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Moving on
By Will last year, mid-February, 1 Comment »
When you’re 51 all out, it seems inconceivable that you’ll ever escape the horror, let alone it become a distant memory. Much like bereavement and mourning, it takes time.
It hasn’t taken England long, though, and they’ve had two large slices of luck. Firstly, the sandy mess at North Sound was exactly what they needed. Not only were they not to blame (and crucially they were at the crease, so no one could crow and spit about the weakling tourists’ bowlers) but it gave them more time to mourn the rotting corpse of 51-all-out. And secondly, the movement of this Test took the pressure off their batsmen slightly, and took the gloss off West Indies’ starry bowling performance. In a matter of days, the Kingston calamity hadn’t been forgotten, but no longer were England caught in its gravitational pull. They’d moved on.
Their other piece of luck came today when Chris Gayle chose to bowl – which is exactly what Andrew Strauss would have done had the coin fell his way. Yet, amazingly, it morphed from spicy-track-of-horror-and-death to placid-lifeless-bowlers’-graveyard. Luck plays a far greater part in sport than anyone ever gives it credit, and it’s helped England hugely.
Still, Strauss needed a big score – lady luck or not. It’s difficult to put it into context given this tour’s various farces, but also the mess which led to Strauss’s appointment. Watching it today, he was pulling as quickly and confidently as he first did for England five years ago, but also his feet were dancing to the spinners. He’s still very much the cautious batsman these days, but he even hit a six (granted, the ground is postage-stamp-sized, but still)…the first time since 2006, would you believe.
All in all, a fascinating day to witness England’s revival. How long that will last, who knows, but to see Strauss assert his authority so emphatically was the year’s highlight so far as an England fan.
Shame about Owais Shah’s hapless running, though he batted sublimely until then.
1 Comment »Bouncebackability
By Mark Tilley last year, mid-February, 1 Comment »
It was football manager Iain Dowie who first coined this term, way back when his Crystal Palace side were struggling in the English Premier League. The phrase refers to a teams ability to bounce back from a defeat or any kind of adversity. Well, this England cricket side have suffered said adversity and then some. How do they respond to the humiliation of last week’s 51 all out?
The expected change has come. Owais Shah replaces Ian Bell at number three in the order and Steve Harmison has also been left out, in favour of James Anderson. Will it make the difference that England need? Shah’s inclusion has been long championed by England fans and pundits alike. It is perhaps a tad harsh on Harmison who didn’t bowl terribly badly in Jamaica but perhaps the feeling was that a change was needed.
The outfield is a concern in Antigua. Heavy rainfall has left area’s of the ground covered in sand and the bowlers run up, in particular, is an point of worry. However, England shouldn’t use the conditions as an excuse. They have a lot of making up to do and they had better start it soon. Alistair Cook could do with a big score to settle the doubters about him and if Kevin Pietersen should find himself in the late 90’s again, surely he will be looking for singles this time.
All in all, it looks like a fascinating Test. A nerve-wracking one too, if you’re an England follower.
1 Comment »Ian Bell throws it away again
By Will last year, mid-February, 2 Comments »
More excellence from Alan Tyers:
2 Comments »“Owais is really pushing hard for a go on this delicious cold chicken,” says Straussy with his mouth full.
“But unfortunately we’ve eaten it all,” says Collingwood. “It looked like I weren’t going to get a piece but I’ve just snucked in at the last moment and grabbed my chance with both hands. It weren’t pretty, but it were necessary.”
“He’s very much the man in possession,” shouts Cook. “Of the chicken! Straussy! Straussy! I done a bonding!”
Cook runs off to write it down in his Big Book Of Leadership Credentials. As he passes me in the doorway, he tries to poke me in the eye again. He misjudges it.
“Is there anything left?” I say.
“Absolutely,” says Straussy. “You’re very much part of this hamper, Owais old boy. Look, there’s a pickled beetroot left and a packet of Wine Gums.”
“Sorry,” says Flintoff. “I’ve had them.”
KP ton. Bell non-ton. Shah nearly ton
By Will last year, at the end of January, 3 Comments »
Kevin Pietersen, a man scorned, raced to a blistering hundred today. I say it was blistering purely on statistical evidence, and because all “quickfire” hundreds are either described as blistering, brisk, slick, breathtaking, “fine”, superb, brilliant, chancy, chanceless or sublime. For those who care, sublime is generally reserved for innings made a) at a quick rate and b) by someone naturally elegant. Most of Michael Vaughan’s hundreds before he was made captain were sublime, even when they were probably not.
But I digress. The scorecard for England’s first warm-up, against an Invitational XI, makes for interesting reading, and here’s why:
- Andrew Strauss makes nought. Well, he is the new England captain after all.
- Ian Bell does his best impression of Ian Bell by scoring 36 from 62, an innings neither aggressive or subdued. If innings were animals, this would be a goat with hearing difficulties lost on a moor.
- Kevin Pietersen does his best impression of Kevin Pietersen pre-captaincy. Normal order has resumed.
- Owais Shah, who will replace Bell eventually, creams 80 from 85 (with just one four, curiously).
