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Andrew Strauss in line for captaincy
By Will 2 years ago, mid-June, 1 Comment »
As soon as he hit a hundred on his debut in 2004, Andrew Strauss was talked of as a future England captain. Since then, despite a recent minor-blip in form, many have spoken that he should have taken over from Michael Vaughan when he missed England’s tour of India and not Andrew Flintoff.
Following England’s defeat in the final Test against Sri Lanka, Flintoff’s “follow me, lads” style of captaincy has received criticism from Mike Atherton, among others, and it’s noteworthy that Strauss has been chosen. This surely represents the first signal that it is he, rather than Flintoff, that Duncan Fletcher and co. want to lead England in the post-Vaughan era (which could come sooner than we think).
England face Ireland tomorrow for the first time, at Stormont, before a Twenty20 against Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl on Thursday ahead of the first one-dayer at Lord’s on Saturday.
1 Comment »England are flat
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of May, 7 Comments »
Weird day. England ruined Sri Lanka, and realistically ought to have dismissed them for no more than 90. That they reached 141 had little to do with their ability and more to do with England’s indifference. They appear flat, mildly complacent and are lacking the arse-kicking Michael Vaughan would provde them. Wonderful cricketer though Andrew Flintoff is, and as well as he captained today, he is not Vaughan and England are missing him. He’s so inexperienced that I feel guilty even hinting annoyance at his inability to post a short-leg, or his reactionary leadership. But we can only report on what we see…
As for Monty, well, I’m afraid Parmeson Tony is on borrowed ground. I found it all very amusing initially, but his dropped catch today prevented England from bowling Sri Lanka out for under 100. Now, as it happens, it ought not to matter too greatly. But as my editor, Andrew Miller, pointed out, if Monty can drop a sitter at the most patriotically English ground, what in the name of colourful turbans will he be like at Brisbane in November? This isn’t an attack against him in any way. He seems like the most stand-up sort of chap you could ask for, and is the most talented left-arm spinner we’ve had since Phil Tufnell. But sadly his fielding is just not up to scratch and on current form could easily cost England a Test against better countries than Sri Lanka. Sorry Monty.
Him aside, England just don’t seem to be on their game. Take Andrew Strauss. He can’t catch a cold, and even when batting he doesn’t look as assured or composed as he so often is. His run out today, albeit not without Alastair Cook’s help, rather demonstrates a player struggling to start the summer.
So it’s all a bit weird, frankly. The highlight was watching Liam Plunkett bowl, who bowled much fuller and is quicker through the air that I first thought. Very impressive indeed. Tomorrow, with Pietersen looking in absolute prime form, could be carnage for Sri Lanka
7 Comments »Video of Strauss’ catch to dismiss Gilchrist
By Will 2 years ago, at the start of April, No Comments; be the first!
Crap quality but what the hell. The catch epitomised England’s summer. (see photo at Cricinfo)
No Comments »India v England, 3rd Test, Mumbai, Day One
By Will 2 years ago, mid-March, 17 Comments »
Sorry - forgot about this Test! Good start for England…chat like the cricket-crazed fools you are
17 Comments »Alastair Cook’s maiden Test century
By Will 2 years ago, at the start of March, 2 Comments »
If he showed a glimpse of his class in the first innings, Alastair Cook proved it today with an innings of remarkable composure, restraint and maturity to give England a genuine chance of forcing the most unlikely of victories on the final day. First came Marcus Trescothick as England’s fresh-faced left-handed opener. Then Andrew Strauss, albeit in fortuitous selectorial circumstances. England have unearthed a third who, on the basis of one innings at Nagpur, could be better than both.
The prophets of doom, myself included, predicted nothing less than a 3-0 drubbing by India before the Test started; Michael Vaughan’s wonky knee, Trescothick’s undisclosed problems and a swathe of injuries afflicted England. Not even the most optimistic observer could have forseen the situation England find themselves in after four days.
He joins Andrew Strauss, with whom he opened in this Test, to make a fifty and a hundred on debut. Michael Clarke was the last to do it for Australia; Virender Sehwag for India; Scott Styris for New Zealand and Dwayne Smith for the West Indies. In fact, Smith’s highest score since that hundred against South Africa is 42. Against the might of Bangladesh. So it’s not a certainty that debutant centurions should forge a successful Test career but - and I’m willing to eat my hat, if I have one left, should this not be true - Cook showed he has more than enough ability and determination to succeed at Test level.
Against a true master of legspin, Anil Kumble, he was calm and in control, deftly back-cutting and waiting for a bad ball. Against Kumble’s partner in crime, Harbhajan Singh, he was flustered but was patient enough, and disconcertingly mature, to realise that eventually a bad ball would come. Singh, like his team-mates, didn’t have a day to remember - nor was lady luck smiling on them, or even grimacing. However this was Cook’s first outing at this level, and he coped with absolutely everything. Strauss’s debut against the West Indies in 2004 was one to remember, undoubtedly, but Cook’s magical knock today was technically superior and all the more astonishing given his late arrival; it was made in the second innings, too.
