Duncan Fletcher faced the media yesterday evening after England had been flayed around Perth by Adam Gilchrist. Selections issues were high on the agenda for the press and he continued to defend his treatment of Monty Panesar. But that isn't the only decision that has left people scratching their heads, with Michael Atherton in The Daily Telegraph asking why Sajid Mahmood was used so little by Andrew Flintoff.
Not that Mahmood was the only one who was puzzled. Rumours in the press box abounded. Maybe Flintoff was making a point of his very own. Maybe familiarity breeds contempt, and Flintoff, a fellow Lancastrian, was not particularly enamoured with Mahmood's selection in the first place. Lots of maybes and lots of rumours, which has been the case with England's selections ever since Duncan Fletcher let it be known that he and the captain did not necessarily agree on the team who took the field for the second Test.
In The Guardian, Vic Marks says that Flintoff's problems on this tour have been increased by his lack of cricket leading into the series and the England selectors have some tough decisions to make.
Inevitably, Flintoff's lack of form is now being highlighted. Last night Duncan Fletcher was asked whether he thought the captaincy was affecting Flintoff. 'I don't think so,' he said, 'at this stage'. Which prompted many to focus more on the second element of his answer: 'at this stage'. Fletcher stayed loyal on his captain's batting as well, though his observation that 'he has played some good shots' is faint praise indeed. Great batsmen play great innings. They are not interested in great shots.
Selection has also been a hot issue for the Australians and Mark Waugh says the decision to name Adam Voges in the Perth squad was the right move, while Peter Roebuck discusses Mike Hussey, who had to wait an eternity for his Test chance and is now making the most if it.
Indeed, versatility counts amongst the left-hander's attributes. He seems equally happy against pace or spin, up or down the order, defending or attacking, on hard or soft pitches, in five-day or 50-over matches. He adjusts his game without fuss, puts his head down and goes about the business of putting runs on the board. Long apprenticeships need not be harmful. Provided hope does not die, they can be instructive. In his years of relative obscurity, Hussey learnt a lot about cricket, most especially about batting.
