Fraser finished as England's leading bowler when South Africa last toured

Test Match Special summariser Angus Fraser answered your e-mails during the second Test between England and South Africa.

The former England and Middlesex paceman represented his country 46 times over the course of nine years, taking 177 wickets.

Fraser played his last Test in 1998, the same year South Africa last toured England, when he took 24 wickets in the series to finish the summer as England's leading wicket taker.

He called time on his 18-year career at the start of last summer to pursue a career in the media and is now a regular member of the TMS team.

Angus answers your questions

We put the best of your questions to Angus.

I am a Middlesex fan and watched you bowl for years at Lord's. What do you think of the job that Andy Strauss is doing?
Sheetal, UK

Andy's doing an excellent job and that has been shown in the results he's getting.

He's a young man and I sprung the captaincy on him when I decided to retire, but slowly and surely he's putting his stamp on the side and getting it moving in the right direction.

Which overseas Test ground did you most enjoy playing at?
Andrew Roberts, UK

Trinidad would obviously be a ground that stands out for me because I did well there, getting 19 wickets in two Tests, but my favourite would be the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Like Lord's is has tradition, combines the old and the new and is a special place to play.

During your county career who was the best player never to be picked for England?
Chand, London

Darren Bicknell has always been a good player for Surrey and Nottinghamshire.

When he was at his best in the mid-nineties he was unlucky that he was competing with Alec Stewart and Mike Atherton.

You seemed to bowl more effectively in tandem with Devon Malcolm. Is this true and, if so, why?
David McFegan, Hungary

I haven't looked at the records but we were looked upon as two bolwers who complimented each other.

Devon was raw and quick and a bit all over the place at times, while I was steady and in the right area.

He helped me in that all of a sudden batsmen were a bit uncomfortable down his end and maybe they'd play a shot at me.

I gave him support in that I allowed him to go for it without worrying about going for a few runs and that combination helped produce the goods.

I am very aware of your reputation as a miserly bowler. How did you manage to be so restrictive, both in one-day and Test matches, and who was the most difficult batsman you found to bowl to?
Ramey, USA

I had a simple method and worked out what my limitations were at a young age.

I wasn't going to be an out and out pace bowler, I was going to be a medium-pace bowler and I had to work out how I was going to remain competitive using what I had - a high action, get bounce out of the pitch, use the seam and get a little bit of movement.

I wish at times I'd been a little bit more experimental and tried a few more things, but in another way perhaps it wouldn't have made me the bowler that I was.

As for batsmen, Brian Lara was the most difficult to bowl to - a combination of his left-handedness, eye and skill.

Do you think the England bowling attack has the right balance? I am worried that in picking both Harmison and Anderson, both young strike bowlers, we are asking them to be something that they are not.
Paul, UK

The England attack has got the right balance although Darren Gough doesn't seem to be the bowler that he was.

Before this Test we had a blend of experience and youth.

There are exciting young bowlers in this country - a swing bowler in Anderson, a big, tall fast bowler in Harmison, a lively, steady, get the ball in the right areas bowler like Andrew Flintoff and Gough who has 229 Test wickets.

The fact they haven't performed means you're going to question the places of a couple of the players.

What do you think of James Anderson and his future for England? Do you think he is a better test or one-day bowler?
Phil Lloyd-Bushell, England

I think Anderson will be a fine bowler full stop. You don't become a good bowler in one, you become a good bowler in both.

He's young and he's going to be a bit inconsistent and he has got to groove his action a bit more and be able to rely on it.

At the moment it lets him down every now and then because he hasn't bowled enough overs.

He's an outstanding prospect who has the odd bad day, but the good days and the good spells will come along as well.

I believe the captaincy should have gone to Trescothick. Vaughan doesn't need the extra pressure of leading the team. His runs could dry up.
Ses Karuna, London, UK

There is a risk of that when someone has been such a good player for a 14 month period but I think Vaughan is a better leader than Trescothick.

The only other person I would have considered for the captaincy would have been Adam Hollioake, for maybe a one or two-year period just to allow Vaughan to settle in.

Trescothick isn't a natural leader.

Of the first team that Nasser Hussain captained against New Zealand in 1999, only Stewart and Butcher remained in his final match as captain against South Africa. Which current players do you think will still be around in 4 years time for England, and who will not?
Andrew Richmond, Wales

Trescothick, James Anderson, Steve Harmison and Chris Read - there's four.

Vaughan has not been involved in the selection of this side which was picked before he knew he was captain.

He hasn't been able to have any input, but the next Test might be a fairer comparision because he must have a vision which might not include some players involved in this match.

My question is related to Indians in county cricket, why do you think they've all played so badly? Also is it true that they aren't very popular at their respective counties? Best Regards, Sonali
Sonali Chander, India

It's no coincidence that India haven't been a very good touring side.

Indian players are some of the most naturally gifted players you'll come across, but maybe the conditions in England don't suit their batting or their bowling.

It's difficult to work out the reasons why, but I suppose you get used to playing on low, slow, flat pitches, then in county cricket you get on livelier surfaces with the ball nipping around a bit. Perhaps their techniques aren't up to it.

I haven't heard that they're unpopular at their counties.

I am a fast bowler and I'm having troubles with my run-up.I run in fast but as I get to the crease,I slow down and then bowl.How can this be fixed ?
Ron, USA

Don't start so quickly! You should try and build your run up so that you're travelling at optimum speed when you hit the crease.

It's pointless travelling at your fastest at the start or middle of your run up. Maybe try shortening your run up and slowly build yourself up.

I am facing problems in my fast bowling action which is similar to Srinath. I have very hard time increasing the pace and working on my outswing. Also which action is better open chested or side arm. Can you please give me some advice on this.
Adeel, Canada

The beauty about bowling is that there is no right or wrong way.

There are basic technical things that you've got to do, but if you look at the actions of the likes of Colin Croft or Malcolm Marshall combined to pure actions like Dennis Lillee or Richard Hadlee, your action is important but it's not the end of the world.

The most important thing is your wrist position when you let go of the ball.

It needs to be behind the ball so that the seam comes down straight. If the seam comes down straight you've obviously got a chance of getting seam and swing movement.

The biggest thing for me is that you don't fall away at the moment of delivery, which means that a right-arm bowler shouldn't let their left side collapse with your left arm falling away too early. If it does it takes the head and the arm with it.

The best advice is to be as upright as you can when you let go of the ball and come over the top instead of around the side.

Have you got any suggestions with someone dealing with a pro longed case of the yips?
Matt Prisco, UK

It's easy to say forget about it, but it's a mental thing so you've got to train yourself out of it.