Nelson's Column... Harmison left out of England squad

England's Test squad for the tour of South Africa sees three men dropped, including the biggest let-down of the last decade, Steve Harmison.

The mentally-shot Ravi Bopara and Monty Panesar, suffering something of a mid-career crisis, are also discarded while Luke Wright, Liam Plunkett and Steven Davies are drafted in.

But it's the axeing of Harmison which will generate the headlines even though it's quite clearly the right decision. Simply walking out of his front door sends the Durham man into a state of panic, let alone flying to the southern hemisphere. His performances and attitute overseas since his wonder tour of the Caribbean in 2004 have been nothing short of disgraceful.

Then he has the audacity to say in public that there's no point going to South Africa if he's unlikely to play a full part in the Test team. Anyone would think he has a divine right to play for England despite averaging not much less than 40 since the end of 2004, and 48.63 on his travels. Such arrogance is truly astounding.

Harmison will find a place alongside the ever-expanding list of great English talents who failed on the biggest stage. His Test career, bar a purple patch in 2004 and the occasional hostile spell, is a monumental disappointment. Finally, belatedly, England are moving on.

Are England right to drop Harmison, Bopara and Panesar? Send in your views using the boxes blelow.

It's just sour grapes from Smith

The sight of Graeme Smith whingeing about being refused a runner during South Africa's defeat to England has been the most entertaining sideshow of the Champions Trophy tournament.

Suddenly Andrew Strauss, having been hailed a saint for recalling Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews after he was given run out following a collision with Graham Onions, became the sinner of Centurion.

Smith, after hitting a career-best 141, was miffed because Strauss and the umpires had turned down his request for a runner when he was suffering from cramp as the match drew towards its thrilling climax.

The whiff of sour grapes from the South Africa captain is as powerful as the pull shot that brings him so many runs. As Strauss rightly said when the post-match row flared: "Cramping to a certain extent is a preparation thing and to a certain extent a conditioning thing. I didn't feel he merited having a runner at that stage."

An ICC spokesman said later that the umpires had taken the view that cramp is a symptom of fatigue and as such did not warrant a runner.

Quite right too, especially as Smith wanted to bring on one of the quickest players between the wicket in AB de Villiers at a time when the match was in the balance.

And for the record, Law 2.1 (b) says: "The umpires shall have discretion, for other wholly acceptable reasons, to allow a substitute for a fielder, or a runner for a batsman, at the start of the match or at any subsequent time."

To his credit, Strauss is proving to be a captain who won't be bullied, and he's doing it without losing his sense of dignity.

As for Smith, he's right to say that what goes around, comes around. Which is why the forthcoming Test and ODI series between England and South Africa should have an extra dash of spice to it.

Does Smith have genuine cause for complaint? Or was Strauss right to stand his ground? Add your comments below

Freddie starts a worrying trend

Forget all the PR spin of his management team. By rejecting the ECB's offer of an incremental England contract, Andrew Flintoff is becoming the first global cricketing mercenary.

Flintoff's representatives said in a statement that he had turned down the ECB deal "in an attempt to expand his cricketing experience and become the best one-day player in the world".

What they didn't say is that Freddie will now be able to follow the money anywhere in the world, at any time of his choosing.

It would be wrong to argue that he's turned his back on England because the all-rounder says he's still committed to his country and county for one-day and Twenty20 games. But what will happen if the Chennai Super Kings or whoever have a lucrative fixture which clashes with an England game?

And what about when Flintoff can no longer call upon England's sophisticated medical back-up team because he is no longer contracted to the national side?

The danger is that this is the start of a new trend in which more of the world's top cricketers will opt to go where the big money is, rather than play international matches.

Flintoff, because of his fame and reputation, may be an exceptional case. But if more players follow his example, international cricket will be all the poorer - in all senses of the word.

Is Freddie turning his back on England by selling his cricketing soul? Or is this the best way forward for the game? Have your say below 

Nelson's Column... Day-night Test cricket

England will reportedly play a day-night Test at Lord's against Bangladesh, a further sign that the ECB have completely lost their minds.

