Yippee Ki Yay

“Just call me Roy”. What an amazing innings. Jason Roy was simply superb at the MCG yesterday. He bludgeoned his way to the highest ever ODI score by an England player – beating the record recently set by Alex Hales – and simultaneously silenced his critics as a result. It led to an excellent England win that shows just how far we’ve come in white ball cricket.

Naturally this win is no compensation whatsoever for the Ashes debacle. The win felt a little hollow – like a boxer giving his opponent the finger as he lies in the canvass with stars swirling above his head – but it was satisfying nevertheless. We might be crap at the cricket that counts, but at least we can muscle the ball over the boundary better than most.

Obviously some people are calling for Roy to get a test place now – including Matt Prior, who’s said some rather strange and controversial things on Twitter recently. Personally I think this idea is premature. It wasn’t long ago that Roy was left out of England’s ODI side after a series of low scores that highlighted his defensive frailties. What’s more, these runs came somewhat out of the blue as he’s had a pretty torrid time in the Big Bash – failing to get past 21 in six innings for the Sydney Sixers.

However, one thing Roy has always possessed is pure natural talent. He hits the ball hard and true. If he wants to become a test cricketer than he certainly has the ability. Whether he has the technique, the temperament and the desire is a different matter. The last thing our test team needs right now is another happy hitter.

The other good news stories from yesterday were the return of Mark Wood, who bowled with decent pace, and Moeen Ali’s 1-39 from 10 overs. Mo might not have the best strike rate in ODI cricket (he’s taken just 50 wickets in 64 games) but he’s usually pretty reliable and economical. It was also good to see Joe Root score a controlled 91 not out. He might even have reached an elusive hundred if Australia’s batsmen had mustered a higher total.

The most interesting talking point of the day, however, might have been the Australian commentators apparent surprise that England’s white ball cricket is pretty good these days. They seemed genuinely shocked to see an English team play with so much intent and freedom. I found this rather odd. Surely these guys do a little research before the go on air? It’s hardly a secret that England’s ODI and T20 teams are a completely different animal these days.

Although one could argue that commentators (of all countries) are usually preoccupied with the home side’s fortunes, I find it bizarre that commentators like Bill Lawry and Co didn’t seem to know that England have adopted a new approach in limited overs cricket. After all, most fans (of all nationalities) across the world must be aware of this to some extent.

Whilst I admit that England haven’t yet won a major trophy, we did reach the World T20 final, were just 5 runs away from beating India in India in an ODI series last winter, plus we scored the highest total in ODI history (444-3) against Pakistan just sixteen months ago. We also beat Australia in the Champions Trophy. It’s therefore hardly a surprise that England won so convincingly yesterday. Even the local bookies had Australia as favourites – something that seemed nonsensical considering the Canary Yellows’ recent struggles in 50 over cricket.

Anyway, such matters are probably something of a diversion. The big story yesterday was Jason Roy. And boy didn’t he play well. Many congrats.

James Morgan

35 comments

  • I saw Roy a few times in BBL, and he looked completely out of touch. He could have been out several times in this match too. It shows how much luck means to a batsman…

  • They tried their best to blow it though. Needing only 37 from the final 10 they left it until there were only 8 balls left before hitting the winning runs

  • I looked forward to and am enjoying the one day series, It not the same as the Ashes but England have often been trashed in these sort of games and we (or at least I have) moaned so I am going to enjoy England being competitive. I wonder if the Aussie pace bowlers put a bit too much into the Tests but that is CA’s problem they spend their resources how they feel.

    I’m pleased for Roy, I backed dropping him simply because when given an opportunity Bairstow was scoring too many runs to leave out, If there wasn’t a talent like him unable to get in then 51 runs from eight games wouldn’t have worried me. As talented as this team is, it cannot be a closed shop for batsmen and a rotating door for bowlers.

    What England do once Stokes is fit again who knows but it looks like he will miss the whole winter now, Root needs a rest I guess. The calls for Morgan’s head will start again probably

    • Stokes might not be playing for a while. News just breaking that he has been charged for affray.

      • If found guilty (and if my Googling is correct!) he’s looking at a fine of up to £5,000 and/or up to 6 months prison.

