Lancashire star Flintoff has led the team in six Tests and been tipped as Michael Vaughan’s successor.

World Cup-winning captain Imran told BBC Five Live: “I’ve always believed an all-rounder has an extra advantage.

“He can see things from a batsman’s and bowler’s point of view. A captain who bowlers is important - the main captaincy is done in the field.”

Flintoff took charge of the team in India when Vaughan returned home early because of a knee problem.

He continued in the role in the home Test series against Sri Lanka and will take it on again when he returns to action following an ankle injury.

Australia will have the advantage - they will be very hard to beat Imran on the Ashes

Imran feels the 28-year-old is the ideal man for the job.

“I used to get frustrated as a bowler when dealing with a batting captain, especially in Pakistan, when they didn’t the concept of reverse swing.

“We would be reverse swinging the ball and I would tell the captain don’t take the new ball and they wouldn’t understand that.”

With Vaughan ruled out of action until next year, Flintoff will lead England in this winter’s Ashes series but Imran believes they are in for a tough time.

“I think Australia will have the advantage in those - they will be very hard to beat,” he added on the Sportsweek programme.

“The best chance of beating Australia is on wickets or in English seaming conditions but in Australian and South African conditions it is not easy to beat them.”

I was one of those kids at school who tried every sport.

I had a go at everything. I tried swimming, archery, basketball and tennis.

Eventually I found athletics, and I’ve never looked back.

I think there are even more opportunities these days for kids who want to take up sport.

There are more sports clubs around and more coaching courses for people who want to coach disabled athletes.

I would say the most important thing for a young athlete starting out is to find a coach they like and get on with.

It has to be someone you can work with week in, week out, and someone you can completely trust.

For more contact: British Wheelchair Sports Foundation, Sports and Events Development Manager, Guttman Road, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 9PP Tel: 01296 395995 wheelpower@dial.pipex.com

Who was your as a young athlete?

When I was growing up, sport for disabled people didn’t get that much coverage on television.

But one of my first memories was watching fellow Welsh athlete Chris Hallam in the London Marathon.

I remember saying to my mum that I was going to do the London Marathon one day.

It was my dream to be there on the starting line with everyone else.

And if you’ve got that kind of dream it gives you something to aim for.

It’s important to have something you can focus on or have a plan to work towards.

If you put the hard work in, you have a chance of fulfilling your dream.

If you put the hard work in, you have a chance of fulfilling your dream

You train 50 weeks a year, how on earth do you stay motivated?

My biggest motivation is the fact that I desperately want to beat my husband, who is also an athlete.

I haven’t really got close to him yet though - and that makes me train even harder!

Focusing on him means I’m not getting with any of my female rivals.

It keeps me motivated, especially through the winter when we’re not competing for three months and the weather is cold and rainy.

It’s a difficult time to stay motivated so having my husband there with me makes it a lot easier.

I’m also a very selfish person, in that I want to be the best I can.

I like pushing myself to the limit.

I’m very strong-minded and if I decide I want to do something, then I’ll go for it.

As an athlete, it’s important to have that sort of determination, but you also need to be fairly level-headed.

You need to be able to deal with all the ups and downs.

Do you have to watch what you eat?

If you want to train well and hard, then you have to eat the right food

Even though I’m a hopeless cook, I still try and look after my diet.

If you want to train well and hard, then you have to eat the right food.

That’s not to say I don’t have times when I eat junk food, chips and a few other things that aren’t good for me.

But I do try to eat well most of the week.

I tend to eat a lot of carbohydrates - rice, pasta, potatoes and a lot of steamed vegetables.

I’m not a very good cook so I tend to stick with pasta and sauces.

My favourite is pasta with a tomato sauce, and bacon and onions mixed in.

You need to eat within half an hour of a training session and I can usually cook that and wolf it down in 15 minutes.

It’s good for you and it’s tasty - what more could you want.

Grey Thompson struck gold in four different events in Sydney

You swept the board on the track at the Sydney Olympics. How do you manage to cover such a variety of events - and be the best at them all?

Wheelchair athletes are very lucky.

Because we’re not using any weight-bearing muscles we can cover a whole range of distances - just like cyclists.

The training I do that enables me to be a good sprinter actually enables me to be good at a marathon too.

It’s great because if you’re having a complete nightmare in one event, you can do something else!

I train 50 weeks of the year and that keeps me prepared for whatever distance I want to race through the season.

Out of all the distances I race, I think I probably prefer the 400m.

I’ve never been the best starter in the world and however hard I work on my starts, they never really seem to improve that much.

That’s why the 100m is always a bit of a dodgy distance for me.

The 400m is nice because the start is not quite so crucial and you’ve got time to get going.

On the road I like the 10k because it’s long enough to stretch you but not too long that you’re absolutely exhausted at the end.

Remember to always wear a helmet and bright clothing when you’re out training, because racing chairs are very low to the ground and you need to make sure you can be seen

How does a racing chair differ from a day chair?

