I was extremely disappointed, but hardly surprised, when Mark Footitt was left out of Derbyshire’s ongoing game against Australia. He’s fit, he’s fast, and he’s got a point to prove. Surely that’s exactly the kind of bowler who might have ruffled a few canary yellow feathers before Edgbaston?
In the dark old days of the 1990s, the Aussies loved nothing more than letting fringe players rip into England. On one occasion they even arranged a triangular ‘ODI’ series involving England and, you guessed it, Australia A. The opportunity to embarrass England was too good to ignore – and embarrass us they did: Australia’s A team qualified for the final at England’s expense. How humiliating.
England, on the other hand, take a more conservative, no scratch that, negative approach. We hide our potential weapons away: “oh no, we don’t want to give the Aussies a sighter … and what if they destroy his confidence?” some blazer would’ve said, while dropping his monocle into a gin and tonic.
Although there’s possibly some merit, maybe, in hiding a new mystery spinner from the opposition (because you want to hide his variations), a fast bowler is a completely different kettle of fish. They’re fast and nasty no matter how many times the opposition sees them. England have seen Mitchell Johnson a hell of a lot, but it didn’t stop him from blowing batsmen away at Lord’s.
Although there’s a possibility it was Derbyshire’s decision to leave Footitt out – although I don’t buy this because their coach Graeme Welch is a big advocate of the left armer’s international credentials – I think England should have insisted that Footitt played.
How are we going to find out if players are good enough for international cricket if we don’t play them against the best players? Some might say that Footitt’s 50 championship wickets 24 demonstrate his ability. I’m not so sure. Darren Stevens has taken 50 wickets at 19 in division two this year. The only way we’ll know if Footitt is good enough is by watching him take the Aussies on.
What’s the worst that could have happened if Footitt had played? Maybe the Aussies would’ve tucked into him and ruined his confidence. But so what? At least then we’d know he’s not up to it. Surely it’s better to find out about a player now rather than in a test match?
Overall England have missed a golden opportunity. Rather than Australia racking up 413-9 (which included two retirements) and gaining even more confidence ahead of the third test, Footitt might have roughed them up, administered a few physical and mental blows, and given them something to think about.
But oh no. That’s not the way we do things in our country. We’d rather our promising players run and hide in the dressing room.
James Morgan
@DoctorCopy
Excellent point James! I remember the Australia A odi series. In fairness NSW state side were the second best team in the world back then
I haven’t seen Footitt and don’t know whether he’s the answer, but a left arm quick who can bowl an in swinger from over the wicket would be useful to say the least. It seems to me that Smith’s only weakness (in addition, I suspect, to being prone to getting out after making a double century!) is that he walks to off even before the ball is bowled, leaving his leg stump exposed. I’m sure he would develop a way of coping wit it – great players do – but a left arm quick targeting leg stump would at least cause him temporary problems.
Superb point John. I still think Smith is vulnerable on decks with a bit of movement. I noticed his leg stump exposed too. Do you remember Craig White bowling Lara behind his legs a couple of times in the 1990s?
James
Yes, I do, and he wasn’t the quickest, although he was pretty accurate (and he played for Yorkshire when Ray Illingworth was Chairman of selectors!). Given the way Smith took Broad from outside of off stump to fine leg twice, it does make you wonder what they have to do to get him out, other than hope he loses concentration! Reminds me a bit of Arlott commentating on (Viv) Richards in his pomp “…and Richards goes to 150 and there seems no reason why he shouldn’t get a thousand. !!!
Like it!
James,
Spot on but for about 18 months Craig White was as quick as anyone in England. He just couldn’t cope with it physically for long. He had a period of 90 mph and really potent reverse swing.
Not the only player to start as an offspinner and turn out to be a bit useful in a different guise!
Agree totally, James. Let the kid play and see how good or bad he is! Professional cricketera should play in games to demonstrate their skills, surely?
This seems to be the default of thw ECB, to overprotect their players (except Nick Compton who was forced to play TWO tour matches in 2013…)
Aussies will be pissing themselvea. Remnds me of 1997 when Robert Croft, whose form was a bit iffy(!!!!!????) in the Tests, opted to chick out of the Glamorgan tour match; Ian Healey ripped the piss out of him and the ECB in the press
Good post and am glad you have written about this. This game isn’t the only game where this has happened. Matt Coles of Kent with 40 odd wickets this year also didn’t get the chance to test himself against the Aussies. I watched Matt a lot last year at Hampshire and was sad that he had to leave as the guy has talent and makes things happen out of nothing.
It’s the default position isn’t it – leave out a county’s best players and give the touring team an easy ride. What’s the thinking? Are they hoping that the test matches will be such a step up for the opposition that they’ll fall in a heap? Seems wishful thinking. We should be doing our best to undermine the tourists in the warm up games – and using them as a scouting exercise to help us identify our best up and coming players.
I know the counties might be reluctant to suffer injuries to key players, but again I think that’s a negative mindset. The individual players surely want a crack at test stars? Surely that’s why they play the game – to test themselves and have a go.
