So what did you think? For me it was a match that didn’t quite make sense. The pitch was lifeless (a poor one for test cricket) yet the match ended in compelling drama.
Both attacks spent most of the match aiming at the batsman’s head – even though there was no pace and bounce to speak of – and Alastair Cook set some pretty creative fields on day five. I know this was because runs weren’t an issue, but it was still jaw dropping to see. Maybe they put something in his water at tea?
Overall though, I think we can be pretty happy at the progress made by our team. It was a real shame we couldn’t quite finish the job – the bowlers deserved better after putting in heroic effort – but many of the newcomers looked at home in the test arena.
There were real positives with both bat and ball. England’s two main run scorers were young guys with plenty to prove. Ballance didn’t look convincing in the first innings, but his composure in the second dig was admirable.
What impressed me was his ability to read the game, adapt to changing circumstances, and play accordingly. There was none of this “that’s the way I play approach”.
Good players can entertain, but truly great ones show versatility, discipline and then move through the gears when necessary.
Ballance obviously has a long way to go, and I’m still not convinced that he’s a number three, but he’s obviously a talented lad. He looked chuffed to bits with his ton. Good on him.
It was also brilliant to see Root return to form. Whenever he’s batted in the middle-order he’s looked rock solid in his test career. Lets forget about the last twelve months. He’s still a quality prospect – and like Ballance, his temperament is absolutely flawless.
The bowling attack also looked pretty potent. Jordan and Plunkett are so much better than Bresnan / Rankin / Tremlett that it almost makes me want to cry. What on earth were the selectors doing last year?
For the first time since 2005, England’s change seamers were just as potent as the openers. I think this will become more and more apparent as the summer goes on. This Lord’s pitch nullified our quicks to a large extent, but I’m salivating at the thought of them bowling on better cricket wickets.
Unfortunately however, bowling talent appears to be cyclical. The cricketing Gods give with the one hand, but take away with the other:
In 2005 we had a great seam attack but no spinner worth his salt – the King of Spain occasionally justified his place ahead of the superior Robert Croft, but such moments were fleeting.
When we eventually found a spinner – and how much we miss Swanny already – Flintoff, Harmison and Simon Jones were at the end of their careers.
England have rarely fielded attacks with potency in all areas. Now Swann has retired, a crop of good fast bowlers has emerged. C’est la vie.
Having said that, I thought Moeen Ali did pretty well. He’s better than a part-timer, he bowls with decent loop and actually spins the ball – which is something Giles never did.
In time, I think Moeen can develop. I just wish that Cook trusted him. Every time England took a wicket The Beard to be Feared was immediately taken off. There was no time for him to adapt to conditions and find the right pace to bowl at.
All spinners need time and the confidence of their skipper to shine. Moeen did not pull a Simon Kerrigan, so I’m not sure why Cook was so reluctant to trust him. Personally, I think it was Cook’s inherent nervousness and conservatism. He stuck with what he knows.
Which brings us on to the declaration. Personally, I would have pulled out a little earlier – but not much earlier. I can understand why Moores and Cook were nervous about losing.
When people are under pressure and anxious its natural to think about what could go wrong, rather than what might go right. Let’s just give the guy a break. The team played pretty well overall. We were under pressure on the fourth day, but we did not buckle. Perhaps this new team has some character.
And let’s not forget, we were just one DRS review away from victory. That’s as close as it gets.
I just hope someone from the BCCI was watching. What’s more, I hope the person sitting next to him said: “that’s why we have technology you intransigent, arrogant twit”.
It’s disappointing England didn’t win, but at least the match didn’t end in a horrific umpiring blunder.
Paul Reiffel. Trigger finger. How apt.
James Morgan
“Overall though, I think we can be pretty happy at the progress made by our team”
1. progress?
2. our team?
stopped reading at that point
I’m assuming you passionately supported England during the Ashes? The team included (at various times) Jimmy, Broad, Prior, Cook, Root, Bell , Ballance and also Jordan in the ODIs. Meanwhile the likes of Ali, Plunkett and Robson played for the Lions. So yes, given that I supported all these players in the winter, and for several years before that, they are still ‘my team’ and I want them to do well. I’ve followed their careers since they became professionals, and in a contest between England and any other country in the world I would prefer England to win!
