What another unbelievably turbulent week it has been for world cricket, but most especially for the Sri Lankan cricket team. The event of this week when the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists near the stadium in Lahore is in danger, I believe, of throwing world cricket into chaos.
Pakistan is certainly off the map as far as international cricket teams are concerned and quite probably will be for years to come. If the security afforded to the Sri Lankan team was of presidential force, then wo betide any other President's of Pakistan.
The Sri Lankan players were incredibly lucky to get out of the situation they found themselves in with no serious injuries. This morning, some of the Sri Lankan players have asked questions as to the validity of the security in place, and I am sure as the days go on there will be more and more searching questions asked. Let us hope that, not only can the right answers be found, but also it is just as equally important that the terrorists are rounded up and caught as quickly as possible.
Over in Trinidad, England prepare for the fifth and final Test in the unenviable position of being 1-0 down. The four bowler option used last week clearly did not work, and although the wicket in Trinidad is much more likely to give assistance to the bowlers than the two roads in Antigua and Barbados, I am sure that we will be find England going in this time with a five bowler attack. This means that one of the batsmen will miss out, with either Owais Shah, or Ravi Bopara likely to be the unlucky man.
The bowling is less cut and dry, will they opt for two spinners on a wicket that looks very dry and if a second spinner is needed, it may well be that Adil Rashid will come in as the fifth bowler who can also bat. Ryan Sidebottom, who did not look fully fit in Antigua, looks vulnerable and with Steve Harmison looking like he is out of favour, the selectors may be thinking of the bold gamble of giving the second debutant in Amjad Khan is big chance.
Whatever happens, let's hope the cricket is a lot more interesting than last weeks game.