I only have one racing chair which I train and compete in.

That usually lasts me a whole season before I need to change it.

My racing chair has three wheels and is about 6ft long.

The chair I normally sit in is more like an armchair. I could sit in it all day.

I can probably only be in my racing chair for two and a half hours before I start feeling .

That’s why, when you’re competing at a high level, it’s important you have equipment that fits you.

My chair is custom built around my shape and I can only fit in it if I’m wearing one layer of lycra.

At least that ensures I don’t put any weight on!

When you’re new to the sport it’s probably best to borrow a chair for a little while or buy a one to start off with.

New equipment is expensive and that’s a good way of finding out if you like the sport and want to stick with it.

Before even thinking about racing though, the most important thing is to get fit first.

You need to have stamina to push a chair and it’s so much more difficult if you’re not fit.

What have been the high points of your career and have there been any low points?

Taking part in the Sydney Olympics has got to be the high point of my career.

The biggest crowd I competed in front of was 112,000 and it was an amazing atmosphere.

With hundreds of thousands of people in the crowd you wouldn’t think you’d be able to see faces, but I could actually pick out the faces of people I know.

I’ve had quite a few low points because that is the nature of being an athlete - you can’t compete well all of the time.

I’m most disappointed when I’ve gone to races and haven’t been as prepared as I should have been.

Sometimes you don’t compete well and there’s nothing you can do.

You can’t always win, but that’s ok if you feel you did everything you could.

It’s about being truthful with yourself.

I always keep a training diary

Do you have any training tips for athletes just starting out in sport?

Just be active. Go out and do some kind of physical activity four or five times a week.

I do a lot of other sports through the winter.

I play tennis and basketball and it helps me stay fit for racing.

It’s very important that you get a good technique early on in whatever sport you do.

It’s also important to spend the right amount of time warming up and stretching.

For wheelchair racing you’ve got to have incredibly flexible shoulders, so I do a lot of work on my shoulders as well as my elbows and hands.

Remember in sport you can’t just train two or three weeks before an event and hope to compete well.

It’s something that you have to do a little and often, especially if you’re new in sport.

Train a couple of times a week and think a long time in advance.

Check the site from Monday, when we will reveal one artist from the top five every day until the winner and full top 10 are announced on Friday.

1. 50 Cent
The last 12 months belonged to 50 Cent in the US after his album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, became the fastest-selling debut ever. It went on to become the album of 2003 in the US, while his hit single In Da Club achieved the same feat in the singles market. His past as a drug dealer and shooting victim gained him notoriety and he is now rivalling his mentor Eminem as the top rapper in the US.

2. Electric Six

The Electric Six had two UK top five singles

If you heard rock fans shouting “Danger! Danger!” or “I want to take you to a gay bar” in 2003, it was this Detroit group’s fault. Wild and silly but catchy and eminently danceable, their and good-time attitude earned them two top five hit singles - although they were seen as a novelty band by some.

3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
One of the leading groups to come out of New York since The Strokes, this trio enjoyed critical acclaim and some commercial success in 2003. Three singles reached the UK top 40, peaking with Date with the Night at 16 in April. They were also nominated for the Shortlist Prize - the US equivalent of the Mercury Music Prize - and got a Grammy nomination for best album.

4. The Thrills
This Irish group found a large audience with their deliriously sunny Beach Boys-inspired tunes, although they did not break into rock’s premier league. Their debut album, So Much for the City, was one of the soundtracks to the summer and was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. Three singles reached the UK top 40, led by Big Sur, which hit number 17 in June.

5. Dizzee Rascal

Dizzee Rascal became the first rapper to win the Mercury Music Prize

The UK urban breakthrough artist of 2003, Dizzee Rascal produced one of the freshest and most innovative sounds of the year. Armed with a distinctive quick-fire rapping style and harsh beats that mixed UK garage and hip-hop, his debut album, Boy in Da Corner, won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize, beating the likes of Radiohead, Coldplay and The Darkness.

6. Interpol
New York art rockers Interpol were the only artists in the top 10 not to have a UK top 40 single in 2003. But their stylishly brooding debut album Turn on the Bright Lights turned many heads and earned a nomination for the Shortlist Prize.

7. Audio Bullys
With pumping bass, pounding beats and punky vocals, London “dirty house” duo lent some attitude to dance music. The year saw them break out of the club scene and into mainstream music, and their single We Don’t Care reached number 15 in January.

8. Mario
This teenage US singer failed to capture the hearts of the soul audience in 2003. The adolescent pop on his debut album was not enough to propel him to mainstream success in the US - but he did enjoy top 30 hits in the UK with Just A Friend and C’mon.

9. The Datsuns
New Zealand’s premier guitar grinders The Datsuns made a splash at the start of the year, gaining a reputation as an explosive live band. They were named best live act at the NME Awards but they struggled to transform their on-stage energy into sales.

