I wonder whatâ?(tm)s running through Michael Vaughanâ?(tm)s head today; is it wry bemusement, disbelief, exasperation, or simple resignation? Itâ?(tm)s beginning to feel as if England are fated to play on a knifeâ?(tm)s edge; for everything they do exceedingly well there is an equally devastating consequence, be it mistakes in the field, bizarre calls by umpires, or what appear to be incredibly strange twists of fate. Iâ?(tm)m sure England were still gutted from their two run loss to Sri Lanka, and now, despite the fact that they got a lot of things right in Sundayâ?(tm)s match, theyâ?(tm)ve lost once more to Australia (from whom they recently captured the Commonwealth Trophy).

There is no way to play textbook cricket; if there were, I suspect the game would have few fans. The recent upset of Proteas by the Bangladeshis certainly shows that absolutely anything can – and does – happen in a cricket match. But sometimes it feels as if particular teams are engaged in perpetual wall-bashing, rather than winning matches. If I were Vaughan, I think the last straw for me might have been when Pietersen was denied his brilliant catch of Symonds because he couldnâ?(tm)t get his feet properly beneath him; one commentator said Vaughan actually looked as if he had expected no other outcome.

Flintoffâ?(tm)s continuing lack of form with the bat is becoming more and more troubling; only a couple of summers ago fans were contemplating the potential fireworks that could happen with KP at one end of the pitch and Freddie at the other. I remember joking with an Aussie friend saying that if he got tickets for the Ashes in England he should wear a helmet when those two were in partnership. That dream duo has never quite developed, however, and although Flintoff continues to bowl dangerously well, and Pietersen seems on track at the crease (effectively curbing his impatience in the pursuit of building good partnerships) it is clear that KPâ?(tm)s and Bell’s best efforts will never be enough to put England over the top without help from the rest of the batting ranks.

Paul Nixon continues to impress where least expected, and I take great delight in his achievements, especially being a Leicestershire supporter. Ravi Bopara is an exciting young player whose development I look forward to watching over the next few years. Paul Collingwood looks to be at the top of his form, and the England bowling attack seems to be solidifying to some extent.

But for now, the real problem remaining is the final three matches England must face in the Super Eights against Bangladesh, South Africa, and the West Indies. Unless England can win all three games, chances of reaching the semi-finals appear to be slim and none. England have what it takes; even Ricky Ponting admitted that Sundayâ?(tm)s match was tighter than it appeared. Vaughanâ?(tm)s unenviable problem will now be to sort all the appropriate puzzle pieces of his squad into a game-winning strategic plan. Then, having done his best, he will be doomed to wait alongside the rest of us to see the outcome of his labours. No matter how much a team has going for it, cricket remains a frustratingly uncertain, yet infinitely rewarding, sport.