If a grotesque financial link-up with a man subsequently charged with "massive ongoing fraud" wasn't bad enough, now the ECB are messing with the fine traditions of Test cricket, so thrillingly played out this summer. This from an organisation who long ago sold TV rights to Sky and, more recently, insanely ditched domestic 50-over cricket when England are already bad enough at it.

Playing under lights, particularly in England, has often rewarded the fielding side. True, the beauty and subtlety of Test cricket comes with the changing conditions over a session, a day and a match. But such drastic swings from brilliant sunshine to darkness can only be considered unfair.

Then there is the small matter of what colour balls to use and whether the players will wear white. Test cricket is clearly not broke in this country. Why bother fixing it?

Nelson's Column... England win The Ashes

England proved all the doubters wrong, this observer included, in reclaiming The Ashes in thrilling fashion with a 197-run victory at The Oval.

Nobody quite knows how they did it. The statistics were against them, the momentum was against them, but somehow they've thrashed Australia to bring the little urn home.

How does it compare to 2005? Not even close. But does it feel fabulous to have trumped the Aussie again? You bet.

Andrew Strauss deserves all the credit in the world. He finished as the series' leading run-scorer, led from the front both with the bat and in the field and maintained an air of calm despite all the frenzy.

His team were consistently inconsistent. When bad - as at Headingley - there were nothing short of atrocious. But at their best, particularly with the ball, they were devastating, Andrew Flintoff, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann all picking their moments.

Australia will regret their inability to shift Anderson or Monty Panesar in 66 balls at Cardiff and the crazy decision not to play a spinner on The Oval dustbowl. The two teams were evenly matched, but England won the big moments.

How was it for you? Give us your thoughts on England's stunning final Test victory and the series as a whole using the boxes below.

Nelson's column... Trott to make England debut

As expected, England's selectors have decided to surrender The Ashes by promoting the proverbial 'rabbit in the headlights' to three and throwing in a Test debutant for good measure.

Australia probably cannot believe what they are witnessing; get rid of Andrew Strauss or Alastair Cook and they've effectively got England three down. The walking wicket, aka Ravi Bopara, is rightly sent back to county cricket, but the middle order still looks more fragile than a matchstick castle built on sand in the face of a tornado.

The Aussies have got the 'wood' on Ian Bell; they know it, we know it, Bell probably knows it. He will arrive at the crease more in hope than expectation. As for Jonathan Trott, who knows what he will produce under such severe intimidation and pressure. For a one-off, big match, Rob Key's experience and phlegmatism should have been preferred.

It looks like four bowlers will be scrambling for the final spot. Ryan Sidebottom is likely to miss out now James Anderson, the principle swing bowler, is fit, and Monty Panesar might have been called upon had the pitch looked like being a turner and had his 2009 domestic record not read 10 wickets at 70.

So really it's one from Steve Harmison and Graham Onions. England's selectors have remained loyal to their hierarchical selection system and they would be crazy to abandon it for a fast bowler who yet again let them down at Headingley after a lot of hot air in the build up. Onions gets the nod.

A disgruntled Nelson's Column XI based on squad picked: Strauss, Cook, Bell, Trott, Collingwood, Prior, Flintoff, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions.

Nelson's Column... Hats off to Trott

England remain overwhelming favourites to reclaim the Ashes after Jonathan Trott's sterling ton put the hosts in the box seat on day three at The Oval.

Andrew Flintoff's final Test innings ended with a quick-fire 22 but Freddie was overshadowed by debutant Trott who became the first England player since Graham Thorpe 16 years ago to reach three figures in his first Ashes Test.

Trott, thrown into the deep end to replace Ravi Bopara after England's pitful display at Headingley, fully justified his inclusion with a terrific innings of 119 that keeps England on course for Ashes glory.

The Aussies have been set a highly improbable 546 to win and despite a solid start by openers Simon Katich and Shane Watson, the tourists will need a miraculous display with the bat to deny England a 2-1 series win.

What did you think of Trott's performance? Is the result a foregone conclusion or does anybody think the Aussies still have an outside chance? Send in your comments using the boxes below.

Nelson's Column... Pietersen ruled out of Ashes series

So entrenched is Kevin Pietersen's bravado, it is no surprise that he underwent an operation on his Achilles - which rules him out of The Ashes - just hours after telling the world he would be fit.