After the debacle of the past few weeks, at last we can return to analysing and ridiculing England’s cricket and selections.
3 Comments »Shah lofted to No.3
By Will 2 years ago, mid-August, 1 Comment »
So, some 24 hours before the Twenty20 against South Africa, it’s already been called off. Another damp summer, and it’s even turning autumnally chilly too. Expect the heatwave in October and November, then.
But balls to tomorrow’s game: England’s other washout, against Scotland, was made interesting by the elevation of Owais Shah to No.3. This is a good thing. Shah, as Captain Kev pointed out, was wasted at No.6. He did play that Michael Bevan role superbly well, but surely a batsman of his talent – someone capable of hundreds and more – should be higher up the order. I like the early signs of Pietersen’s leadership: balls to whatever’s gone before. He’s in charge now, for better or for worse, and he’s going to stamp his mark. Matt Prior and Ian Bell opening the innings makes me sweat in all the wrong places, though. Potentially powerful, but has Big Game realised how good a player he is yet? It has taken him 46 Tests and a string of bottling efforts until it sunk in for the five-day game.
Anyway. Shah is no shrinking violet, and I like his adaptability at three. Are you in, or are you out? You decide.
1 Comment »Bopara or Shah?
By Will 3 years ago, at the end of November, 8 Comments »
Before meeting the bumbling Boris just now, I was reading Christopher Martin-Jenkins’ piece in The Times on the selection dilemma England are faced with. Will they opt for the greater experience (and age) of Owais Shah, or plump for Ravi Bopara’s allround nous and youthful potential? CMJ reckons the decision is as much down to the selectors’ own opinion – stats and figures can only tell us so much – but, like me, would pick Bopara for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Saturday.
It’s tough luck on Shah, who I have followed since he was captain of England Under-19s a decade ago, but now is the time for Bopara.
Who would you go for and why?
8 Comments »Update: Shah cuts loose!
By Jonathan Liew 3 years ago, at the end of November, No Comments; be the first!
Our Owais has started to throw caution to the wind, slashing ten runs in just 27 balls, including a four. Which, I think, shows he’s an entertainer at heart. Sod the Test place, he’s going to give the crowd their money’s worth.
And look who’s at the other end… a certain RS Bopara. I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing quite a few yes-no-maybes out in the middle quite soon. That is, if they manage to hit the ball hard enough to consider a run. Run rate toddling along at 2.44… it’s like watching an England one-dayer.
No Comments »OA Shah (rhb) Runs 0, B 33, 4s 0 6s 0
By Jonathan Liew 3 years ago, at the end of November, 1 Comment »
As I write, Owais Shah is 0 not out off 33 balls in England’s tour match.
Clearly Shah’s so keen to secure a Test spot he’s formulated a plan: bat for two days and make sure Bopara doesn’t even get in.
1 Comment »England’s forgotten man
By Jonathan Liew 3 years ago, at the end of August, 7 Comments »
In times past, England selectors could generally be relied on to make at least one howler a summer. Alan Wells, Aftab Habib and Alan Igglesden are all examples of county makeweights plunged without warning into the limelight and shunted mercilessly and remorselessly back out of it soon after.
Since the central contract era, however, we like to think that the more erratic selectorial decisions have rather been purged; there’s been the odd hunch that’s gone wrong (step to the front of the class, Anthony McGrath), but by and large the new slim-line committee has unearthed some cracking talent. Vaughan, Trescothick and Sidebottom certainly wouldn’t have got a look in had they been around a decade earlier. None of this, however, will be much comfort to Ed Joyce.
Joyce’s performances during the CB Series in Australia were solid, excellent in places, and he was by no means the most culpable of England’s World Cup donkeys. But he fell victim to the general call for cull after the Caribbean debacle and hasn’t been mentioned in the same breath as the England team since. Joyce wasn’t even selected for the England Lions teams to face Pakistan and India, a privilege granted to such stellar young talent as Alex Gidman. He appears to have fallen silently but ruthlessly from view, like the myriad Mike Smiths and Warren Heggs before him.
Fair enough, you might say. Ed Joyce is no PowerPlay demon, still less middle-overs innovator. But a man who scored two fifties on the biggest one-day stage really deserved better than to be lumped in with the likes of Andrew Strauss (who really did have a stinker in the West Indies, by the way). And besides, Joyce has always been more of a five-day cricketer. He was selected as Marcus Trescothick’s replacement on the Ashes tour, but didn’t get a chance. Now, incomprehensibly, he has been leapfrogged by Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara and, very possibly, Rob Key. Perhaps Joyce might soon be lugging his kit bag back to Dublin in search of an international game.
Joyce hasn’t exactly helped his case with some ho-hum county performances this summer. But his anonymity speaks of a more worrying trend – the tendency to judge Test potential on the basis of one-day form. It happened to Chris Read, Kabir Ali and even Jonathan Trott, who may never be seen in England colours again. Joyce deserves a better fate than these, for on his day he can be one of the most effective batsmen in the country. A bumper start for Middlesex next season might swing him back into contention; on the other hand, perhaps he’d be better off perfecting his reverse sweep this winter instead.
