Flintoff has no answer

After a fourth poor showing in a row, England captain Andrew Flintoff has run out of excuses for his team’s dismal performances. He has instead given credit Australia for their “magnificent” showing in the series so far.

“We have competed in parts but we’ve not been able to apply pressure for periods of time. Australia have not allowed us to do that,” he told the BBC after England’s humiliating innings and 99 run defeat at the MCG.

“We still have a talented bunch of lads trying their best for England but at times Australia just haven’t let us play,” the all-rounder added. “There aren’t too many cartwheels being done at the moment but we’re not disheartened and nobody’s fallen out.”

Despite this last claim, rumours to the contrary are emerging from the England camp. Several players chose not to join in the regular practice of eating Christmas dinner as a team, suggesting that perhaps the sense of team spirit that was prevalent under Michael Vaughan is fast disappearing.

With Flintoff having run out of excuses, and with coach Duncan Fletcher running out of people to blame, England will be hoping that a solution to their problems arrives quickly. There will be a lot of weight on Vaughan’s shoulders if and when he returns to the fold.