That was the year that was – part two

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We continue our look back at a tumultuous year, as reported and discussed in our posts and comment boards. You can see part one here.

April

10th. We ask – who are the eleven cricketers you wish you’d been able to watch?

15th. Sam Robson, Chris Jordan, James Vince and Moeen Ali are the players whose early-season form catches our eye.

18th. The focus switches to the impending appointment of Andy Flower’s replacement as England Team Director. What does the new man need to do? It increasingly looks like Peter Moores will get the job. Really?

19th. Moores is duly hired, Paul Downton speaks for the first time about Pietersen, and all hell breaks loose. We outline the narrative which led to this extraordinary move, argue that he’s the wrong man at the wrong time, and that while Moores is the symptom, Alastair Cook is the cause.

28th. As if the England set-up isn’t already incestuous and sclerotic enough as it is, Mick Newell is appointed as selector.

May

1st. Pietersen was fired because he was “disengaged”, says Downton. What does that actually mean?

2nd. Graham Gooch is sacked as England batting coach.

5th. We publish a piece by Tregaskis about the real reasons for Pietersen’s dismissal, entitled Inside The Turtle Tank. It becomes the best-known and most-read article in this blog’s five year history.

8th. Although the England management are obsessed with copying rugby teams, they find time to focus on the people who really matter – Waitrose, and Buxton Water. The choice of voiceover artist for a disastrous promotional video ruffles feathers.

12th. Forget all the squabbling and negativity – England beat Scotland and an exciting new era begins.

13th. We try to offer a range of views on The Full Toss. James argues, with conviction, that it’s now time to move on, but I argue that the giant elephant in the room cannot be ignored. Almost to prove the point, Giles Clarke says “[Cook] and his family are very much the sort of people we want the England captain and his family to be”, an interview so ludicrous it takes some time to properly sink in.

21st. Peter Moores shows that bad old habits die hard as England lose the T20 to Sri Lanka.

22nd. The climate becomes more feverish than ever after Paul Downton fibs and dissembles his way through an interview with Jonathan Agnew on TMS. Pietersen fights back, and Downton is forced to apologise.

27th. The mainstream cricket media come under sustained BTL fire for their inability or reluctance to hold the ECB to account. I have a Twitter row with Jonathan Agnew, which eventually leads to buried hatchets and an interview with him for this site. Afterwards I vow never again to refer to anyone, in copy, by their nickname. A spicier dose of interaction with Jonathan will follow later in the year.

June

4th. England lose the ODI series to Sri Lanka 3-2 despite Jos Buttler’s brilliant century and the occasional cause for optimism.

5th. The selectors call up Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Moeen Ali, Gary Ballance and Sam Robson for the first test of the summer, against Sri Lanka.

11th. The Sun’s John Etheridge reveals that in a fit of pique Kevin Pietersen returned his ‘100th cap’ presents to the ECB. Or did he? If you’re reading John, just to jog your memory, you did once say you’d provide a full explanation of what actually happened.

17th. England fall six Mike Selvey inches short of winning the first test at Lord’s. Or to put it another way, they declare too late and fail to beat a resilient Sri Lanka.

20th. “Something must be done” about his critics, says Alastair Cook. And something must be done about a runless and discredited England captain, says virtually anyone with an ounce of common sense.

23rd/24th. In 1981 it was the Headingley Miracle. In 2014, the Headingley Fiasco. Day four sees some of the most brainless and inept cricket ever played by an international team. It was so  bad we wrote about it twice. Despite Moeen Ali’s heroics, England lose the match and series next day. Cook’s position is now seemingly untenable. Yet he survives.

28th. English cricket is in twin schism – divided by both Pietersen and Cook. The hagiographic adulation expressed by the captain’s supporters antagonise and infuriate many. Cook has become less a player than a belief system.

Tomorrow – July to September.

1 comment

  • Many thanks for these pieces from a Johnny-come-lately to these pages like me. Discovering what I’d been missing…..

    The Tregaskis post on May 13th is genius!

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