10. Sean Paul

Sean Paul had hit duets with Blu Cantrell and Beyonce

Jamaica’s latest idol was one of the year’s smash hit stars, taking dancehall reggae to the top of the charts around the world. He scored five UK top five singles in nine months, including a number one guest spot on Blu Cantrell’s Breathe. He also hooked up with Beyonce on Baby Boy while his solo track Get Busy was one of the biggest-selling singles of the year in the US.

The Darkness

The Darkness shot to fame in the second half of 2003

The spandex-clad rockers were the success story of the year in UK rock, bringing the fun back to a guitar scene that had been dominated by serious and stony-faced bands for a decade. They were known in the music industry before 2003 - but not one music expert tipped them in the Sound of 2003 survey because no-one thought they could make it.

Evanescence
June saw this US goth rock band burst to the top of the charts after their song Bring Me To Life appeared on the soundtrack to the Ben Affleck film Daredevil.

The Black Eyed Peas
One of the year’s biggest-selling singles came from this LA-based hip-hop group with Where Is the Love?, taken from their third album.

Jamie Cullum
This charismatic young pianist and singer became the most popular jazz artist the UK has seen for decades when his album was released.

Even the rich and famous have difficulty stopping the end of a relationship disintegrating into acrimony and .

The home secretary’s bitter break-up with his lover has spilled onto the front pages in recent days, even calling his job into question.

The aftermath of the breakdown of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s marriage is still making headlines, more than 10 years after they separated.

A break-up is undoubtedly a bleak event for all involved, but is there a way of managing them so they don’t spiral out of control?

Relationship counselling groups Relate and Couple Counselling Scotland think there are some strategies for lessening the damage.

If you have decided it’s time to leave, try to think about how to break the news.

TIPS FOR TALKING THROUGH A BREAK-UP Choose a venue where you won’t be disturbed and which you both find relaxing Leave plenty of time - make sure you haven’t got to rush off Set a time limit; don’t talk on for hours and hours Don’t talk when you’re tired The process of talking something through may take days, weeks, or longer Source: Relate

“In an ideal world you would be calm and sensible, you’d sit down and say you should leave, you’re not happy, it’s time to go,” says Relate counsellor Christine Northam.

“But most people don’t do that, they leave a note, or have a huge row and storm out.”

When you do talk, says Relate, you should be honest and straightforward. Don’t use vague euphemisms to soften the impact, as they can just be confusing.

And try to tell your partner how you feel without blaming them or listing their inadequacies such as how boring, selfish or unattractive they are.

“This can be tricky but it is a very useful way of owning your feelings,” says Relate.

If you’ve just been dumped, do try to find out what went wrong.

It may be excruciating, but unless you know what happened to your relationship, you won’t be able to change things in the future.

“Use it as a learning experience, so you can understand what went wrong and build self-awareness,” says Christine Northam.

“Then you are better equipped for future relationships.”

So communication is clearly the key to managing a break-up.

But if your ex simply stonewalls you and refuses to talk, you will have to communicate with other people.

Call in the support of friends, family - or even the professionals, says Relate’s Christine Northam.

Not all relationships have happy endings - but there are strategies to cope

“You’ve been rejected big time, you feel angry and alone, you need support.”

You can go to relationship counselling by yourself - about a third of Couple Counselling Scotland’s (CCS) clients are there on their own, says chief executive Hilary Campbell.

And a word of warning from Ms Campbell on the matter of talking - if you are still with your ex, leave the e-mails and texts for the practical stuff, and don’t be tempted to use them to talk about your feelings.

“You can’t convey emotions with them, they’re black and white and they can be there forever. Whereas if you say something and it comes out wrong you can clarify it, and take it back - a bit. It’s much easier to talk about feelings face to face.”

If you’ve been dumped, it’s easy to flail around blaming everyone - your ex, yourself, the person you suspect them of having an affair with, and so on. But if you can, avoid this, says Relate.

“It may seem tempting… but this will not help you work out why the affair has happened.”

DREADING CHRISTMAS? Planning ahead is the key If you have children, work out with your ex what the Christmas arrangements are going to be - and tell the children as soon as you can If you are facing Christmas alone, think about what you are going to do You could help out in a homeless shelter, visit friends or family or even, if you have children and can bear it, hold a joint Christmas with your ex But arrange something. “Christmas is all about expectations… sitting alone staring forlornly at a Christmas tree without any presents under it is not a good idea,” says Hilary Campbell

And instead of blaming yourself, work on boosting your self-esteem.

If your is shot to pieces, you can start to heal yourself with simple steps like pampering yourself with a gift, reminding yourself of good times and things you’ve been successful at, and setting yourself small goals to achieve.

But what about revenge? Should you give in to your impulse to cut up your ex’s suits, post rude messages about them on websites, leak things about them to the newspapers or other such things? Is that cathartic and therapeutic, or otherwise?

Relate’s Christine Northam thinks that depends on the degree to which you take it.

“It’s healthy to be angry, it’s part of the loss process and it’s good to have a spit and a shout, if it’s done in a safe way,” she says.

