England given trophy off camera after hollow win

Shock and despair at the 'spot-fixing' allegations against members of the Pakistan team left England unable to celebrate their 3-1 npower Test series win.

Champagne and back slaps ought to have been in order at Lord's after England bowled their opponents out for 147 with five sessions to spare to win by an innings and 225 runs.

Yet instead of public acknowledgement of a task handsomely accomplished, administrators reacted to newspaper reports implicating several Pakistani players by organising a private post-match presentation ceremony in the Long Room.

England captain Andrew Strauss emerged to speak of his "astonishment" and sadness at the finger of match-fixing suspicion on the tourists and the arrest of a 35-year-old man, from outside the Pakistan squad.

Confirmation has since come from team manager Yawar Saeed that Strauss' opposite number Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif had their mobile phones taken away by Scotland Yard officers, during their investigations at the tourists' hotel last night.

Strauss warned against pre-judging the repercussions of the controversy but believes - if cases are proven - anyone guilty of match-fixing should be banned from international cricket for life. "If someone is found categorically guilty of doing it, the only way for me, is for them not to be able to play international cricket again," he said.

Strauss added: "I was absolutely astonished. I was sitting there watching the news when it came out. There was no prior warning or anything like that. Clearly they are only allegations at this stage, but they are allegations of the worst kind."