      • Only in front of the beak..

        They’ll bind him over most likely. No admission of guilt.

        • Yeah avoiding ABH seems like a good result for him, no way they weren’t going to charge him.

          Reckon he will get a judge after the sun put that video out, hard to find a clean jury suspect he will get a fine and a bit of community service, the problem the ECB have caused themselves is that they have said they will have a disciplinary hearing which they won’t want to do before a trial.

          So what do they do, say come back Ben and we will punish you in 6 months or however long it takes to get this case in court. Rubbish situation all round.

          • From the beak’s point of view their only legal interest will be ensuring it doesn’t happen again. Stokes rarely works in Bristol hence it isn’t going to be a big concern.

            Can’t see why they would pass it to Crown court.

            Chances are the ‘trial’ will be a half hour long affair with he said, she said and you’re all bound over now sod off.

            Course the ECB are desperate for someone to blame for the piss poor Ashes series so will probably go to town on him.

            If they’re bright ( lol) they’ll give him a few tests time served suspension and pick him again.

            More likely they’ll decide to make a statement by refusing to pick him. Or as hard as their, no doubt very expensive, legal eagles allow them to be.

            Course if you are Ben Stokes and your employer is looking to hang you out to dry then you have options. Anything other than a guilty verdict and the ECB will look as petty and incompetent as ever.

            The ECB need a scapegoat, as ever, and they’ve decided that Stokes it it. Whilst there is no cricketing reason not to pick him I think they’ll push it as far as they can go and Stokes might be well advised to make his money in the T20 leagues around the world…

            Whilst the England cricket team needs him he really doesn’t need the ECB’s bullshit.

            • The ECB like a scapegoat but it won’t be Stokes.

              So far he has had 3 and half months off on full pay plus isn’t being stopped from taking offers from elsewhere. His bank manager must be thrilled.

            • It’s triable either way so Stokes can choose to go to Crown Court and be heard by a jury. Jury conviction rates are lower than Magistrates’ but Crown Court sentences are harsher in the event of conviction. I think I read up to 3 years somewhere whereas only max 6 months in front of the beak.

  • As and until the format of the Ashes is changed to match the women’s model (hopefully never) the 50 over game holds as much interest to me as, say, dressage. In other words, none at all.

      • No you’re not – we’ve all seen those photos of you in your Barbour jacket, tweed cap and wellies; hobnobbing with HRH The Princess Anne at Badminton…
        Seriously, I’m pleased for Morgan’s team, but how different might the Ashes have been if the selectors had seen fit to give Root a couple more decent batting options, a leg spinner who has a demonstrable record of taking wickets at the highest level and one or more genuine fast bowlers? You know, like they’ve given Morgan? Why is the limited overs side getting tools to do the job and not the Test team? Maybe someone should address that question to the ECB. Come on James, we all know you secretly have Graves, Harrison, Strauss and Whittaker on speed dial ?

        • I don’t have them on speed dial actually. I don’t need to. I am Tom Harrison in disguise. I run this site to keep an eye on dissent and bring it down, like a Trojan horse, from within.

          I’d like to see a Trojan horse do dressage actually. That might be fun.

  • I don’t understand why people are so dismissive of the 50 over game and ridicule it as second rate. It cannot be compared with test cricket and It is every bit as skilful and more entertaining for the casual cricket fan, who make up the majority of both TV and live audiences for games. It is largely played and coached by a different mentality of player. Sure it has failing in the subtlety department and is part of the general dumbing down of all sports in order to appeal to general sports fans with its action packed razzmatazz on and off the field. Anyone who was there to witness Roy’s innings will remember it for a long time, longer than those who witnessed Cookies Ashes double hundred. Sure he could have been out a number of times, but he backed his ability and rode his luck to win the game for his side. The more shots you play the more chances you will give in any form of the game.
    I know white ball prevalence as a cash cow is partly responsible for the decline in test standards throughout the world, but the game never stands still and must adapt or die as it competes with an increasing number of alternatives for people’s leisure time. Even the much vilified ECB have acknowledged the possibility of separate behind the scenes coaching and management teams for red and white ball cricket. A potentially massive move in the right direction.
    The next step is to ensure county cricket retains its standards as an effective breeding ground for test cricket by being prioritised during the prime summer months, when wickets are quicker and flatter and the weather better, so there are fewer cheap wickets to be had and bowlers have to raise the bar. It also gives the batsmen more chance of playing longer innings and brings spinners into the game as tracks dry out. There is plenty of suport within the game for this. It has been a major topic of discussion since the latest Ashes debacle. There has also been plenty of high profile criticism of next seasons fixture structure, so maybe this will be the catalyst for changing priorities. No wants to see traditional skills of the game dying out.
    If you are a true England supporter you should be behind all teams representing this country whatever form that sport takes and not dismiss something as an irrelevance because you don’t like it. Nothing improves that way.