If England win this Test - and there’s an awful lot more work to do - it must surely be regarded as one of the best in recent times, given their pre-series disasters. If anything, it proves one thing: never write a team off, and left-handers have a bloody easy time of it 
Flintoff to captain England
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of February, 14 Comments »
According to reports, Andrew Flintoff is in line to captain England in the first Test at Nagpur on Wednesday, assuming both Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick are unable to attend to their usual duties. I find this quite surprising, not to mention a great shame.
Flintoff has a good cricket brain. I don’t think anyone can doubt that someone who bowls as cleverly as he does, and who bats (now) so sensibly, doesn’t understand the game very well. However, Flintoff isn’t simply another member of the team; he is the team. The addition of captaincy will, like it has affected most English captains in recent years, ruin one or both of his skills. I’m certain it’s not a long-term plan, but given his importance to the side as a bowler and batsman, why burden him now? Why not Andrew Strauss?
Confused from Devon
14 Comments »England are not quite ready yet
By Scott 3 years ago, at the start of December, 1 Comment »
David Hopps reports that with Michael Vaughan having surgery on his knee, England’s preparation for the ODI series against Pakistan are in a bit of disarray.
The Ashes series win against Australia was plotted and schemed for at least a year, perhaps longer; by contrast any modifications of approach for the five one-day matches against Pakistan will probably be scribbled down on the back of the circular pushed under all hotel doors yesterday promising “fabulous menus in the steak house from our executive chef Anjum”. Mushroom soup a speciality.
The uncertainty over Vaughan, the loss through injury of Ashley Giles, the time off for Strauss, who is expected back in Pakistan today after the birth of his son Samuel, have all added uncertainty to a one-day squad that, in any case, is showing few signs of settling.
I’ll have the soup.
1 Comment »Trescothick- Shoaib was the difference
By Scott 3 years ago, at the start of December, No Comments; be the first!
England opening batsman Marcus Trescothick conceded that England had been outplayed in Pakistan, and pinpoints Shoaib Akhtar as the difference:
There’s no point making excuses: we were outplayed, simple as that. They had qualities that we didn’t. Most critically, they had Shoaib Akhtar, who bowled better than I have ever seen him bowl before. Sure, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Danish Kaneria had big series, too, but it was Shoaib who kept putting us under pressure early on in our innings. Without him, Pakistan would have been a much less fearsome unit.
Shoaib is a huge figure in world cricket; a volatile, dynamic, and emotional man who has a huge role to play in Pakistani cricket, and I wrote about him at length the other day.
Trescothick also muses about the lessons England need to take from their defeat:
But the lesson here is that we have to learn to adapt. You can still be positive by scoring at two runs an over. We have to become flexible enough to control any situation.
The best example of this was our run-chase at Multan, which ended in failure and so set the tone for the series. We had two half-decent partnerships - first Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell, and then Geraint Jones and Shaun Udal - which relied on playing patiently and seeing off the bowlers. While it would have been nice to dash to a quick win - and the pitch wasn’t getting any younger - hindsight certainly suggests we were too eager that day.
You don’t get many opportunities to win games in Pakistan, so it really hurt to let that opportunity slip. We had outplayed them for most of the match, and if we had won it, I’m sure the whole tour would have been a completely different story.
In a three Test series, it is so hard to come back after you’ve dropped the First Test. Mismanaging the runchase as they did, England will have to learn if they want to do better in the sub-continent in future.
No Comments »Strauss reaches his hundred against Australia
By Will 3 years ago, mid-September, 2 Comments »
His second of the series, and a quite excellent knock, under pressure. Patient, calm, but always dispatching the bad ball, it was a fine innings and has saved England from a useless score. Still need 400, mind…and Flintoff’s going beserk. The over before Strauss, he struck three fours; the first two were down-on-one-knee slogs to a wide fine-leg. But the third was a lovely straight drive down the ground - and this was immediately after tea.
Perhaps regardless of the result of this match, it is England’s intent which has got them this far in this series.
2 Comments »181 for 4, 50 partnership for Strauss and Flintoff
By Will 3 years ago, mid-September, 1 Comment »
Thrilling cricket. “Proper” cricket! Flintoff and Strauss both calmly defying Warne, who is throwing everything at them. McGrath, strangely, bowling less effectively than he was earlier in the day - and he wasn’t great then. This is tight.
Flintoff has just struck Warne quite brilliantly for four. Just a check shot, through mid-off (or just wide, I guess) for four. This is quite remarkable, incredible cricket - dare I say it, the best of the series? In some ways…
1 Comment »And now Bell falls. To Warne…
By Will 3 years ago, mid-September, 5 Comments »
And now Bell falls. To Warne…was it the straight-on one? Can’t remember…104-3, with lunch coming up. Australia’s session…England need to consolidate. Strauss and Kevin Pietersen at the crease.
