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If it's an unlikely success story, it's an undeniable one.

Thirteen months ago was a county spinner whose best chance of fame seemed to lie with his band . As 2010 ticks round, he's the , the fastest English spinner to 50 wickets in history (take that, Laker, Titmus and Underwood) and close to indispensible to England skipper Andrew Strauss.

By any standards it's been a spectacular year. Those stats above are only the start of it - there were the two wickets in his first ever over in Test cricket, four five-wicket hauls, starring roles with the ball in England's two Ashes wins at Lord's and The Oval and nine wickets in the match as England beat South Africa by an innings for the first time in 45 years.

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A Ronseal of a headline, if ever there was one.

Since it's the season for (a) reminiscing, and (b) debate-friendly lists, let's shun the brandy snaps and fiddly clementines for a while and come up with our own personal favourites.

Just one simple rule of engagement before we begin: your selection has to be something you saw in the flesh, rather than on television. All clear?

Here's my three best, in reverse order. After that, as a counterpoint, the three worst. Even the thought of that awful, awful match at... but there's time for that later.

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"Dear Santa," you can imagine Andrew Strauss writing, "please bring me one Test opener, a number six, one all-rounder and - since I've been a very good skipper this year - a rapid pace bowler too."

England may have escaped from the with the series still level, but it is flaws more than draws which will occupy their captain's thoughts over the Christmas period.

While South Africa have been the best Test side in the world for the last two years, England remain a work in progress - capable of matching the best in some sessions and plumbing the dreadful depths in others. And the troubles begin at the very top of the order.

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