Miller And Cronies Have A Lot To Ponder

Pietersen - new man at the helm, new faces under his leadership?

A win at The Brit Oval may have been a timely boost for England, as well as a perfect start for the new captain, but the series against South Africa has posed more questions than answers.

With a two-Test tour of India coming up and the Ashes series looming large on the horizon, the selectors face some tough decisions in the near future.

They would have hoped that the home series with the Proteas would have been the next step on their quest to reclaim the miniature urn, a chance for Michael Vaughan to mold a side capable of beating Australia.

Instead the longstanding captain has gone and there has been a constant flip-flopping in the team makeup, going from six batsman and four frontline bowlers to a five-man attack favoured in the past because of the presence of Andrew Flintoff.

Now the panel, led by National Selector Geoff Miller, must decide exactly what way they want to go, not just for a trip to the sub-continent but also for the tour to the West Indies next year and then the small matter of the Australia series next summer on home soil.

While reading too much into the performance would be foolish, England's win in the fourth Test has perhaps given a clearer indication of the way to go in the future.

A battery of four frontline seamers would certainly suit the attacking instincts of skipper Kevin Pietersen and prior to his debut in charge, the batsman spoke strongly about the need to take 20 wickets.

Yet after cashing in on a flat track at Lord's, England's top order succumbed cheaply in the first innings of the next two Tests, leaving them always fighting against a tide that eventually drowned them in defeat.

If the five-man attack is seen as the best policy going forward, England's top five must deliver - and not just the pretty 60's they've been guilty of in recent times.

Alastair Cook - who is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to getting in only to then get out - and Andrew Strauss have flattered to deceive as an opening pairing but both are likely to continue.

Ian Bell will also get a further chance to make the number three spot his own - it is high time his style is backed up with substance - while ever the fighter, Paul Collingwood has battled back from the abyss to keep his place.

The biggest question is over who bats at six, mainly because of the fresh uncertainty surrounding the wicketkeeper. Tim Ambrose has done nothing wrong with the gloves but has never built on his century against the Kiwis, meaning once again the knives are out for the current resident of the poisoned chalice.

With his struggles in Sri Lanka now a distant memory, Matt Prior seems the strongest candidate to come in because most importantly he is the best batsman.

But if England want to stick with the fit-again Flintoff back in his familiar role and feel confident in Stuart Broad's batting abilities, James Foster may get the call for his 'keeping abilities alone, especially standing up to the stumps in India.

Of course Broad may find he misses out due to the need to play a second spinner - Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid are the two frontrunners to work in tandem with Monty Panesar, who has stagnated a little in recent times.

England also have decisions to make in the seam department. Ryan Sidebottom has faded after being so potent last winter, allowing James Anderson to take over as the new number one.

It is Steve Harmison who presents the biggest conundrum because no one quite knows which 'Harmy' will turn up - the fast bowling menace seen at The Brit Oval last week or the forlorn figure that was so below-par in the first Test against New Zealand before he was unceremoniously dumped along with Matthew Hoggard (remember him?).

Whatever they decide, England's selectors know that they cannot afford mistakes at such a crucial time. The pressure is on as the Ashes get ever closer.