It's very sultry here in Guyana so in the lull between the Test and one-day series I've taken the chance to sit down with a few friends and journalists and mull over England's plight.

Georgetown is a lovely place, there are some gorgeous buildings around but like England, the area has also got some enormous issues.

I read this morning that 40 per cent of the generated income of the economy is illegal! Mind you, if you believed everything you read in the papers then you would board up your windows, lock your doors and never go out.

Flower: impressive character hurt by results

Sunday's Twenty20 display was a poor one from England but first of all, let's get one thing absolutely clear: the West Indies are a far better team than us - and that applies to the one-dayers.

That performance was a reality check for a lot of journalists out here; some people say we don't have players who can blast the ball around the park but I come at that from another angle and say we aren't selecting them.

We seem to keep players waiting and waiting and waiting. I've always thought Kent's Joe Denly deserved a chance. When I mentioned this to a few journalists one said 'well he had a bad year last year'.

But that's how we seem to operate isn't it? We're pretty good at waiting for someone to have a bad season and then using it as an excuse not to pick them rather than throw them in when they are in form.

Former coach Duncan Fletcher just plucked Marcus Trescothick out and said 'I'm going to play him'; we don't seem to have that spontaneity anymore. I'm a firm believer in the philosophy 'if it isn't working, change it'.

We consistently talk about consistency and my criticism of that is we consistently get beaten. We need someone to take advantage of the power-plays.

Ravi Bopara could fulfil that role, or perhaps in Andrew Flintoff's absence it's time for Kevin Pietersen to give it a go. Otherwise I'm at a loss with the players we have got here and really feel this could be the last chance for many of them in limited-overs cricket.

None of this reflects well on Andy Flower, which is a real shame, because he is the man for the job long-term. I'm absolutely convinced of that; he is doing all that he can do to get results but let's remember he has not selected the team.

If and when he does get the job I would expect him to have more of an influence on the team. He is a very impressive, strong individual but his job is dependant on results.

One potential candidate to replace Flower is Graham Ford, a South African who has just signed Stuart Clark to play for Kent. What on earth is that doing for English cricket? Everyone out here in the Caribbean to a man is utterly dismayed.

What we are doing here is nothing more than bringing back to form a convalescing bowler in time for the Ashes. It's as simple as that. We are paying him out of the England coffers. I am getting emails and texts from friends in Australia who are laughing their heads off, saying only the English can do this.

Kent and Middlesex, who have signed up Phil Hughes, are financed by the English cricket team, end of story. These signings should be the straws that breaks the camel's back. We are doing nothing in county cricket but educating and improving the opposition.

It's time that we dismantled and rebuilt the whole bloody shebang. Any cricket club you should care to mention should not get a penny from the ECB. All the money should go to regional boards, as it does in Australia, and the county clubs should apply to that board for a sum of money and present their reasons behind their application.

Bumble answers your questions...

Send your questions to Bumble by filling in the feedback form below. Or you can mail them in by e-mailing skysportsclub@bskyb.com

OUT FOR THE COUNT
Hello Bumble, It was great to have you back with us again on Sunday - shame about the result, but that's cricket! I hope you had a "Happy Birthday" on Wednesday. Did you get the chance to have a celebratory tipple with the Sky team? Best wishes, Rob Horspole, Wisbech, Cambs.
BUMBLE SAYS: Thanks for remembering, Rob, and thanks to everyone who has sent in their congratulations but I have to say I stopped counting years ago. Nobody out here knew that it was my birthday - that's the way I prefer it these days!

SHELL-TERED EXISTENCE
Hi David, Just to let you know that a question put to the visiting team on the quiz programme 'Eggheads' was 'Which cricket commentator is known as Bumble?' Their answer was Brian Johnston. The eggheads were then asked if they knew the answer and... no they did not know. I could not believe it... can you? Anyway I still have faith that we can regain the Ashes. Keep up the good work mate! Regards, Paul Parry - A Leicestershire Fan
BUMBLE SAYS: Eggheads? I've never seen it. What is it, a cookery programme? Forget that and catch me on Countdown. I'll forgive the experts this time, if that's what they are. Cricket's my thing and I wouldn't have a clue how much water there is in the Atlantic Ocean, so each to their own. Whatever turns you on, I suppose.

HERE COME THE GIRLS
The England women's team (as I type this) remain the only unbeaten team in the World Cup and they appear to be a much more spirited unit as compared to the men's team. Maybe the girls could give the men a good run for their money? What do you think of the team's prospects and will the women's and men's semi-finals and finals at the ICC World T20 be held on the same day, like a double-header)? Divya Narayan, Mumbai, India
BUMBLE SAYS: Our girls were rated favourites before the tournament and they've certainly lived up to top billing. They look to be on top of their game and playing great cricket. I can confirm that the women will play at the same venues and on the same dates as the men from the semi-final stages of the World Twenty20 and what's more there will be another double-header at Derby during the season.

Got a question for Bumble - on any cricketing siubject, or otherwise? Well mail it in HERE or use the feedback form below...

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