..and on to Brisbane.. St Johns Wood Road, London Middlesex England

Davis? good with the blade aswell as the cue?

Its been a mixed international Summer and thankfully its nearly over. With all the crises and countless ODIs in front of half deserted grounds it hasnt been the most edifying season. The Pakistani cricket team seems to be disintegrating in front of our eyes (like the country doesnt have enough to think about right now). So anything but a comfortable England victory in the last ODI would be unusual.

The player I feel for most of all in this situation is the young Pakistan fast bowler Mohammed Aamer. Being incriminated in the match fixing scandal of last month may have effectively snuffed out the career of a talent to match Wasim and Waquar of years past. What would any impressionable teen do in a situation like this but follow Captains orders?

As for Our Boys, a patchy summer against the whipping boys and a talented team in disarray won't fill the Barmy Army with confidence as they book their tickets for the winter. England's squad will be named today and a few new faces are expected. Of the players stepping up this Summer it is Steves Finn and Davies who have made a real impact. Finn has come out of nowhere and taken some quality scalps as a 20 year old and certainly deserves a seat on the plane. Give him plenty of leg room though as he's huge! Davies has proven himself a dab hand at the shortest form of the game with both bat and gloves so must be a rival to Kieswetter for behind the stumps. England seem to have plenty of talent in this slot right now. Meanwhile Swann continues to have the winning touch and Anderson alternates between being unplayable and slapped around the park for fun. Both will feature prominently though when hostilities start.

The major concern is at the top of the order we're we look worryingly light. Will KP be the big beast we love or will he take his toys off and play elsewhere? Will Alistair Cook find his form which enabled him to rattle of hundreds like it was going out of fashion? Does Trott step up to open and leave a slot for the brittle Bell and three or four? How about Colly? He isnt eaxctly covering himself with glory either?

I await the squad announcement with interest. The Aussies are in transition too so hopefully a more even contest than last time will result.