Well, here's an assessment of the English fair in the NatWest Series:
James Anderson - as has been more common in recent times, the spells in which wickets have been forthcoming have been sandwiched in between those in which they have not. Still unquestionably certain of a place in the ODI squad to tour South Africa barring injury (and of course the Champions Trophy and Challenge).
Ian Blackwell - well, a continuation of the demonstration of what a woefully substandard batsman this fellow is. What a shame selectors based more on the nagging of a commentator and a couple of innings that happened to be televised than the long-term big picture. May well be dropped again for the South Africa ODIs and end-of-season tournaments.
Rikki Clarke - yet another example of the folly of selecting someone for ODIs with a domestic-one-day record that barely warrants a place in a domestic side. Had the Bangladesh ODIs not counted as ODIs (which surely no-one disputes they should not...) his ODI bowling record in terms of average and economy-rate would now be worse than his domestic record. I can't see him playing ODIs for a while yet, hopefully not until he starts looking like a decent domestic OD player.
Paul Collingwood - yet another substandard tournament. It remains true that he's had 3, short, periods of success in his ODI career - one in Zimbabwe (wow, that was tough), one covering the tail-end of the VB Series to the Pakistan WC2003 game, and one in Bangladesh (wow, that was even harder than Zimbabwe). And yet that'd probably be denounced as "removing things because they don't suit you", despite the fact it's simply removing things that don't fit an overall trend. Just about certian to be included for the South Africa ODIs.
Darren Gough - not many wickets (a few dropped catches, mostly off deliveries that no bowler has a right to compain about dropped catches off), but still perfectly acceptible economy. His inclusion for the South Africa ODIs is more likely than not, but by no means certain.
Ashley Giles - at last bowled for the first time in a proper ODI since last summer (where his last 12 overs cost 32 with 2 wickets), was relatively uninspiring but still not especially expensive. All but certain of a winter ODI place.
Andrew Flintoff - batted, continued form of recent Tests and ODIs that starts to beggar belief. Has there ever been a patch of runs being scored for as long and at such a pace? Probably, but not very often. As certain as anyone has ever been of a winter place barring injury.
Stephen Harmison - for two or three games actually bowled well in a one-day game, unusually. All but certain for winter ODIs.
Geirant Jones - limited opportunity, limited success. May conceivably regret the totally pointless, suicidal second run attempted in final game, especially if Read piles on the runs in the Totesport National for the rest of the season and he has an average West Indies Test-series (yes, it will influence the ODIs, even though it shouldn't). Couldn't really complain too much were Read to be handed his place back for the winter, but still more likely than not to play.
Robert Key - what a fantastic idea, pick someone for ODIs when he's having a fantastic domestic season... in the First-Class-game! And a very average Totesport season. Hopefully he'll not be picked for ODIs again until he's shown more success in the Totesport, and if he's picked again hopefully this time he'll bat in his proper position.
Sajid Mahmood - hammered in his only game. Picked for all the wrong reasons, but may quite conceivably get another chance.
Anthony McGrath - long-awaited return unsuccessful with the bat, succesful with the ball. More immidiate chances are not by any streatch of the imagination out of the question.
Andrew Strauss - puzzlingly good one-day-international form despite average domesic one-day record. No doubting whatsoever his place for the winter ODIs.
Marcus Trescothick - an extreme rarity - a poor Trescothick one-day series. Still, surely it was inevitable sometime - no-one can possibly score so fast as Trescothick does in ODIs and so heavily so consistently. Still unquestionably top ODI batsman.
Michael Vaughan - the message rammed home with as-of-yet unattained sustainance: "Michael Vaughan is not a one-day player". Regardless of the fact that commentators keep reiterating it's seeming inexplicability, it is fact nonetheless. How much longer can someone with such a poor record keep being picked on the strength of assumptions based on the other form of the game? My guess - at least 3 more series like this yet. And who's queing-up to take the captaincy, for that matter? Goughie, Tresco. Conceivably - Mr. Flintoff? If he keeps performing and Vaughan failing, don't rule-out the possibility of the same situation as befaced Hussain-Vaughan. Remember - you heard it here first.
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