7 Comments »Prior and Shah included as Nixon misses out
By Emma 3 years ago, mid-May, 7 Comments »
Since Peter Moores took over the task of rebuilding England’s Test and ODI teams after what was undeniably a disappointing winter, speculation has been rife over which players the former Sussex coach wanted to take the field at Lord’s this Thursday. Though the role of coach as selector is set to diminish when the Schofield inquiry airs its views, there is no doubt that Moores has had his hand in choosing his first full international squad. Thus, it is not overly surprising that two of his Winter Academy squad have already taken two of the twelve places.
Squad:
Strauss(captain)
Bell
Cook
Collingwood
Flintoff
Harmison
Hoggard
Panesar
Pietersen
Plunkett
Prior (w/k)
Shah
So Nixon misses out to Moores’ former county teammate, though after a good winter at the Academy, Prior has so far failed to impress in the Championship. The other talking point, of course, is Owais Shah. Whilst Shah has been much tipped in the media, he has backed this up with decent batting performances this season, and deserves to build on his Indian experience. Plunkett’s selection is to be expected – with Flintoff’s batting having been proven to be in poor international form, then a bowler with pretensions to all-round capabilities must be included over the more one-dimensional Anderson.
So what are your thoughts? Has Nixon been robbed? Is Strauss the man for the job? Would you have preferred one of any number of alternatives? Let us know your views below.
7 Comments »Luck of the Irish?
By Will 4 years ago, mid-November, 9 Comments »
William asked for it (not me; I’m not speaking the third person), so I thought I’d offer thoughts on Ed Joyce’s call-up to replace Marcus Trescothick. I find it baffling, quite honestly. I’ve been a big supporter of him for many years. He’s a calm individual, relaxed at the crease – unfazed by situations – and bats accordingly. He’s very talented indeed but what I saw of him in his brief one-day appearances didn’t inspire much confidence. Worse still, what must Rob Key feel?
Interestingly Key is one of Flintoff’s best buddies, and there will have been no shortage of bellowing from the captain. Stranger still that Owais Shah wasn’t called up, perhaps England’s best player of spin (I can’t think of too many who play spin with such ease). Perhaps they just wanted another left-hander…
Your thoughts, ladies and gents.
9 Comments »Beginners’ luck
By Will 4 years ago, mid-March, 8 Comments »
My article on debutants, and beginners’ luck – which I began to muse on the other day – went up on Cricinfo today.
8 Comments »Owais Shah added to squad
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of February, No Comments; be the first!
So then, Owais Shah has joined an ever-increasing list of “cover” players to join England’s squad in India. He acts as cover for Marcus Trescothick, who’s flown home citing personal reasons. Alastair Cook has also been called upon; in fact, he was called up for England’s tour of Pakistan, too, when Michael Vaughan’s knee played up. Cook smashed a double hundred against Australia in the summer (for Essex) and is a fabulous talent. More thoughts at The Googly.
No Comments »National Academy squad
By Will 5 years ago, mid-September, 9 Comments »
As mentioned earlier, three English squads were announced today – including the National Academy squad. It is worth mentioning that a couple of years ago, Andrew Flintoff decided he needed sorting out and went, of his own accord, to the academy. Look what has happened since.
I’m a huge supporter of this academy, so I always take great interest in the names chosen.
National Academy Squad Gareth Batty, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Rikki Clarke, Alastair Cook, James Dalrymple, Steven Davies, Mark Footitt, Ed Joyce, Robert Key, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett, Chris Read, Owais Shah, Tom Smith, Luke Wright, Mike Yardy
There are some useful names there, some familiar, some not so. Alastair Cook was this year voted the Young Cricketer of the Year, and smashed 200 against Australia. Nasser Hussain and Gooch rate him hugely, and by all accounts he is a fine prospect.
Ed Joyce I have written about extensively; he is an even finer prospect, and I hope he really kicks on. He’s a joy to watch, as is Owais Shah. I have my reservations about Shah, though…he has enough talent, and has apparently “settled down” and matured (not that I’m condoning such scandalous happenings). He could well be a bit of a Mark Ramprakash; obscenely gifted, but can’t quite cut it. I’d suggest next summer could be his last chance to make an impression.
I’m also pleased about the third Middlesex player, Jamie Dalrymple! Really useful cricketer; bats, bowls useful offspin, fields well. Really professional cricketer. Could be a dark-horse next year, much as Strauss was. One of those names you never expect to perform for their country, but do.
Exciting seeing and watching these young players. Only a few of them will make it to the England side, so keep your eyes peeled on these names. Any of you seen them play?
Thankfully, they’re ALL UNDER 36!
……………
Middlesex chasing Glamorgan hard
By Will 5 years ago, mid-June, 1 Comment »
The pitch at Southgate must be an absolute belter. Set a giant 406 to win by Glamorgan, Middlesex are going for it in style and are 234/0 at Tea – Ed Smith making his first hundred for his new county, and Owais Shah too reaching three figures. What a game. They need another 172 in the final session…
UPDATE: Middlesex require another 109 runs with 9 wickets remaining! Could be tight. Joyce is in – can he make it to 1000 runs?
1 Comment »