“But it can be really vicious and that’s not such a good thing.

“Don’t slag him off to his mates, don’t get into a War of the Roses kind of thing. Blame them in a safe environment, but don’t burn your bridges.”

There’s nothing wrong with having a few drinks or scoffing half a pound of chocolate to make you feel better, says Christine Northam - but be aware, it may backfire.

“Getting drunk might seem like a good idea at the time, but alcohol is a depressant and you may wake up the next morning feeling worse,” she says.

“If you carry on doing it, if you’re coming home from work night after night and opening a bottle then something is wrong and it’s time to get help because you’re blocking out your feelings.

“You can’t think straight when you’re drunk and you do need to think straight at times like these.”

If you’re raw from a break-up you may be tempted to throw yourself into a string of one-night stands, or a whole new relationship, to make yourself feel better.

Lots of people rush straight into another relationship without understanding what went wrong with the first one Christine Northam Relate

Is this a good idea?

“No, definitely not,” says Christine Northam.

“Lots of people rush straight into another relationship without understanding what went wrong with the first one.

“A period of mourning is a good idea. Mourning takes lots of energy, and if you don’t do the work, if you put it off because you’re putting your energies into a new relationship, it can come back and bite you later.”

Wait until dating feels “comfortable” again, she says - and don’t feel pressured by others to get into a couple because you’re more fun that way at dinner parties.

Practical matters like houses and money are huge issues when relationships break up - especially if you have been living together.

“If you split up you will both be poorer,” says Hilary Campbell.

If you split up when you have been living together you will both be poorer Hilary Campbell Couple Counselling Scotland

If nothing else, the cost of running two mortgages, two cars, even two kettles, can mean there is a lot less money around for nice things like holidays and hobbies.

It can also lead to huge rows when you try to work out who gets what, and one or both of you may feel you’ve been ripped off. And this is where mediation services can come in.

Even if you don’t have children, mediators can help you sort out with property and finance in a way you’re both reasonably happy with.

You are first seen separately to say what you’d like to happen, and then together, where the mediators help you explore ways of meeting, as far as possible, both your needs.

Most parents find it extremely difficult to know how to approach their children about a break-up.

But many , including Relate, CCS and children’s charity NCH, have advice on how to lessen the pain.

TELLING THE CHILDREN: THE GOLDEN RULES Tell them it is not their fault, and keep telling them Tell them what is happening, at a level they can understand Listen to your children and let them ask questions Don’t fight in front of them Don’t criticise each other to them Avoid using them as go-betweens Source: NCH

“The first thing is to tell them you love them and that it’s not their fault. A lot of children assume it’s their fault,” says Hilary Campbell.

Next, you should keep them informed of what is going on in language they can understand.

“Tell them what’s going on, and let them ask questions, otherwise they’ll end up making their own stories,” she says.

And don’t put off doing anything about your failing relationship because you don’t know how to tackle the children.

“A lot of people find it so difficult they put off doing anything about it, but the most damaging thing of all for children is continued parental conflict,” she says.

You will also need to agree with your ex who the children will live with, how often you will see them and so on.

If things get difficult, you could head to a family mediation service, which helps parents come to agreements about matters such as residence and contact.

Try not to make arrangements in the white heat of the break-up when you’re “still steaming” with anger, says Christine Northam.

“If you’re so angry you won’t agree anything it’s going to end up costing you loads of money”, she says - because you’ll end up heading for a divorce lawyer.

Break-ups never seem to involve just the couple involved and their children. Many people say one of the saddest aspects of a break-up is the loss of mutual friends. But this doesn’t have to be the case.

“Don’t feel you can’t be friends any more,” says Christine Northam.

“You can - as long as you don’t slag your boyfriend off to them, that’s the way to destroy relationships.”

You should try not to carry your break-up over into family relations by, for instance, refusing to let your children see your ex’s parents, warns Hilary Campbell.

That’s unfair and, even in terms, unhelpful - because you may need them as back-up in looking after the children.

“Quite often grandparents have an important role, they’re there and they’re consistent,” she says.

Going to counselling doesn’t mean you’re a failure. In fact, it’s a very sensible thing to do if you’re struggling.

“If someone’s upped and left, and you’re left behind, it’s a bit like a bereavement and counselling can help you work through the break-up,” says Hilary Campbell.

And it doesn’t necessarily involve visiting a building somewhere - most services offer phone and even online counselling, so no-one need know you’ve gone.

England’s Richard Johnson (centre) claims the wicket of Zimbabwe’s Heath Streak during the second Test at Chester-le-Street.

New cap Johnson made a stunning entrance to top-level cricket by taking six wickets for 33 runs in the first innnings.

The hosts then went on to record a comprehensive innings and 69 run victory over their African opponents to win the series 2-0.

We asked you to send in your witty captions as Johnson’s team-mates, Robert Key and Michael Vaughan, join the celebrations.

