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It was very strange walking through the gates of The Oval at 7am this morning to do "morning after" reports for ´óÏó´«Ã½ local radio stations. "Morning after" was very much the feeling at the ground.

A sole security guard smiled a greeting at the barrier in the early sunshine, rubbish bags were piled high in the concourse waiting to be loaded into lorries, and the only activity came from two pigeons who pecked at a crumb on the floor.

Once I made my way up into and looked out of the window, it was as if a wave of calm had settled over the ground. It was a quiet, serene view, not a person to be seen, not a movement to be detected, save for the pictures in my mind, replaying , when and the urn was finally secured.

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In the course of my travels over the last couple of days, I've watched , seen Kent skipper when he was lbw to a straight one at Northampton, and called in at The Oval to sit in on , to hear him say he'd definitely play for England again, if asked.

What a week this is turning into for speculation, counter-speculation and player watching.

Once Bopara and Cook were dismissed at Lord's, England selector sat in , glued to the television, awaiting news of Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott from Trent Bridge.

The skies were leaden and it wasn't a good day for batting.

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