He could plausibly make Pakistan the best Test side in the world within two years

There are few better feelings in cricket than scoring runs under pressure to help your team win a game. I managed it at Lord's and I'd like to be able to do the same in the second Test against West Indies, starting today at Trent Bridge, where I was involved in one of the most bizarre incidents to take place on a cricket field in recent times.

View From the Middle: It was nice to play a pressure innings at Lord's on Monday and be recognised for it

Batsman puts his winter spin difficulties against Pakistan behind him to suggest he is ready for a glorious summer

Sri Lanka's President has ordered the release of the jailed former army chief, a man credited with ending the country's long civil war but who later was imprisoned after challenging the President in elections.

A voice of conscience that still resounds

Tea with Terrorists is the alarming title of Sameena Zehra’s one-woman show and while she does eventually get round to the extraordinary true story of how she once sipped Darjeeling on her porch with a band of armed outlaws, it’s the ramble around her family tree in the preceding hour that really engages.

Nottinghamshire 169 Lancashire 48-1

Now... Departing on 12 May, Citalia has a three-night city break in Verona for £329pp. The deal includes easyJet flights from Gatwick and B&B at the Hotel Accademia. The city is also just a short drive from the shores of Lake Garda, making a day trip to the Italian Lakes an enticing prospect. Citalia.com

Somerset batsman Nick Compton has been rewarded for his prolific form in a so-far bowler-friendly season with a place in a 12-man England Lions squad to play West Indies at Northampton from 10 May.

After Andrew Strauss's frustration at Lord's last week, Ian Bell's bid to find form in the County Championship ran into trouble against Sussex yesterday. Bell made a seven-ball duck, in complete contrast to his Warwickshire and England team-mate Jonathan Trott.

Ex-England captain says current incumbent is on hiding to nothing and should return for first Test – when he backs him to come good

World-beating England plan to turn "timid" back into "lethal" as they take out the frustrations of their Asian winter on the West Indies.

Tomorrow: Check into the new Revere Hotel in Boston which opened this week, with 356 room and suites, a bistro-style restaurant and, later this month, the Emerald Lounge cocktail bar (reverehotel.com).