    • As I said on an earlier thread, the problem with First Class County Cricket is that no-one goes to watch it, so it doesn’t pay it’s way; counties can;t survive on that.

      • Sure. So test cricket is needed to subsidise First Class Cricket, which means that first class counties have a dual mandate to both entertain their fans AND provide a decent proving ground for test cricketers, seeing as that is where 50% at least of their funding is coming from.

        However, I think the long-term problem here is that whilst test cricket is still very popular and lucrative, it doesn’t generate enough anywhere near enough surplus funds to support 18 full time professional county teams.

    • 50 over cricket is ok, its just that it has neither of the advantages of test cricket nor T20 cricket.

      Its not as exciting and enthralling as a test match, and its not as short and convenient to attend as a T20.

  • ODI’are OK, but who remembers them in 6 months time? Like T20 more is not better, it just dilutes the product. Far too many 5 match “series”. But Roy played a very exciting and entertaining innings. He does it at Surrey at times, but not consistently. Can play at No 5 in 4 day cricket when he puts his mind to it, but his average ain’t great. Exciting when it all comes together though.

    • It’s not ODI’s fault that they tend to blend into one another, it’s the fact that so many of them take place over such a short space of time. If test cricket was played the same way memorable games would not stand out as well. The point I’m making is they are such different formats that you can’t compare one with the other. White ball cricket is not a diluted form of the red ball, it’s just a different form. Like most of the bloggers here I prefer competitive test cricket. It is an undeniably more fulfilling spectacle for the traditional cricket fan, but the one indisputable fact is that ODI’s fill grounds more and attract greater TV audiences than test matches do. Test matches are soon forgotten as well unless they are close fought contests that go down to the wire. Not many of them around.

      • “the one indisputable fact is that ODI’s fill grounds more and attract greater TV audiences than test matches do”

        Except, they definitely don’t, not in the UK at least, and I very much doubt anywhere else, either.

        In the UK, test cricket gets the greater live audience, the greater tv audience, the greater radio audience and the greater online audience. All by a significant factor.

        “Test matches are soon forgotten as well unless they are close fought contests that go down to the wire”

        I don’t think that’s true at all. Test series are remembered many years into the future. I may not remember every single test match (although I remember most) but I remember every England major test series between 1990 and 2005 vividly.

        I can’t recall the outcome of a single ODI series over the same period – and this is by no means unusual. In fact the only limited overs game I have any recollection of at all was the T20 final when Stokes completely lost his marbles it by bowling 4 half-volleys in a row, and that’s only because I watched it in a bar with a group of cricketers.

        • Only because a test lasts 5 days and an ODI 1 day. Divide test match attendances and see what you get.
          Watch any test match anywhere in the world and tell me grounds are packed. Often the attendances are embarrassing. This directly affects public interest and doesn’t happen with ODI’s or 20-20.
          The reason administrators like white ball cricket is it brings in more money, sponsors and punters, which is why it’s flavour of the month the world over. If test matches were more popular the authorities priorities would reflect this and they clearly don’t.
          It also gives players more chances to be the hero of the piece and if it doesn’t work out that game then there’s another chance to redeem yourself just around the corner.
          You don’t remember ODI’s as you’re clearly not engaged by them, whereas test cricket, which clearly does engage you, is bound to be more memorable. Unfortunately you are not typical of the average cricket watcher, I wish you were. Go into any pub with sky and watch how punters respond to the red and white ball games respectively and there’s no contest, unless the match involves England and we have a winning chance.

