The news wasn’t exactly a surprise, but there was still an element of shock attached to the revelation that Kevin Pietersen will miss the next six weeks , and the remainder of the Ashes series, following surgery on his right Achilles tendon. Deep down it was news I knew was coming – the shock stemming from the fact I didn’t want to believe it and an irrational hope for a Flintoff -esque doctor-defying soldiering on (because, let’s face it, a 70% fit KP is still one the Aussies are scared of.) Of course, that was a vain hope, the frequent breaks from fielding and wincing in-bewteen the wickets ensuring that the bad news was always going to come some way down the line

It’s like the 4 years since the incredible 2005 Ashes never happened. Again, we’re witnessing stirring, amazing cricket. And again, England just don’t seem to be able to finish Australia off when by all rights, they should have the match sewn up by now

The 2nd Test at Lords has unfolded like some sort of twisted anti-Cardiff.

Seems all the exciting Ashes action happens when I’m asleep. All the English wickets fell late Day 1. Even more Australian wickets fell late Day 2

Australia head into the Lord’s Test with an unchanged line-up. I was hoping Stuart Clark might replace Nathan Hauritz but I wasn’t expecting it. England have made one change, bringing in Onions for Panesar.

As controversies go, Gloveyline is a mild drizzle in a tea-cup. The Poms brought out gloves to chew up a few minutes on Day 5 of the 1st Test . Ricky, self-appointed enforcer of the Spirit of Cricket TM , sooked .