The winner of this week’s BBC Sport Interactive goody bag is… J.P. McGuire of Thailand who came up with this cracker:

Silliness breaks out when everyone realises Johnson had put the false breasts on backwards.

Good work J.P. - a BBC Sport Interactive goody bag is on the way.

We’re now getting so many entries that we’ve decided to arranges them under different themes - hope you like it! Feel free to send us your feedback. And check out the best of the rest below.

Totally topical taste

BEST IN CATEGORY Yes! Justine has been evicted from Big Brother! Phil, Hereford

Liverpool fan reacts to news that David Beckham is leaving Man Utd.
Mitesh Shah, England

Yes! Justine has been evicted from Big Brother!


Phil,
Hereford, England

England enjoy every moment of what it feels like to dominate before their next encounter…the South Africans.
Brandon, London

Richard Johnson smiles as he knows they’ll never find the sausages he smuggled in between his buttocks.

Gareth, Hertfordshire

Bowled over

BEST IN CATEGORY Hussain is furious as three of his fielders go for the same catch. Justin Goodrich, Edinburgh

As Johnson lets yet another simple catch slip through his fingers, Vaughan is backing up to take the catch himself.
Tim Taylor, Wimbledon

Key: ‘Hurry and clear them up Rich, then we can go to lunch early.’
Savio Moniz, London

Vaughan: That was a jaffa Rich!

Johnson: Ooh yay! Food! I like the orangey stuff in the middle!

Ben Pearce, Bristol

Hussain is furious as three of his fielders go for the same catch.


Justin Goodrich,
Edinburgh

I told you I couldn’t bowl that fast without my arms getting stuck!
Tom, London

It was all his team-mates could do to prevent newcomer Richard Johnson from trying to bowl over and round the wicket at the same time.
Jim Brant, Daventry, UK

Proving unable to catch cricket balls, the England team trained with something a little larger.
Lizzie F, London, UK

Look-a-likes

BEST IN CATEGORY Eric Cantona manages to barge his way past the bouncers into yet another caption competition. Jeremy Dallyn, Finland

Is that R2D2 on the left?


Mitesh Shah,
England

The other players show their admiration for Johnson after he won the Tom Hanks lookalike competition.

Tom, England

Following his success as a world class footballer, Zinedine Zidane’s cricket career looked like it was going to be just as rewarding.
Luke Bennett, Nuneaton

Robert and Michael prevent a Karl Powers from entering the playing area.

Bobby Ryder, Solihull

Paolo Di Canio leaves West Ham to take up cricket.


Bobby Ryder,
Solihull

With the world’s eyes on the test at Durham, Richard johnson thinks this is the perfect time to audition for the cheeky girls. Even his team-mates can’t keep their hands off, mistaking him for Gabriela.


Andy,
Merseyside

Eric Cantona manages to barge his way past the bouncers into yet another caption competition.

Jeremy Dallyn, Finland

The England boys do their Charlie’s Angels impressions.

Mike R, Durham Uni

Rob Key’s attempts to stop Greg Rusedski’s pitch invasion seemed hopeless.


Steve Shorthose,
Scotter

Key and Vaughan hold Johnson back from Kung-Fu kicking a member of the crowd.


Gareth,
Hertfordshire

Sticky wicket

BEST IN CATEGORY Avoid sweat, attract cricketers. Rob Payne, Wigan

The bowling’s overarm - the deodorant’s underarm.


Nick B,
london

“What do you mean, I haven’t washed my armpits for weeks?”
Gareth, Hertfordshire

Underarm magnets prove too powerful to resist for Vaughan and Key despite hideous odour.

Mike Goudge, U.K.

Johnson refuses to divulge the whereabouts of his anti-perspirant despite a vicious tickling assault by Key and Vaughan.

Mike Goudge, U.K.

Men’s sweat only attracts other men’s sweat. Sure.


Paul,
London, UK

Johnson unveiled his new secret power, the deadly armpit vortex!
TJ Winfield, Bristol

Johnson: “no sweat”.


Michelle Tulett,
Selby, North Yorkshire

Vaughan: ‘You were right about that deodorant Rich, it’s working like a charm even after six wickets!’


TJ Winfield,
Bristol

Johnson spies a deodorant marketing manager in the crowd.

Richard Pasco, UK

It’s true! Male sweat does only attract other men.


Colin Russell,
UK

The embarrassed Johnson is carried off the field when the England team realise he has confused his deodorant for a can of hairspray.
Steve, London, UK

Michael and Robert can’t help but wish that Richard’s deodorant was as effective as his bowling.
James Sutherland, Nailsea, Somerset

You can check if you want. But I tell you it was pretty easy work. Not even a white spot around my underarms!
R Thanawalla, Scotland, UK

Avoid sweat, attract cricketers.


Rob Payne,
Wigan

Cap comp classics

BEST IN CATEGORY Another accident with the superglue results in male bonding. I. Diot, England

A cut-out Richard Johnson?! I always wanted one of them!

