Thankfully, England duly completed a Test match series win on away soil for the first time in two years when Ryan Sidebottom clean bowled Chris Martin to end the Napier Test.  England made really heavy work of the series; we should not underestimate how difficult it is to win on away soil, even more so when you are 1-0 down in a three Test series.

At 4/3 on the first morning our hopes looked to be going up in smoke again, but a gritty 100 from Kevin Pietersen managed to get us to an ok score and then the Ryan Sidebottom show continued with seven more victims in the first innings.  With Strauss and Bell making timely hundreds in the second innings and so much time left of the game, the win eventually became a formality. 

I thought Stuart Broad had an exceptional Test match, both with bat and ball; it looks like England has unearthed a rare talent.  Sidebottom was named Man of the Series and rightly so, 24 wickets in a three match series is Murali like, he deservedly took all the accolades and had has now set himself up as the corner stone of the England attack.  Michael Vaughan captained his troops with his usual craft and invention and although short of runs himself this series, his leadership qualities are invaluable to both the management and the young new team.

A few weeks off now and then let’s hope a winning start to the summer against the same opponents starting on the 15th May at Lord’s.  Before then of course there are important county championship games with the first round beginning on the 16th April, with lots of players hoping to make a good cast for themselves before selection of the first Test.