The live gate income has not been the main source of income for star boxers and

The live gate income has not been the main source of income for star boxers and big-time promoters for years. Without television income promoters would very quickly go out of business.Just as in the old days, however, when a fighter built his record and made his reputation in small local shows and provincial towns there are now television equivalents for all the steps in the process.In Bolton today, Amir Khan will be shown “live” by ITV in a rematch with Mario Kindelan, the brilliant Cuban who outpointed him for the gold medal at the Athens Olympics last year. But in attempting to play the same shot again he chipped a simple catch to Robert Croft at mid-off.In came Alistair Brown, who rarely needs an excuse to go for his shots, and the lead of 458 gave him the licence he was looking for. Each would have liked a significant score but it is almost 10 weeks until Vaughan’s side face Australia.In contrast, the fitness of England’s bowlers will be of concern. A lower-back injury has kept Simon Jones out of action for a fortnight and a hip strain has limited Ashley Giles’s involvement.

Flintoff has just started bowling again.But Stephen Harmison and Giles have taken 51 wickets between them and Matthew Hoggard has had plenty of overs. The centrally-contracted James Anderson should be left to play for Lancashire. The fast bowler will gain nothing from practising in the nets and carrying the drinks.This leaves one bowling place. Liam Plunkett has showed encouraging form, as have Chris Tremlett and Alan Richardson, but Gloucestershire’s Jon Lewis is ahead..

Bell may be slightly less flamboyant but he has a tighter technique.The poor form of England’s batters has been good news for headline writers, but it is not a major concern. Key is the incumbent No 3, but in 15 Tests he is yet to show the consistency required. High-quality bowling brings out the best in the 26-year-old, but he has a habit of letting his concentration drop against part-time trundlers. This happened twice on England’s last tour of Australia, and it will be preyed on by Ricky Ponting.Criticism like this cannot be aimed at Bell, but the 23-year-old’s stylish 70 on his Test debut failed to earn him a place on the tour of South Africa, where Key’s shortcomings were exposed. If Vaughan were to move, the only place he should consider is Marcus Trescothick’s.

Yet this is unlikely after the opener’s successful tour of South Africa.Should Thorpe’s back complaint disappear and Andrew Flintoff’s recovery from a foot operation continue, three players will challenge for one place. And because England would not consider Pietersen at No 3 against Australia he should only play if Thorpe is unfit.The choice between Key and Bell is difficult. Pietersen’s majestic 125 for Hampshire yesterday increased pressure on the selectors to pick him, but they should resist because they would have to make significant changes to England’s batting order to fit him in.Michael Vaughan and Graham Thorpe said they would move one place up so that Pietersen could bat at No 5, but this would be unwise.Andrew Strauss’s remarkable debut led to Vaughan exchanging his role as an opener for the middle order last season, and it is time the England captain remained in one position for a while. Many observers may feel England’s entire batting line-up should be replaced following their abject performances in the county championship so far. But it is the names of Ian Bell, Robert Key and Kevin Pietersen that will cause the greatest discussion among England’s selectors before the first Test against Bangladesh.
Their final choice, which is announced tomorrow morning, should have little effect on the result at Lord’s – most county sides would be too strong for the tourists – but the team picked for 26 May should be the one they would hope to field against Australia on 21 July.When Pietersen returned from England’s one-day series in South Africa with three centuries, many felt he should be an automatic Test choice.But the 24-year-old’s inconsistent form has shown England supporters that they should not look on him as a saviour. Pietersen’s 125 may just nudge the selectors in his direction as they consider his claims alongside Ian Bell and Robert Key.The England and Wales Cricket Board yesterday confirmed that Glamorgan have lodged a complaint about the Gloucestershire pace bowler Steve Kirby over an alleged ball-tampering incident.Glamorgan allege Kirby deliberately scuffed the ball on the concrete surface behind the pavilion when the former Yorkshire bowler left the pitch to retrieve it following a David Hemp six.* South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith has been banned for four one-day international matches for time wasting during his side’s match against West Indies on Wednesday.. Mick Lewis chipped in by removing Dominic Cork, Phil Mustard added four catches to his splendid first-innings 77 and Durham were left to score 35 to win..

England have allowed captain Michael Vaughan and opener Andrew Strauss extra match practice tomorrow in an attempt to rediscover their form prior to the announcement of the squad for the first Test against Bangladesh. Harmison went on to take four wickets for 12 runs in the space of 16 balls for match figures of 9 for 84. I wanted to take some wickets and get my confidence back and to help Durham get some results.”Personally, everything feels fine. Apart from the first game against Leicestershire, when I had not had any outdoor nets, I’ve bowled as well as I can. The ball is coming out of the hand nicely and I’ve got some good players out.”They now include his close friend Andrew Flintoff, although Harmison conceded that his England team-mate would have been “disappointed” with Steve Garratt’s decision to give him out leg before after a fluent half-century containing a dozen fours.Flintoff’s dismissal was the beginning of the end for Lancashire, who still trailed by four runs at five down overnight. He will not play in the Championship again in 2005 but leaves his county in the best shape of their first-class life.”It will feel a bit of a wrench not to be playing when the lads start their next Championship game,” he said “But every objective has been achieved.