Even as we
wildly anticipate rookie fast bowler Shaun Tait linking up with Brett Lee to
lob some deadly “stingers” at England’s batsmen in the Fourth
Test starting at Trent Bridge tonight and wait to see if Glenn
McGrath will play – it’s the weather that’s causing most concern.

Already betting agencies have reported a flood of money for a rain
interrupted draw and it appears they have a direct line to the rain
gods, as the latest forecasts suggest Nottingham will be predominantly
sunny for the first two days but showers are tipped for tonight and are
also likely for Saturday, while cloud cover for the final two
days will be just what the England swings bowlers need.

Trent Bridge
groundsman Steve Birks – who’s been incredibly advised by Shane Warne to keep
his opinions to himself – believes the pitch will reward good seam bowling, while
offering little help to the censorial tweaker and then only on the final
day. But Birks also dared to say enough
to give both Lee and Tait every expectation that while the pitch will be good
for batting, it will also offer fast bowlers “good
bounce and carry”, which of course is welcome news for the England cannons
also!

As to
McGrath’s troublesome elbow, the latest reports suggest he is more likely to
play than not – but if he doesn’t come up, Michael Kasprowicz is on
standby. According to
BBC Sport, physiotherapist Errol Alcott remarked: “We would like more time, of
course, but we are confident he is responding to treatment.”