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ENGLAND'S winter touring programme began this week as they headed off to the UAE for the Twenty20 World Cup, with the big one — the Ashes — following hot on its heels. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE conversations that have gone on between greats of the game this week about the application of old-school methods to play spin are as irrelevant as the ones between club players angry that England's batsmen are being dismissed by straight balls. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

IF Joe Root doesn't want to bat at No3 in Australia, he shouldn't have to. England coach Trevor Bayliss may feel differently, but he's not the one who has to go out there and perform. In this instance I believe the captain should bat where he's most comfortable — and Root clearly feels more comfortable at No4. For English players, batting in Australia is challenging enough as it is. During the 1998-99 tour, I had opened in the first three Tests and begun well with a hundred at Brisbane. Then Alec Stewart bunged the gloves to Warren Hegg because he wanted to open, so I came in at No3 for the fourth Test at Melbourne. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]