinese whispers.

Flintoff has been deficient so far in his winter reign as captain, and at times he has looked lost. Muddled bowling changes and tactics which represent his archetypal schoolboy image have given creedence to the widely held suspicions.

With Trescothick absent for the forseeable future and Vaughan unlikely to return for the series at all, there is nobody for Flintoff to fall back on, tactically, apart from Strauss himself. If these two men, the only members of the squad with real captaincy experience can't let the cricket come ahead of their personal ambitions, then England's demise will be completed by the 4th day at the WACA.