5 Comments »England 61 without loss after one hour
By Will 3 years ago, mid-September, 3 Comments »
And Warne is coming on to bowl. Lee not on form, and McGrath lacking support. Very good start by England and, of course, Warne’s getting it to turn…even on the first day. And CLOSE, Warne nearly gets Strauss, who edges past Hayden slipping at first
3 Comments »The last Sunday before the last Ashes Test
By Will 3 years ago, at the start of September, 6 Comments »
Quite a sad feeling, really, that it’s suddenly all come to an end for another 18 months. It does feel like yesterday that the Lord’s Test was getting underway, yet we’ve had four Tests squeezed in a matter of a few weeks. On the up side, there are but 15 months until the 2006/7 Ashes series begins; will England be defending them, for the first time in 18 years? Or will we be, once again, trying to wrestle them from Australia’s vice-like grip?
Frankly, we ought to be defending them when we next meet Australia. We’ve been the better side for the majority of the summer, bar a McGrath blitz at Lord’s. Another McGrath and Warne show might yet upset me, and the millions of English fans now hooked on the great game. Caged animal, backs to the walls, etc…buyer beware!
On what is the last Sunday before the last Ashes Test of the summer, there have been a veritable feast of words written in the press which I’ll briefly summarise…
Andrew Strauss’ diary for the Telegraph seems to get longer each week, and this week he’s written a very extensive and insightful piece.
Looking back, the first morning of the series, at Lord’s, seems like an age ago, but what is still very clear is the reception we received as we made our way slightly nervously on to the field that morning. Walking through the Long Room, we were met by the most incredible roar from members full of hope and expectation that this series was going to be different from its predecessors.
And
If I had been lucky enough to play in three Tests like that over the course of my career, I would retire very satisfied, but to have three in a row is astounding. All 22 players know that we have been part of something incredibly special over the past six weeks. One of the greatest series of all time is being played out, and it has created the best possible advert for the game.
That’s what has struck everyone who has seen this series: one after the other, each Test has matched and bettered its predecessor. You half expect one or two Tests to be rained off, or piddling out to a draw. Every bloody game has been painfully brilliant to watch; imagine what it’s like for the players involved!
He ends - not quite tempting fate, but… - with:
Regardless of the result, we will be determined to enjoy what could be the defining Test of all our careers.
Mike Atherton continues his excellent form (honk!) with a piece about Freddie. Jonny Wilkinson, David Beckham, and now Andrew Flintoff.
Rugby and football blossomed in the afterglow, much as cricket is doing now, but Wilkinson and Beckham have been in slow decline ever since. Wilkinson because his body cannot cope; Beckham because he cannot cope.
Regardless of the result at the Oval, Andrew Flintoff now walks in such company. Maybe he is not earning the dollars (yet) of the other two, but in terms of profile and popularity he bends his knee to no one at present.
Too true. Giant performances in the last three Tests, he will almost certainly be named as one of the men of the series - if not officially, then certainly by his teammates and the Australians. England needed something special from him, but I don’t think anyone quite expected he’d have such a country-binding affect. Oh to be seven or eight years old and have a hero like Flintoff to aspire to…
Meanwhile, Scyld Berry mentions something, and someone, we’ve all forgotten about: Duncan Fletcher.
More than anyone else, more even than Michael Vaughan, this England team are Fletcher’s creation, although he will always be first to give the credit to the players. Just as much as Jack, Fletcher can look at the England team and say “this is the house I have built”. The position which he took up at the climax - after sitting on the dressing-room balcony for most of the match - said so much about his approach. Close to them, but not of them. Ready to hand. ‘There’ - and Giles looked in for a chat before batting - but not imposing.
His influence cannot be underestimated, and should not be glossed over here so briefly. So I’ll do a post on him this week. But Scyld’s article comes with the depressing news that Fletcher has been turned down British citizenship. A win or a draw at The Oval might just persuade the Government to change their minds.
So, on to Thursday - and the weather is set fair (at the moment). Tell your friends; invite them over; crack open a beer / coke / tea / water; get your prayer-mats out!; “renew” your incontinence pants; change the nappies; charge your mobile phones in anticipation of “This is going down to the wire mate ru watchin?” type messages; don’t allow anyone with a heart condition near The Oval, or your TV; polish your voodoo dolls; tell everyone to come here and comment & chat like the crazed cricket-addicted fools we all are; are we in for another nailbiter?
May the best side win.
6 Comments »Ashes debutants for Lord’s
By Will 3 years ago, mid-July, 1 Comment »
Andrew Flintoff, Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell, Geraint Jones, Kevin Pietersen and Michael Clarke are all Ashes debutants on Thursday. Rather a lot.
1 Comment »Head-scratching and double teapotting
By Will 3 years ago, mid-June, No Comments; be the first!
England 31-0 after 6 - neither McGrath or Gillespie have found their lines, both no-balling and bowling wides. Much head-scratching by Ponting - much double tea-potting by a chuntering and fuming Glenn McGrath. And a glorious shot by Strauss off the old man - they’re bowling too full, too straight, just like yesterday. This team are the most prepared, most professional team in world cricket - but their homework gets a 1/10 so far.
Nevermind Ponting scratching his head - I am
UPDATE: argh - the blogger’s curse. Wonderful yorker by the old man to bowl Trescothick.
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