National selector Geoff Miller has sought an explanation from captain Michael Vaughan following his comments about team selection for the second Test against South Africa.

England beware: South Africa are fit, strong and primed for Michael Vaughan's side in the first Test at Lord's. For the Proteas, 11am on Thursday cannot come round quickly enough. Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, wishes the Test was scheduled for tomorrow, so keen are he and his side to show the cricketing world what they have to offer.

England were rewarded for their bravery in Wellington. The dropping of the wayward Stephen Harmison was inevitable, but ditching Matthew Hoggard too? Very few expected England's selectors to wield such a sharp blade. Dispensing with a pair of bowlers who have a combined tally of 460 Test wickets takes nerve. When the selectors get it wrong they take it in the neck: on this occasion they should be congratulated.

What do England do with Andrew Strauss now? Even his most ardent fan would have to admit that his second-innings 44 at the Basin Reserve was far from convincing.

David Graveney yesterday became the first, and so far only, victim of the Schofield Report, when he was overlooked for the job of national selector in favour of his deputy, Geoff Miller.

Tony Blair set out a sweeping blueprint yesterday for a new international order, built around an overhauled United Nations, an enlarged G8, and a multilateral system for the supply of enriched uranium for peaceful nuclear energy.

Call it the ultimate exit strategy. A $400,000 (£215,000) salary plus expenses, a rent-free townhouse on Manhattan's East river instead of a mortgage in Bayswater, and freedom from those troublesome backbenchers. Add world travel and loads of goody bags for Cherie, and Tony Blair could well be tempted by the job of UN secretary general, which just happens to fall vacant at the end of this year.

Vincent Bolloré, the French corporate raider, has made a proposal to the board of Aegis to merge the media group with the rival Havas business that he chairs, it emerged yesterday.