Riddles abound after journey into the unknown

England have so far done everything on their first tour to Bangladesh that could be reasonably expected. If that is the first thing to be said about their 2-0 series victory, the second is that any resemblance to Test cricket was purely superficial.

As the days went on, England grew stronger and Bangladesh became weaker. By the end of the Second Test in Chittagong yesterday, the play was fascinating, but only because the home team's batsmen might have contrived at any moment to fashion another bizarre way of ensuring their dismissal.

If it had not been stipulated on the scorecard, there would have been no way of telling that Test cricket was taking place in the M A Aziz Stadium. It was not pukka. England had worked out a game plan - bluntly, that the Bangladeshis did not like it up 'em - and stuck to it.

The margin was the largest runs defeat (329) ever inflicted on Bangladesh, but since they have lost 15 of their 26 matches by an innings, that is merely a statistical quirk which shows that the tourists needed to bat twice. England did what they had to do.

In a perverse, English kind of way it has been almost disappointing, since the scope for the traditional gallows humour ended after the fourth day of the First Test.

England's eventually clinical efficiency reflected their displays at home against Zimbabwe last summer. They could only beat who was put in front of them. Such mismatches make it impossible to draw any firm conclusions about England's progress under Michael Vaughan's captaincy. The side are no worse and no better than when they left a month ago.

While it is advisable not to be as rash as the Bangladeshi batting, there is tentative cause for optimism. Rikki Clarke, the Surrey all-rounder, played a role with both bat and ball in the spot vacated by the injured Andrew Flintoff. Indeed, Clarke did well enough to suggest that one day there might be room for both of them in the side.

He was born four months after Ricky Villa scored his miraculous dribbled goal for Tottenham Hotspur in the 1981 FA Cup final replay against Manchester City, and was named after the Argentinian midfield player. He might have inherited the flair as well as the name.

Clarke batted in two distinct styles - aggressive and defensive - and has a serviceable technique. His seam bowling has an innocuous look to it, but revealed the merit of accuracy.

It also revealed that it was probably being delivered by a golden arm. Clarke seems to be a lucky cricketer, and whatever scientists might say, that is not a commodity to be underestimated.

Richard Johnson once more caught the eye, as well as the Bangladesh batsmen in places where it hurt. There is no knowing what the Somerset bowler might have achieved in international cricket had he had been blessed with knees as strong as the rest of his body.

His muscular style, which allows him to extract bounce, could be the undoing of batsmen with far greater discipline. He now has 15 Test wickets from two matches at under 13 runs each, and two man-of-the-match awards. After his litany of injuries he deserves this.

Johnson was a late replace-ment when James Anderson withdrew from the squad, and is due to depart once the one-day matches, which start on Friday, are done. England would look foolish to jettison him now; at the least, if he stays fit, he gives the seam bowling a significant extra dimension. Do not expect the average to stay in the teens.

The way in which both Clarke and Johnson have performed provides the selectors with problems they should like. It is just that, no matter what they say in public, they are sure to mutter in private: "But it was only Bangladesh".

There are other selection issues to address. England are less well endowed in spin bowling than even they thought. For the moment, the admirable Ashley Giles, a left-arm spinner who makes the most of his ability, is out of form, his action untrustworthy. It is possible that Gareth Batty might be the better option, especially in Sri Lanka if they play all their top-order left-handers, but Giles was an unsung hero when England won in Sri Lanka three winters ago. He also has a central contract, which gives him rights and privileges.

That also applies to Paul Collingwood. He was a man awarded a central contract - one of only eight this year - without having played a Test match. If the selectors have a clue what their intentions are - and we cannot be sure, given the way they are handing out caps - they ought to be giving him a place in the side immediately.

Vaughan will be grateful that his team have done what they had to do. There will soon be some Test cricket to be played.