Richard Pasco, Reading, Uk

Michael Vaughan and Robert Key move Richard Johnson’s lifesize model into position
Trevor, Preston, UK

Another accident with the superglue results in male bonding.
I. Diot, England

He won’t be celebrating when he sees what we’ve put on his back.
Mark Endicott, Bristol

Richard Johnson does the hi-10 with the invisible man.
Ben Dunbar, England

Johnson prepares to be “Tango’d”


James Atkinson,
Sheffield, UK

Toy boy

BEST IN CATEGORY Johnson’s accurate bowling had made Vaughan suspect he was a robot. To his amazement, the sign on his back read “Insert Key here!” Ollie B, Southampton

Key: “Now, if I press him here he bends over and touches his toes.”


Ben Dunbar,
Manchester, U.K.

Key and Vaughan together, “I told you to bring the batteries”.
Garry Waddell, UK

Every time you pull that loose thread his arms shoot up!
Rob Falconer, Wales

I told you we should have used Duracell….


John Lewis,
Finland

New bionic bowler overheats and is held up for repair.
Pete, Manchester,
UK

Johnson’s accurate bowling had made Vaughan suspect he was a robot. To his amazement, the sign on his back read “Insert Key here!”

Ollie B, Southampton UK

Key: “And this switch in his head makes his eyes move from side to side!”

Brendan O’Donnell, Lytham St.Annes, England

Every time you press his tummy, there’s this funny squeaking noise!
Rob Falconer, Wales

If you press the green button on your remote control, Johnson’s left arm will hit Vaughan on the head…
Ryan Spencer, Hertfordshire

You hold him steady while I wind him up.


Barry Payne,
Cleethorpes

Ken Dodd-tastic

BEST IN CATEGORY Perilous days for planet earth, as the gods decide to give Atlas a good tickling. Si Griffin, UK

The hiring of new England cricket coach, Mr Tickle, is already showing positive results.
Michael, Perth, Australia

To give Zimbabwe a chance, the English fielders resorted to tickling each other when going up for a catch.
Si Griffin, UK

“I declare a tickle fight!”


Brian Lang,
Chicago, USA

Round and round the garden,
Like a teddy bear.
One step, two step…..


Frances Gregory,
Poland

Perilous days for planet earth, as the gods decide to give Atlas a good tickling.

Si Griffin, UK

Stop it, that tickles.


James Sutherland,
Nailsea, Somerset

“Come on, let’s do it again - round and round the garden…..
Kevin Darley, Selby, England

Vaughan furiously grabs the tickle-stick away from Robert Key.
Tim Taylor, Wimbledon

Stop you guys! That really tickles.


Rutang T,
Scotland, UK

Dance the night away

BEST IN CATEGORY Richard couldn’t resist his Bhangra urges. Martin Mills, Morpeth

Calls for more women in cricket were gaining pace as Key and Vaughan clashed over the last dance.

Ibi, London

Key and Vaughan struggle to contain Johnson when he hears S Club 7’s reach for the stars on the public address system
Mike Cummins, Prescot, UK

Come on lads, join in…..Do the Locomotion…..


Bobby Ryder,
Solihull

Football-songsters “Fat Les” reform for test series against Zimbabwe.
James Atkinson, Sheffield, UK

Only the Y-M-C were missing from the routine.


Andy Tulloch,
Hemel Hempstead

Chaos erupts as two England fielders attempt to join the conga at the same point.

Si Griffin, UK

Johnson’s moment of glory was tarnished by his failed attempt to start a Mexican wave


Kevin Jones,
Coventry

Ok, hands up who brought “Agadoo” and played it in the changing room? Right, get him!
Steve Godrich, UK

“Hey Macarena”.


Ben Westoby,
Grantham

I just can’t get the hang of this ballet!


Richard Chapman,
High Wycombe

Britain’s newest pop sensation, ‘The Cricketers’ with their cover of YMCA.

Harry, Perth, Australia

Bob and Mike decided to entertain the crowd on the fourth day by doing the Heimlich manoeuvre to music.

Garry Waddell, UK

Johnson: ‘Join the ballet lads.’


Hemia Jayasuriya,
Woking

Flushed by his Test debut success, Johnson decides to have a crack at flamenco dancing.

John Lewis, Finland

Richard couldn’t resist his Bhangra urges.


Martin Mills,
Morpeth

Sorry Richard, but Nasser says you can’t join in the Mexican wave.
Mark Mullaly, Birmingham, UK

“Hands up, baby hands up, give me your heart gimme gimme, your heart gimme gimme”.

James Vincent, Doncaster

More YMCA than LBW!


Steve Boyde,
Barrow

Johnson “It’s fun to play at the Cheeeeeesta-le-Street”.

Michelle Tulett, Selby, North Yorkshire

The Mexican wave got off to a bad start


Graham McD,
Livingston

The filming of the new Bacardi Breezer advert seemed to be going well.


Natalie Boardman,

Everybody in the house say ‘Yeah!’