The dropping of one player (for whatever bogus reasons) and the appointment of a coach who would not have been my first choice, does not stop me supporting guys I’ve always supported. To do otherwise would make no sense. Yes, the ECB are blundering muppets, but that’s always been the case – just like the FA and the RFU have always been muppets. It doesn’t stop me supporting England. There’s cynicism and then there’s losing perspective.
This is a cricket blog to discuss the England team. I am trying to do just that. If you don’t want to read about how the team are doing, that’s your choice. But I’m kind of curious as to why you tuned in in the first place if that’s the case. We moan a hell of a lot on this blog, but if that’s all we did our readership would soon give up.
I’m guessing Boz feels disenfranchised and betrayed. The world is a very different place since February. There are no two ways about it – getting behind this team, and celebrating their success when it comes, means getting behind and celebrating Paul Downton, Flower, and Cook. Some won’t mind doing that- others will.
I feel sorry for Cook. He’s been used, abused and manipulated by those with their own agendas. Silly sod just didn’t see it for himself and just allowed himself to be lead around by the nose. Now he is doing a job that he is just not good enough to do. No I don’t think he was “creative” at all. He just doesn’t have that instinct to set a good field. He panics and flounders under pressure. Trusting Moeen may have paid dividends but I still don’t think we would have won that match. Without Root and Ballance we would have been toast. I’m with Boz on this one. Sorry to disagree with you James. I do think there are a lot of plusses and they have come from the young players. Not saying that Jimmy didn’t play well for instance but the youngsters are the future. I just wish that this present crowd of Old Farts, aka the ECB, fell on their collective sword or were sent packing. Cook should be relieved of the captaincy and let him get back to batting – which, I believe, he would find form again if he didn’t have the pressure of Captaincy. He failed in this test. The ECB may well ruin his career prematurely if they keep piling on the pressure.
Cook wasn’t creative throughout the test, but at least he did actually try a few things on day 5 (albeit because runs weren’t an issue). He employed an 8-1 field to Sanga which eventually contributed to his wicket (playing on when Jimmy moved a rare ball back into the left hander) everything before that had moved away to the slips – a plan set up by Cook’s field. Overall he was too negative, but we must give him credit when plans work. The leg slip also took a catch off Plunkett’s bowling. That’s rare.
I see what you mean but I think that’s an exteme view Maxie. Let’s not forget that Flower did some very good things for England. Yes he stuck in the knife into KP, but there are often disagreements and agendas in pro sport. Players leave clubs etc all the time, but the club goes on. I imagine some France fans were furious when Ginola and Cantona were left out of their international team, but they went on to win the World Cup with Zidane , Djorkaeff etc. Was that team not worthy of support.
As for Downton, the ECB have been incompetent, duplicitous perhaps, and patronising, but all we are talking about is the dropping of one single player who only had (in my opinion) one or two years left at the top level because of his technique, which relied purely on a great eye. KP was one of my favourite players too, but all my other favourites remain so they’ll continue to get my support.
When we launched this blog we said (on the about page that’s still there) that we were suspicious of authority but supportive of our players. That remains my position.
” but all we are talking about is the dropping of one single player who only had (in my opinion) one or two years left at the top level because of his technique, …”
wrong
I said some won’t mind it, others will. We have to accept that feelings run very high – and vary widely – and that we are also in uncharted waters.
But what does one do when a conflict arises between two players?
Morgs. I tend to agree with you views. Some good signs but still work in progress. A few more games and we’ll know whether it is real progress.
I’d disagree on the declaration for two reasons. Firstly, it is really problematic declaring one a guy approaching his maiden ton – we’ve seen it before. And secondly, it generally easier to declare as an armchair captain when the gamble costs nothing, but in a two test series you lose the second chance to win the series.
England have been afraid of declarations since Adelaide 2006.
Maxie – I notice you’re keeping quiet about the DRS issue … ?
