If every match in the 2015 Ashes is played in Manchester, the Aussies might stand a chance. They love Old Trafford – especially Michael Clarke. After dominating England in the third test match a few weeks ago, they clobbered us again yesterday. It’s hard to know what to say really, other than “where was the bloody rain this time?”
One of the problems cricket bloggers face is finding new things to say – especially when the team keeps making the same mistakes.
I could talk about Josh Buttler’s runs – now that really would make a change – but I think we all understand that his contribution wasn’t particularly meaningful, as the game was already over bar the shouting.
We could talk about James Tredwell, who had a bad game for once; well, it’s hard for spinners to be effective when there’s no turn and they’re predominantly bowling to Michael Clarke (if there’s a better player of spin in world cricket, I’ll eat my old school cap).
However, to talk about these issues would be, well, skirting the issue: which is, of course, England’s clueless selection. Again.
Those of you who read this blog regularly will know I’m an Ashley Giles sceptic. I found his appointment as a selector premature and somewhat unwarranted.
As an armchair fan, who doesn’t know what really goes on in the inner sanctums and committee rooms of the ECB, I admit my view was probably premature itself. However, based on Gilo’s performances as a pundit of Sky – in which he came across as an average communicator, who didn’t seems to say anything insightful – I almost fell off my chair when it became apparent Giles was being groomed as the next England head coach. Why Giles? I assumed it was because he was inoffensive and a good team man i.e. exactly the type of non-boat rocker the ECB love.
Of course, appearances can be deceptive. Maybe Giles is a different bloke away from the cameras. Alan Shearer, the former footballer, was known by fans across the land as perhaps the most boring man on the planet because of his deadpan performances in front of the cameras; behind the scenes, however, he was reputed to be a true leader and, strange as it might sound, a bit of a joker.
Consequently, I could have Giles all wrong. Maybe he really is the tactical mastermind and inspirational man-manager we all want the England coach to be.
Thus far, however, his tenure as England’s ODI coach has entrenched my initial opinion. Our approach to batting in the champions trophy almost worked, but it was incredibly anachronistic.
Did anyone really expect us to win trophies the old fashioned way: by scoring slowly throughout the first 40 overs and then keeping wickets in hand for a late flurry which might see us creep up to somewhere near 280? In this day and age, the best teams are explosive and score 300+ on a good day.
However, maybe Gilo was just playing to our strengths? Our batting line up is full of Cooks and Trotts, rather than Dhawans and Dhonis. Maybe it would’ve been wrong for England to pretend they’re something they’re not. I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Had it not been for some rain and some strange umpiring, we might have won our first 50 over trophy.
However, since the Ashes, a new problem has arisen: selection. The T20s were experimental to say the least. Eyebrows were raised and heads shaken.
Then there was the ODI in Ireland, when even Nick Knight, a man so polite he’d probably say “thank you” if David Warner punched him in the face, got annoyed about England picking an unbalanced team with few proper bowlers.
Gilo wouldn’t do it again, in the ODI series against the Aussies, would he?
Well, we saw yesterday that he would. England picked 8 proper batsmen (Stokes at 8?!) and just three specialist bowlers. Bopara was therefore, once again, the official fifth bowler expected to deliver a full quota of ten overs. No wonder Australia got so many runs. What was Gilo thinking? And why did we bowl when we won the toss?
It might seem a while ago now, but last year England temporarily reached the summit of the ODI rankings. The future looked rosy. However, since Giles has taken over we’ve won eight matches and lost nine. That’s not exactly a record to be proud of – especially when the bulk of these matches have been played at home.
I desperately want Gilo to be a success for two reasons: he was a cult hero as a player and, more importantly, when Andy Flower steps down at the end of the Ashes down under, we’ll be stuck with him.
Thus far, however, it’s hard to be anything other than sceptical. Perhaps a win on Wednesday will make me a believer. It’s amazing how stuffing the Aussies can make one feel a whole lot better.
James Morgan
