England needs to salvage some pride

When they walk out at 'The G' in Melbourne on Dec 26, England's cricketers will know the only thing left to play for is pride. The Ashes are gone, along with two senior players, so the selectors may feel changes are in order.

One enforced change will be a replacement for offspinner Graeme Swann, whose surprise decision to retire from international cricket mid-tour shocked his teammates and England's supporters.

Melbourne has a drop-in pitch and conditions are said to be conducive to swing and seam, but if the selectors are looking for a like-for-like replacement for Swann, left-arm spinner Monty Panesar could resume his stop-start international career. Intriguingly, though, the Durham leggie, Scott Borthwick, has been added to the squad and his superior batting and fielding could see him leapfrog his more experienced colleague.