No strong feelings about this occurrence – but Trent Bridge last year did put me in a difficult position! I’m still against it, though, and imagine if DRS had been in place in 2005, and Aus still had a review left when Harmison dismissed Kasprowicz at Edgbaston.
keep drinking…
batting fragility – ok Root and Ballance made runs on a flat flat track against undemanding bowling….and Ballance had his struggles (accuracy is a problem for English batsmen, I wonder why)
bowling – the intensity needed to win the match might have drawn Anderson’s sting for the Summer….the rest looked innocuous unless you think that Plunkett bowling infantile bodyline was impressive (Boycott loved it…for what that is worth)
No spinner…Herath had the Eng;lish batters on a string, even when bowling at the “wrong” end.
No runs from the nucleus…Cook,. Bell…thankfully the yoof took charge. I hope Headingley produces a turner. And the Lankans might have kept Prior in place…kudos!
‘Infantile bodyline’? This applies to both side as SL used the tactic in England’s first innings going around the wicket and bowling short. It did for Prior.
Almost did for Jayawardene many times too. I seem to remember a left arm Aussie with a girly demeanour and ridiculous tattoos using the same tactic to great effect this winter.
A lot of positives to come from this test, but as this blog seems to bring out the negatives a lot (which is fine as mainstream media tend to be too conservative and back off when they really should drive the criticism further), I’ll add my weight to where England (Cook actually) fluffed their (his) lines.
1. Why did Cook allow Joe Root to bat on and on in the hope he would eventually get his double hundred?
2. Ditto Balance in the second knock? I remember Ricky Ponting did a similar thing for Brad Hodge to get his 200, only to see a test match slip away because of it – he never did that again.
3. It took 30 odd overs before Cook brought back Anderson on the 5th day, why? Was Jimmy injured?
4. Why did Cook say that the weird field placings were Jimmy’s idea and not his? If I was Jimmy I would of smacked Cook over the head with a cricket pad (he’s good at that!).
5. Cook said that he knew Pradeep nicked the ball for that LB in the last over. So why did he not recall the appeal? Is he that desperate to win, that the ECB Golden Boy would stoop so low as to let the process take its course when he should of stepped up and had the balls to say something? England were not going to lose, but the impact of recalling the appeal would of had far better headlines the next day (probably would of made the ECB look better than ordinary as well!). Imagine if SL had no reviews left, Cookie lying in his haystack that night thinking about a great win (“even though I knew he hit it!”) – he would know it was not right.
Sorry James, but Cook should be relieved of the pain of captaincy and just bat. He made a meal of it at Lord’s, saved only by his team mates covering his a***. England had a chance to win the match and they fluffed their lines, so for that Cook should be taken down to the barn and given a beating by his team mates.
Some good points Doug. But even I get bored of bashing Cook all the time. God knows I’ve done it enough . I’m not sure I agree with those who think his batting will improve if they strip the captaincy away. I think his batting problems are more fundamental than that. Now teams realise that they should pitch the ball up to him pretty much all the time, sometimes I wonder whether he’ll ever score big runs again.
Memories still linger of Melbourne 1998, when Atherton declared with Hick on 98. Hick was livid, and Atherton still regrets it.
I bet Atherton regrets having the dirt in his pocket as well. LOL
I tend to think OK this was the first game of the New Era so don’t read too much into it. England were better than I expected and Sri Lanka were better than the press led us to believe. Actually a game were positives could be taken and lessons learned. I hope England use it as a starting point for moving forward and don’t sit back.
I must ask when is it the right time to drop a player? Cook’s batting has suffered for a prolonged period yet his name is the first on the team sheet. I appreciate he is the captain, but at what point can his selection be questioned?
It’s fair to say, in football a striker will find himself rightly dropped if he fails to score for 10 games straight. If Jonny Wilkinson had a run of 10 poor games where his penalty success rate dropped alarmingly low, he would be rightly dropped. Yes cricket is different sport and individual skill set is tested every innings. It still begs the question, at what point does Cook’s batting justify his inclusion?
That’s a very interesting point. One we might explore in a full article soon. The problem with Cook is that he has a pretty poor technique that’s very much his. It’s extraordinary that such a poor driver of the ball has been so successful at test level. Because Cook has an idiosyncratic method he’s always been prone to alarming slumps in form. When he’s all in sync he’s a very good player, but if something’s not right he’s essentially a walking wicket. When he’s in poor form, he doesn’t have a sound technique to fall back on. This is why, in my opinion, he cannot be considered a great player & would not have made many runs at all had he played 15 years ago when attacks were more potent and pitches less batsmen friendly.