They Could Be Heroes ... Just For One Day (Internationals)

England are still smiling after five straight victories.

The Honeymoon is not over yet. KP and his happy band have barricaded themselves in the hotel room, ordered up some champagne and another couple of lobsters and are still making sweet, sweet lurve after a fifth straight win.

God alone knows what has gone wrong for South Africa, who have been entirely abject, but that's not England's problem. With Andrew Flintoff back to his best, and Steve Harmison bowling well, England have two bona fide aces at first and second change. Fred's sudden remembrance of how to hit the ball has been a big bonus as well.

In fact, all through the team are players performing to their capabilities, and inexperienced men - Samit Patel, for instance - coming in and doing themselves justice, a sure sign of a team on the up-and-up.

There can be no doubt that the new positive feeling is down to KP, and long may it continue. Those of us who were uncertain about his appointment might not be eating our hats just yet, but should certainly be seasoning them with salt and pepper and laying out the old k and f in readiness. That being said, there will be many stiffer challenges ahead and KP's true merits will only be revealed when, for instance, seeing Ricky Ponting stroking it all around Lord's and working out how to get the best out of Jimmy Anderson on a six-an-over off-day.

But that is for the future. At the moment, we are playing as well in one-day cricket as I can remember. The only slightly dispiriting note from England today is the news that many of those who have played this summer will get the rest of the season off. Hard lines on Lancs members that they will not see Anderson and Flintoff for the rest of the season, but perhaps understandable given the injury worries.

But what about the case of Ali Cook (who will play just two one-dayers, and no more Championship cricket at all this season, despite having played only a couple of days since the end of the Test series)? Ditto Paul Collingwood who, erm, could probably do with a bit of practice, no? Personally, were I an Essex or Durham member, I would feel pretty short-changed. But the tail should not wag the dog, and if it's best for England, the counties should grin and bear it.

Peter Moores can breathe a fair bit easier now, thanks to his new skipper. Now it remains to be seen if the newfound optimism and excitement can translate to the Test arena.

Alan Tyers