Natalie Boardman,

England’s ‘S Club 7′ tribute dance was so complicated, only Johnson got the hang of it.
Martin Mills, Morpeth

Hands up, baby hands up! Give me your heart, gimme gimme your heart, gimme gimme all your love!
Roger, Teesside

Regulars’ banter

BEST IN CATEGORY Yeah, playing Test cricket is a bit like the Cap Comp. A flurry of published articles on the first day, nothing in the middle part, and a flurry of articles again in the last few hours on the last day. Mitesh Shah, England

Si Griffin is warmly welcomed back to the Caption Comp fold after a short toilet break.
Mike Goudge, UK

Zimbabwe’s batsmen were bemused by the new Caption Competition arrangement, and Johnson took full advantage.
Martin Mills, Morpeth

Si Griffin is held hostage by fellow captioners, but still manages to submit a few entries via semaphore.

Si Griffin, UK

Johnson goes into a “we are not worthy” routine due to BBC Caption Competition judges’ excellent categorisation idea.
Mike Goudge, U.K.

YAY! Stephen Tucker has finally won the BBC Cap Comp!
Stephen Tucker, USA

Yeah, playing Test cricket is a bit like the Cap Comp. A flurry of published articles on the first day, nothing in the middle part, and a flurry of articles again in the last few hours on the last day.
Mitesh Shah, England

Another sportsman proves his lack of stigmata.


Some guy from Morpeth,
Morpeth

Si Griffin, Caption Competition Grand Master, shown here displaying how many captions he enters per hour, is mobbed by adoring BBC Cap Comp judges.


Mike Goudge,
U.K.

The boys are ecstatic at ousting Henman from the Cap Comp picture.
C. Hunter, England

The lads are jubilant at the news that Sarah L has okayed the photo.
C. Hunter, England

The longsighted palm reader clearly has better news for Johnson than he did for Henman.

Si Griffin, UK

Yay! No stupid “kick me quick” captions!


Richard Pasco,
Uk

With Si Griffin M.I.A it’s open season for the coverted prize of most captions entered.
Mike Goudge, U.K.

Johnson realises he’s won the BBC Sport Interactive goody bag.
Gareth, Hertfordshire

The England players celebrate Rob Falconer and Clare Daniele’s record partnership for the number of entries in the caption competition
Alan ball, NZ

OK, hands up John Lewis, we know you’ve got your unabridged Alan Coren caption writing dictionary in there somewhere!

Jeremy Dallyn, Finland

Johnson, like Henman in the previous Caption Competition, proves once and for all the he does not have hairy palms.

Mike Goudge, U.K.

Key: “That’s it Richard, stay there and Rob Falconer is sure to think of another witty caption for this, perhaps if I just touch your breast… ouch!”
TJ Winfield, Bristol

Cap Comp judges celebrate their reduced work load, as Si Griffin appears to be on holiday…

John Lewis, Finland

Say what you see

BEST IN CATEGORY Silliness breaks out when everyone realises Johnson had put the false breasts on backwards. J.P. McGuire, Thailand

I’m telling you, I’ll buy the drinks, but you won’t find my wallet!
Mike Gant, Leeds

The world watches in astonishment as cricket’s first Siamese twins take to the field.

Andy Tulloch, Hemel Hempstead

Hands on faith healers work miracle for man with two broken arms.
Mike Goudge, U.K.

Richard Johnson celebrates after being told he will not go on England’s next Winter tour.

Kevin Tracey, Scotland

His secret identity compromised, Superman was kept from flying away by the “Mad Hatters”.

Neal Berridge, UK

Johnson had clearly enjoyed himself on the Chester-le-Street Death slide.
Martin Mills, Morpeth

“Turn round Richard mate - Mecca’s in that direction.”
simon, hitchin

After a few beers, Johnson would often try and gate-crash other people’s celebrations.
James Wiffen, Chelmsford, Essex

OK Robert, you grab his undies and we’ll give him a wedgie!!”
Jeff Gill, UK

Silliness breaks out when everyone realises Johnson had put the false breasts on backwards.


J.P. McGuire,
Thailand

Johnson’s celebration at entering the Guinness Book of Records for longest time with a ferret in your whites continued during Key and Vaughan’s frantic effort to remove the dizzy creature.


Michael Bate,
Mullingar, Ireland

Field maintenance team at Chester-le-street are surprised what popped up after the use of Miracle Grow.

Mike Goudge, UK

After 24 hrs on the rack Richard ‘Shorty’ Johnson is stretched to bowler size.

Mike Goudge, UK

Suddenly Richard spotted Alice Cooper in the crowd and launched into his “We’re not worthy” routine.
Mark Mullaly, Birmingham, UK

“Sorry son, arms up, you’re under arrest. You’re going back to OZ, no-one is THAT good in England.”

Rick Baker, Grimsby, UK

After bowling naked for seven overs Johnson is finally forced to get dressed by Key and Vaughan.

Mike Goudge, U.K.