What’s more, if the counties put out their best sides, and made more of a game of it, then surely bigger crowds would turn up? Tour matches used to be an event. Now they’re just net practice for the tourists.
Glad to see that so far this Derbyshire game is an actual first class match rather than a 15 v 15 a side game which most tourist games end up as.
Perhaps they’re still using him in the nets to get our batsmen ‘sighted’??
There wasn’t too much problem with the crowds at Essex and Kent the games were very well-attended despite missing key county players.
The commentators for local radio said that good players were rested due to the heavy schedule that Derbyshire have at this time of year.
Fair enough, though the players themselves must have been busting to play against the Aussies.
I don’t believe for a minute that a 29 year old professional bowler, with 10 years experience will have his confidence ruined, if Aussie batsmen hammer him.
After all, in June, Footitt bowled against Essex and the “great” Alastair Cook, taking 0-90. Haven’t noticed it ruining his confidence. In fact, in the following county game against Surrey, he got 7 wickets.
Footit together with most of the Derbyshire first team was playing for the second team against Worcestershire. obviously this match was considered more important!
So much for giving them a rest! All a bit odd.
Why would the local media blame the hectic schedule when they’re playing in another match? Sounds like someone has tried to control the message … but as usual underestimating the public’s ability to put two and two together.
they are probably preparing him to bring out the drinks at the next Test. That’lll show them!
I’m thinking back to the ’09 ashes when Australia played a pre-ashes warm up match against England A (I will not refer to them as England Lions on principle!).
Steve Harmison played and did a complete number on the dearly departed Phillip Hughes by roughing him up with short balls which he didn’t handle well at all. If you recall, ’09 was the year that Hughes came over at the start of the season and scored buckets of runs in the county game against just about everyone. His technique was really exposed by Harmy and as a result he received nothing but short stuff when it came to the test matches. He was subsequently dropped and we all know how the series went.
These tour games are far more important to us than to Australia, or at least they should be. It’s our opportunity to test theories and work people out before we have to face them in a test. It seems to me that this year the tour matches are just serving as massive confidence boosters for the Aussies whilst England hide away and lick their wounds.
I’m pleased to see the batting order adjusted and the inclusion of Bairstow will plug the gaping wound that Ballance had become.
The problem is that this all brings into focus the fact that we don’t seem to have a bowling unit that can take 20 wickets when the opposition are on form. We look ordinary and ordinary won’t do.
Footitt isn’t centrally contracted so the England management can’t tell Derbyshire what to do with him – if they wanted him to play he’d have played. But when the counties are playing non-stop from April to September with virtually no break in the schedule, these games are looked upon as an inconvenience and an opportunity to rest tired players, rather than an opportunity. To suggest this is somehow a negative move on the England management’s part is rather looking for something to stick on them for me (remember that Taylor and Compton both played against Australia on the last tour when they might possibly have been called upon to play, therefore giving Aus a long look at their techniques).
That’s possible, but it is really disappointing if true.
Sadly, the CC is poor indication of international capability – if it were, Bresnan would be pressing for an England recall as Ballance’s replacement on the strength of his batting this season (averaging around 60), which clearly would be a bit silly.
Did you not see the comment above? Most Derbs first team players were playing in a game against Worcs. Therefore the players weren’t rested, they were deliberately hidden away
Ah so a 2nd XI game is as intense and thorough a workout as a run out against an Australian touring side? And did England ask Derbyshire to hide Godleman, Thakor, Durston, Taylor and Cotton away too to play for the 2nds? Some squad change for the fourth Test being planned then using the same logic.
When England tour Australia they often warm up against an Australia A side. Not play against one or two test hopefuls but a whole side of them. It Is a great opportunity for the aussies to see who can step up to the next level. As for the bit about revealing the variations of a mystery spinner he can always hold back if he has something like that. We all know the story about Shane Warne not bowling his flipper In the 1993 tour warm up matches. That said I’m not sure that hiding mystery balls is an issue at present
It would be nice to think that we were indeed hiding a mystery spinner, along with two mystery genuinely fast opening bowlers, a mystery opener and a mystery number 3 !
If I recall as well the Australian side hated playing against the Australian A side back in the 1990s ODI series. The whole thing must have seemed a bit scary playing against, not the opposition, but the guys viaing for your place.
Part of the reason that the Australian team hated playing Australia A was that the crowd was behind Australia A when they played each other. Everyone wants to see the underdogs win!
The lad can bowl-quick with a bit of swing. well worth a look at but looks like the opportunity been missed. No way England will just throe him into an Ashes series now-negativity persists and still exists no matter who is in charge. tut tut
You’d hope Derbyshire would’ve wanted to field their strongest available 11 against international opposition, so I trust there was good reason for Footitt’s omission.
The ECB’s conservative selection policy however is such that it often militates against picking even a potential best 11, so (whether or not they actually had a hand in the decision) I’m sure they’ll be quite happy he didn’t play.
After all, we couldn’t possibly run the risk that he might “embarrass” any of those bowlers whose names are as good as pre-printed onto the England team sheet before the selectors’ meeting, now could we?