Bad news though this undoubtedly is, it's hardly terminal for England's hopes of regaining the prized urn.

Pietersen has barely been able to run during the first two Tests. He hit 62 in Cardiff, before inviting the world's press to mock his idiotic mode of dismissal, and since then his footwork has been an embarrassing mess. The Achilles injury was obviously a lot, lot worse than he made out and England effectively took on Australia at Lord's with 10 men.

A recall for Ian Bell as his replacement at Edgbaston - his home ground - is the logical step, and one which, for this series, will make England stronger. Bell has, at the time of writing, 647 runs to his name in the County Championship Division One at an average of 71.88. He's in great nick and will be hungrier following his absence.

Only two Englishmen can boast better top-flight averages this year. One of those is Marcus Trescothick, the leading run-scorer in the country. If only...

Nelson's column... Farewell to Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff's long goodbye to Test cricket is set to turn into one of the fondest farewells in sporting history after his heroics at Lord's.

He left the field like a triumphant Roman emperor having inspired England to their first Ashes victory in St John's Wood since 1934.

Flintoff defied his critics and a dodgy knee to produce one of the greatest displays of fast bowling that cricket's headquarters has ever seen.

His three wickets on the final day of the second Test gave him figures of 5-92 and earned him a place in a select band of English cricketers who have scored a century and achieved the hallowed 'five-fer' at Lord's.

Whatever one might think of the way in which Flintoff announced his pending retirement in mid-series, the lion-hearted Lancastrian is likely to go down as one of the game's true greats, and not just in England.

Even Shane Warne, not one to drool over English deeds, was almost lost for words as Freddie hauled his side into a 1-0 series lead.

But in among the latest bout of Ashes mania, the swatting of sixes into his watching father's hands against the Windies in 2004 and 'man of the series' heroics in 2006 in India, we must not forget the times when Freddie let England down.

Among the champagne moments, Flintoff's capacity for self-destruction often had a damaging effect on England performances. The conveniently-forgotten 2006/07 Ashes whitewash has since been blamed on Flintoff's wayward behaviour by none other than coach Duncan Fletcher. The World Cup that followed was equally pitiful, and good ol' Fred's 4am antics on a pedalo epitomised the side's amateurish attitude.

Analysis of the stats also fails to flatter him. Before Lord's, just two five-wicket hauls, five centuries and no 10-fers in a match. Up against the man with whom he's so often compared, Ian Botham (27, 14 and 4 respectively) his record certainly fits Michael Atherton's view that Flintoff is "a very good player, but not quite a great one".

But despite his shortcomings, Flintoff will remain a symbol of England's rise from bottom of the world rankings in 1999 into the more cohesive and potent force of the 21st century. He's an iconic figure - a hard-drinking, hard-grafting working class hero who - for good reasons or bad - was impossible to ignore.

How will you remember Flintoff's Test career? What is your favourite Freddie moment? Give us your views using the boxes below.

Nelson's Column... England save first Test

England may have saved the first Test after Paul Collingwood's heroics, but what can we expect from Monday's team selection for the second Test at Lord's?

As expected, Steve Harmison is recalled to a 14-man squad, but apparently only as cover for Andrew Flintoff, who depressingly needs a scan on his ankle and is doubtful for the second Test.

Should Flintoff not make the cut, Harmison will surely be included. He probably will be anyway at the expense of Monty Panesar, who was far more impressive with bat than ball yet again. Graham Onions is also in the frame.

James Anderson and Graeme Swann were equally poor, but recent history suggests they have the ability to bounce back in the second Test. Stuart Broad's bowling remains a big worry. Capable of brilliant spells, all too often Broad is hopelessly innocuous and leaks boundaries. England have invested a lot of time in him, but an average of 40 is testing patience.

The batting was more culpable. On a flat, slow pitch, struggling to pass 250 is criminal. Shot selection was diabolical, technique lacking and concentration flaky. Without Collingwood, England would be 1-0 down. The majority were a bag of nerves, overcome by the pressure of an Ashes Test. Ian Bell wants his place back, but this top six will almost certainly be given another chance.

England have a dire record at Lord's against Australia. They have three days to sort themselves out and end the hoodoo.

What did you make of England's draw? Would you make any changes for Lord's? Send in your comments using the boxes below.