The pre-Ashes banter continues while everyone wants Bangladesh out

Jason Gillespie has targetted England's massive win against Bangladesh by pointing out that England really can't take anything from the victory, except for some statistics.

Undoubtedly Gillespie wasn't watching (or couldnt bear to do so) when Hayden hit 380 against Zimbabwe. Somehow it didn't seem from all the celebrations that statistics were the only thing on Hayden's (and Australia's) mind that day. If it really was that pointless, why did Ponting question Lara's 400 but not Hayden's effort?

Glenn McGrath asks a few questions about England's abilities and is licking his lips at the prospect of tormenting Strauss. But he also makes a few feeble excuses such as slow pitches and injury when he writes about the instances he's faced upto Strauss earlier.

Brett Lee, rumoured to be the primary beneficiary from the new ICC proposals, is working really hard to get going in the Ashes. He has the advantage of playing in a few one-dayers first up.

Bangladesh's sorry performance at Lord's, where they lost by an innings and 261 runs within three days, the tenth worst defeat ever, has resulted in yet another set of knives being unsheathed.

Richie Benaud, who is obviously sick and tired of watching Bangladesh's woeful displays, wrote in his column that the ICC must make a firm and swift decision to remove Bangladesh and Zimbabwe from full-time international cricket until they set their houses (and players) in order. Other supporters of this stand include Gavin Hamilton, Martin Johnson, Shane Warne, Mark Nicholas, David Hopps, Mike Atherton and Kim Hughes. Needless to say, Dav Whatmore is the only one holding out, publicly at least!

Perhaps everyone needs to add Gareth Batty to the list too. After all, at least Bangladesh bowled, batted and caught. He did none of the three.

Oh, and guess which team has lost by an innings 10 times since 2000? Aside from the usual suspects of course!