Twitter Trouble

Social networking sites provide us journalists with opportunities to gain an insight to those involved in sport - even when we can't get an interview. They also provide an opportunity for players to slip up and tell us things the clubs or authorities don't want us to know.

Ryan Babel has become the latest player to fall foul of the Twitter revolution. After Liverpool's FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford, the Dutchman posted a doctored image of referee Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt. It was accompanied by the Tweet "And they call him one of the best referees. That's a joke" (@RyanBabel) The joke's on Babel now though as it has landed him in trouble with FA. The game's authorities charging the forward with improper conduct.

Of course, it's not the first case of a player landing himself in deep water because of Twitter. Darren Bent (@DB11TT) did himself no favours with the Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy when he posted: "Do I wanna go Hull City NO. Do I wanna go stoke NO do I wanna go sunderland YES so stop f****** around Levy..." It caused outrage, but for Bent the post worked. He was transferred to the Stadium of Light shortly after.

Phil Hughes (@PH408) gave the game away that he wasn't to be selected for the Third Ashes Test back in 2009 when he tweeted "Disappointed not to be on the field with the lads today , will be supporting the guys, it's a BIG test for us..." Cricket Australia were not happy details of the team had been leaked before the match, but this is becoming more common. Rio Ferdinand Tweeted he would be rested before Manchester United's match with Stoke. Team selection issues are a far cry from libel though.

Babel has become the first player to be charged by the Football Association for comments on a social networking site. For tweeters and us journalists it sets a dangerous precedent. It means players' mangers and agents will be monitoring their actions ever closer. And behind the closed doors of the Premier League, this will make it that bit tougher for us journalists (or the tech savvy) to be informed of what's really going on behind the scenes.

Winter of content for England

So in the end it was a glorious victory for England down under. A first win against Australia on their own turf since 1986-7 and three Test matches won by an innings. But who were the winners and who needs to prove themselves in England's Test match squad? Here's my half term report of England's team ahead of the one day series and World Cup.

ALISTAIR COOK
756 runs - average: 127.66
Before the Ashes many, including Armchair Athlete were questioning keeping Cook in the squad. But the opener has proved everyone wrong with a series of the very highest quality. Records galore, three centuries and a winter where the Essex batsman came of age. And at only 26 years old, he's surely a future England captain.

ANDREW STRAUSS
307 runs - average: 43.85
The first captain to lead England to Ashes success in Australia for 25 years. That in itself says enough but it's the manner of the victories that impresses most and that comes from fine leadership. After the huge defeat in Perth, England teams of the past would have disintegrated. But Strauss got the troops going back in the right direction.

JONATHAN TROTT
445 runs - average: 89.00
Three Test match hundreds in just 8 innings against the old enemy, Trott has been England's Mr Reliable ever since being the key to Ashes success at the Oval in 2009. His match winning 168 at the MCG capped another brilliant series for England's number 3, who has the attributes to step up to open the innings.

KEVIN PIETERSEN
360 runs - average: 60.00
KP looked weak against the turning ball in the prelude to the Ashes, but he delivered when it mattered. The mature double hundred, which was key to the win at Adelaide, showed Pietersen is capable of traditional shot making, rather than the reverse shots and slog sweeps of previous.

PAUL COLLINGWOOD
83 runs - average: 13.83

2 wickets - average: 36.50
A shame that Colly couldn't end his Test career with a successful series with bat or ball but his real legacy to England's test team will be in the field. The catch to dismiss Ricky Ponting at the WACA will go down as one of the best in Ashes history.

IAN BELL
329 runs - average: 65.80
This is a man who is in the form of his life. Bell is now a joy to watch bat and the fact he's managed over 300 runs batting at six (and mainly with the tail) shows just how good he now is. Bell isn't a guarantee to be in England's ODI side, but I urge Strauss and Flower to select a man who is seeing it like a football.

MATT PRIOR
252 runs - average: 50.40

23 dismissals
No questions over Prior's keeping on tour, but before Melbourne there was plenty of doubts over his batting. But two big knocks (and at good pace too) in the final two Tests leave the selectors a dilemma for the one day series and World Cup ahead.

JAMES ANDERSON
24 wickets - average: 26.04
The leading wicket taker in the series, Anderson led England's attack to great things. His burst in the opening throws of the Adelaide Test will live long in the memory, even if the Aussies recovered from 2 for 3. Fast swinging deliveries, the ability to reverse the ball and Glenn McGrath like accuracy are rapidly becoming Anderson's stock.

CHRIS TREMLETT
17 wickets - average: 23.35

The fear over Tremlett's selection was that his summer wickets had come in Division Two of the County Championship. But confidence is a powerful catalyst for success and Tremlett burst onto the Ashes scene with a wicket in his first over. From that he never looked back.

GRAEME SWANN
15 wickets - average: 39.80

88 runs - average: 22.00
Australia produced pitches to nullify Swann's impact - that's how much they feared him. And to some extent that worked. But Swann's ability to turn the ball even on benign surfaces is what's making him a truly great bowler. What also mustn't be understated is his influence in the dressing room. His video diaries showed morale was high throughout and the Sprinkler is now every cricket fan's favourite dance.

STEVEN FINN
14 wickets - average: 33.14

Finn is an exciting prospect there is no doubt. His strike rate is impressive (a wicket every 8 overs) but he was the most expensive bowler of the series. If he can maintain the threat whilst stemming the flow of runs Finn could be the tall quickie England need for the future.

TIM BRESNAN
11 wickets - average: 19.54

39 runs - average: 19.50
A brilliant return from the Yorkshire all rounder. Bresnan stepped in to replace Finn and with 6 for 75 at Melbourne the big man certainly delivered. Needs to back it up with another series of consistency to maintain the pressure on the selectors to pick him.

STUART BROAD
2 wickets - average: 80.50
Injury cut short Broad's involvement but given his impotency with bat and ball maybe this wasn't the worst thing. But at just 24, Broad can expect more chances against the Australians in the future.

And lest we forget the involvement of Andy Flower. His importance to the players was signified by every one of them giving the coach a big hug (with Trott going with a meaty handshake) when the Ashes were retained at Melbourne. The preparations were perfect and Flower would have been key in turning around England's fortunes after the Perth defeat.

Let's forget all the press about Australia being a weak version of their former self and let's focus on what has been a series of excellent all round cricket from England. It's now a realistic goal for the Test number one spot to follow. Keep it up boys.