Birthday boy gets nasty shock when male stripper jumps out of cake.
Mitesh Shah, England

After being bet that he could not carry two of his team members across the out field, Richard Johnson finally puts Key and Vaughan down.


Mike Goudge,
U.K.

“And stretch - 4 - 5 - 6.”


Rick Baker,
Grimsby, UK

As the team attempted to hold him down, it appeared that Richard Johnson’ new hover boots were becoming a problem.
Andy Tulloch, Hemel Hempstead

Ah, I see what’s happened. Your bra strap’s snapped.


Rob Falconer,
Wales

Vaughan: “All hands on deck, we’ve got to stop him doing his triple back-flip celebration. We have enough injuries already!”
Sanjay Ghelani, Edgware

After stumbling into a spectator’s huge cooler of ice going for that high boundary stopping catch, a frozen Johnson is removed from the field of play.

Mike Goudge, U.K.

Richard Johnson played along as Key and Vaughan tied him up with invisible thread…

Linsey, England

Johnson saves Vaughan from the evil helmet-headed mugger.
Paul Wilson, Hemel Hempstead

Johnson was in error to trust his team mates when they told him to fall back and they would catch him.

Mike Goudge, U.K.

High jinx at Chester-le-street as Richard Johnson hangs off the main stand roof by his finger tips with Key & Vaughan attached to him.
Mike Goudge, U.K.

Richard is thrilled to pull off the double-tuck somersault in his floor exercise.

James Atkinson, Sheffield, UK

Richard Johnson’s celebrations disrupt a heated ‘helmets are better than sun hats’ debate.

Peter Blow, Guildford, UK

Despite his haul of six wickets, Richard Johnson discovers that he is not superman and cannot fly.
Dom White, London, UK

The England team’s lack of and fitness is shown here as Key and Vaughan completely miss Johnson’s ‘high five’ attempt, instead smacking him on the back and chest thus further adding to England’s injury worries.

Gurpreet Kahlon, Vienna, Austria

England cricket team in high five fiasco.


Mike Goudge,
U.K.

Cricketer drops bat down back of t-shirt.


Pete,
Manchester, UK

Key and Vaughan enjoy winning another 50p in the rock, scissor and paper game knowing that Johnson always goes for paper.
Mike Goudge, U.K.

Key and Vaughan celebrate finally waking Johnson up from his impromptu nap.
Mike Goudge, U.K.

Johnson lets his fingernail polish dry before bowling next over.
Mike Goudge, U.K.

Nice try, Richard, but I think we’ll need a ladder to change the bulbs in the floodlights
Rob Falconer, Wales

Vaughan: ‘Look, I can get half my arm into his arm-pits!’


Clare Daniele,
UK

The players sniggered childishly at the fact they’d won by 69 runs.
Lizzie F, London, UK

Johnson winces as so many celebrations in so short a period cause him to pull a muscle in his back.
Beaz, Hinckley

It took two men to hoist Johnson up for his parallel bars routine.
Si Griffin, UK

Bowler runs into glass door.


Pete,
Manchester, UK

Pun fun

BEST IN CATEGORY Cap competition won by bowler. (Okay, it isn’t funny - but it’s bordering on clever!). C Hunter, England

Johnson loved a bit of first slip and tickle.


Bert B,
London

Vaughan: “I read somewhere that the best caption wins a goody bag.”
Key: “That’ll be Nasser Hussein, then.”
Vaughan: “Or maybe that explorer bloke…Caption Oates.”
Key: “No point in us carrying on then. We haven’t got a caption between us - he’s just a bowler.”
(The three exit stage left, looking disconsolate).


C. Hunter,
England

Having long admired everybody else’s headgear, Johnson was delighted to hear he’d be getting his first cap.
Rebecca, Cambridge

Key and Vaughan help Johnson take off his shirt as he does a Streak.
Mike R, Durham Uni

Johnson featured in BBC’s new CAPtion competition.


Mike Goudge,
U.K.

Johnson celebrates but the Zimbabwe captain laments, as it is England who have the winning streak!


Peter Collier,
Nottingham

Cap competition won by bowler.
(Okay, it isn’t funny - but it’s bordering on clever!).

C. Hunter, England

The Key to Johnson’s success was the deodorant he had Vaughan!
Phil, Hereford, England

Vaughan again Johnson is Key to England success.


Pete Clark,
Leek, Staffs

“You misheard me, Richard. It’s a CAP Comp, not a camp comp”.
C. Hunter, England

Lewd laughter ensues as the lads watch Heath streak.


C. Hunter,
England

After preventing all of Zimbabwe from getting the runs, Johnson celebrates winning the Nobel prize for medicine.

C. Hunter, England

Previously tipped to win the cap competition, Johnson was later disqualified for forgetting his cap.
C. Hunter, England

Sur-really great

After a gruelling day, the cricket stumps celebrated the end of their shift.

Neal Berridge, UK

BEST IN CATEGORY Key and Vaughan acted quickly to prevent Superman disclosing his identity in the heat of the moment.