          • As always there are many factors at play

            1) if you give most casual fans (and there are more casual fans than those who actually play the game regularly) the choice between one day tests Cricket to pay and watch or an ODI they’ll choose the ODI. Why., because you get to see both teams bat and bowl

            2) cost.l the cost of rone ODI is cheaper than going to a test match for 3-5days let alone the logistics of getting a bulk lot of time off

            3) for a drunk casual fan wathcing a bunch of balls smashed to the boundary is more fun than tactical/technical slower moving test cricket. It just is

            4) add this together and even if the format isn’t as enjoyable it’ll be popular and when you move it around the nation you’ll nearly always get decent attendances..
            So yes, white ball makes more money but it’s not true to say it’s becuase people prefer it.. it’s probbaky more t do with people having one day to watch and so pick the format where they get to see both sides bat and bowl.

            • It’s an example of extremely poor logic to conclude that because more people attend T20 games than test cricket, they must find it more interesting.

          • “Divide test match attendances and see what you get.”

            Why on earth would you do that? If 100,000 people attend a test over 5 days, then that is 100,000 people who are willing to pay to watch test cricket, not 20,000 people.

            “Watch any test match anywhere in the world and tell me grounds are packed”#

            errrr.. the grounds are packed. Have you ever actually been to a test match? They’re almost always sold out.

            “Unfortunately you are not typical of the average cricket watcher”

            On the contrary – I am absolutely typical. Far more people follow and are interested in test cricket than follow ODI cricket.

  • Not so surprising that the commentators, if they were the Australian channel 9 ones, didn’t know much about England’s recent record and improvement in ODIs – they tend not to have seen or know much about new players coming into Australian sides and judging from some of the commentary (going into ecstasies over what is fairly routine fielding) they don’t watch any of the 20/20 matches (which are broadcast on a different channel) either. Research and preparation doesn’t seem to be part of the job description. The gulf in tactical understanding, explanation and analysis between what they served up and what comes with the Big Bash was bordering on the embarrassing.

    I got the impression some in the Australian team could do with following developments in 20/20 a bit more. Pat Cummins is a terrific bowler but does he really have to bowl short all the time – any chance of varying length, width and pace a little? Mitchell Starc is also really good attacking with the new ball – but bowling around the wicket negating the angle and constantly sliding into leg stump rather invites getting hit to the leg side. Marcus Stoinis isn’t really rated as a bowler in 20/20 and Mitchell Marsh hasn’t bowled much lately so they can’t be expected to excel, but were ok. Adam Zampa has been going ok although probably not the best in the 20/20 – but has anyone noticed how well the slow bowlers have been going in limited overs cricket lately – any thoughts of a slow bowling all rounder or even a second spinner – or for that matter why not give Travis Head some overs earlier? And the one bowler who did do pretty well (Andrew Tye) happens to have been doing well consistently in 20/20 – a coincidence?

  • Anybody who thinks that Jason Roy could open for England in Test cricket must be crazy. There is no way that Roy would last very long in Test cricket because any decent bowler would bowl outside the off stump (Boycott’ corridor of uncertainty) and just wait for Roy to nick off ala James Vince. His batting technique is too lose for test cricket.

    • While the idea of his opening in test cricket is ridiculous, it is not impossible to imagine his succeeding at five.
      Given England’s real selection need are at two and three, there’s no rush to try that out though. If he really wants it, he’ll have to make the case on the field.

      • Roy at five.. or even in a test team is just bizarre. There is a reason englsnd are inconsistent and flakey…. too many white ball players !!

  • Meanwhile, the 2nd SA vs Ind test is (like the first one) reminding us what a damp squib the Ashes turned out to be. Especially for this neutral.

    And in Auckland a superb 40-ball 74 from Colin de Grandhomme has made light work of what was shaping as a tricky chase for NZ vs Pakistan -NZ have now won 11 matches in a row across all formats (4 ODIs vs Pak, 2 T20Is, 3 ODIs & 2 tests vs WI) over their home summer to date

  • Excellent Test at Centurion but…. India and SA bowled 10 fewer overs than were scheduled. Anyone holding their breath that Virat Kohli will be suspended? Or any action taken against the umpires who did nothing to hurry up play?

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