It started last October with the Champions' Trophy that England treated as an utter waste of time and, consequently, got the results and performances they deserved.

Then The Ashes: Underprepared! First test: Thrashed, second test: arrogant declaration by Flintoff who clearly had believed his own hype. The following test were a procession. One day series against a disinterested Australian team gave false hope.

World Cup: Wins against Bangladesh, Zimbabawe and West Indies, none of them convincing; no chance against the big teams. England's abject lack of expertise in all areas of one-day cricket exposed in the match against South Africa.

West Indies tour: The worst West Indies team to ever come to the UK were beaten in the tests but it wasn't pretty cricket. A contest to find who was the worse of the two rather than who was the better. One day matches were equally insipid.

India tour: Unlucky to not win the first test, but then India took control and won the series due to their ability to play swing bowling better than the England batsmen. One day series included some good cricket against an experimental Indian bowling attack.

20-20: Clueless.

Captaincy: Strauss or Flintoff? Chop and change, until Flintoff goes pedaloing. Then Vaughan is re-installed and, simultaneously, told he is not good enough for the one-day team. Collingwood is captain number four.

Injuries: Flintoff: Is he fit, is he not, will he ever be for more than one game?

Wicket-keeper: It's Read! Hang on, it's Jones! Hang on, it's Nixon! Hang on, it's Prior! Hang on, it's Mustard!!!!

Selection: How many players used in twelve months? Strauss, Cook, Bell, Shah, Solanki, Maddy, Wright, Loye, Bopara, Vaughan, Trescothick, Pietersen, Trott, Flintoff, Yardy, Dalrymple, Panesar, Schofield, Snape, Jones, Nixon,
Read, Prior, Broad, Tremlett, Mahmood,
Anderson, Hoggard, Harmison, Sidebottom,
Kirtley, Lewis...

That's 32!

And, I've probably missed some. Add to that, players selected for the next series: Mustard, Swann.