World Cup travails and England cricket
No heads rolled after England’s shambolic World Cup. It was swept under the carpet and Peter Moores’ brave new world was given a fresh airing in the Caribbean. It was surmised that England should put it past Denesh Ramdin’s men, who were a few places below them in the rankings, with some ease.
Is English cricket in turmoil?
The drawn opening Test at Antigua confirmed the optimism was justified. Look (11, 13) continued his labours, albeit temporarily. But Gary Balance (122), Joe Root (83 and 59), Ben Stokes (79, 35) and Ian Bell (143) provided the impetus for England’s 399 an 333-6. Set a target of 438, the home team was down and out at one stage. Their fortunes were revived by a timely fifty by Ramdin, and a first ever Test hundred by Jason Holder — a monumental effort under pressure. He drove well when it was up, pulled ferociously when it was dropped short and lofted at his will and pleasure. Alastair Cook’s team had dominated but failed to clinch it.
It was Granada a few days later. James Anderson, England’s solitary world-class bowler, grabbed the headlines by eclipsing Ian Botham as his country’s leading wicket-taker. Cook contributed handsomely (76, 59 not out). Balance continued his impressive run with 77 and an unbeaten 81. Jonathan Trott’s 59 was a rarity! Root made a majestic, unbeaten 182. His footwork was eye catching, he played the ball late and, most importantly he attacked the bowlers.
The efforts of the batsmen gave England a cushion of 165 on the first innings. The opponents were kept down to 307 second time round, and the Cook-Balance liaison saw England stroll to a nine wicket triumph. English wins abroad have latterly been few and far between. Champagne corks were duly pepped and everything seemed rosy in Cook’s garden. What a difference a few days make!
Barbados has been home to some of the greatest West Indian fast bowlers – Wesley Hall, Joel Garner and the late Malcolm Marshall. There was something in the pitch and Jerome Taylor, not yet counted in the pantheon of greats, was most impressive. He ran in hard, had rhythm and swung and seamed the ball disconcertingly.
Cook’s grittiness and adhesiveness came to the fore as he stood tall among the ruins. Without his 105, the team would have been stretched to reach three figures. Trott made a five ball duck, and Bell, a golden one. Holder was their nemesis.
Once more, the ever-reliable Anderson (6-42) bowled them back into the game, a lead of 68 to boot. What followed was an indescribable horror. England limped to 39-5 by the end of day two. Eight English and ten West Indian wickets had gone down in the space of six hours on a pitch that was eminently playable as Jermaine Blackwood (in both innings) and Darren Bravo showed.
Balance, Stokes and Jos Buttler made some runs. The first-named cut against the spin and paid the price. Stokes was a victim of his own aggression, when discretion and occupation of the crease (as Buttler showed) would have served the team better. The West Indians gleefully accepted the win that was served up on a platter. It was all over inside three days and the series was shared one-all.
In passing, a comment on Stuart Broad. He didn’t have a lot of luck with the ball. However, his obvious inability to play the ball around his rib-cage is the result of very poor technique. Chin-music followed by the deadly-yorker saw his stumps being spread-eagled.
In two month’s time, Michael Clark’s confident, cocky and brash Aussies will take on England in another contest for that little black urn. Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder will be child’s play when compared to the mean, menacing Mitchell Johnson, the lively Mitchell Starc and the likes of Ryan Harris, Josh Hazelwood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson.
Who can England put on the park? Jonathan Trott, one fifty in his last six innings, won’t be in the mood to take on Johnson. He may have played his last innings, Cook is a known quantity to the Aussies who will, as usual, target the leader. Bell is a beautiful player when on song, but his recent form has been fitful. Balance has the stats in his favour, but those runs have come, in the main, against softer opposition.
James Tredwell and Moeen Ali for spin? The Aussies will sure make a meal of them. Tredwell could well go the Swann way. Broad has not been among the wickets, but who is to replace him? It does look bleak for Cook’s men. What of the banished Kevin Pietersen? Downtown and Clarke, two of his foremost critics, have had their come uppance. That leaves his pet hate, Moores out on a limb. Michael Vaughan, an Ashes winning captain, and the controversial batsman both sing from the same sheet. The former is ear-marked for the managerial role.
The gifted player will however have to overcome some drawbacks. Laid off cricket for some time, he could be rusty at best or, at worst, could have lost it all. The spirit may be willing but the flesh could be weak. Moreover, how will his reintegration with the team go? Pietersen has spoken of Jimmy as being ‘a lovely guy’. But Broad is a different kettle of fish. The fact that his career may be on the line could prompt him to be more accommodating towards the Surrey player.