BECOMING the number one in the world is becoming a bit of a curse to England's cricketers.

A couple of years ago Michael Vaughan was briefly ranked number one batsman in the world after a brilliant tour of Australia.

It has been downhill all the way since then with his poor batting in the current tour of South Africa causing real concern.

Andrew Flintoff is another whose form in South Africa has been in stark contrast with that which earned him the official ranking of number one all rounder in the world a little more than a year ago.

Steve Harmison has also suffered since he made it to the top of the world's bowling rankings. He has been so ineffective in South Africa that there have been doubts cast over whether he is worthy of his place.

Such a thought would have been unthinkable before the tour, but it is indicative of the slump which seems to affect England's players after they hit their peak.

The word which sums up this trio's fluctuating form is inconsistency and that is a characteristic which still runs throughout the England team.

It is a weakness which the Aussies will take sufficient advantage of in the summer to retain the Ashes, which is a shame because there is so much ability in the England side now.