During the 1980's the West Indies were what Australia are now: the best side in the world. They crumbled because of old age. Australia will also crumble one day. But for now we must face that this series is likely to finish 5-0.
Here's my verdict on the players and staff:
Duncan Fletcher: This obstinent man is still spinning his spin and even in his post-match interview he wasn't prepared to accept the obvious selection mistakes. One thing in his defence over selection is that the other selectors weren't there and perhaps coaching, managing & selecting his team is too much for one man. Fletcher has been a good coach since 1999. He has a good record. But this series has been one too many for him. I would like to see a bit of honesty from him and be prepared to face up to the mistakes in selection that have been made. Backing players who were available but not match-fit is surely unwise? DF now needs to inspire this squad so that they can come back and win a couple of games. After all, in 20 years time when we regain the Ashes, Wisden's will show a 3-2 as a much closer result than the reality.
David Graveney: As Chair of Selectors you would expect this man to be out there helping DF but instead he is back in Blighty. Time to face the music David and accept that our whole selection process and policy is wrong. The series so far has proved this.
Andrew Strauss: This man has been unlucky on three occasions in the series when replays have showed that he wasn't out. However, he hasn't played the same game that he has before. Poor shot selection at times has revealed many weaknesses. His foot movement at the crease is less positive and he seems reluctant to get forward. 6/10
Alistar Cook: At 21 this young talent should excite everyone at his prospects for the future. If he stays fit he should dominate this opening slot for another 10 years. But he will always need a foil for his style of batting and the way Strauss is playing at the moment doesn't provide such a contrast. A fit Trescothick all full of flare and power would make a better partner. This guy needs to found the right sort of partner, be it an in form Strauss or someone like Rob Key. Cook is impressive and we are lucky to have such a talent so young. 8/10
Ian Bell: In 2005 I thought that Bell had spent his last chance at Test level after a run of poor scores. But we must give this man his due. He fought his way back into the side and has now cemented his place. He has the right temperment for a No 3 and is totally unflustered by the sledging. His shot selection is good, particulalry square of the wicket. Only poor form will see this man dropped. Its funny because he is often put up for interviews and deals with the media quite well. Possible candidate for FEC? 8/10
Paul Collingwood: I was never moved by this guy at Test level until this series. I would like to see him bat down the order where he could prove to be more of an assest. At times he plays fantastic cricket and takes on short balls without fear. However, his array of shots do not justify the No 4 slot and when he plays that defensive game instead of attacking he is dreadfully boring and would lose his place if I had my way! Bat him at 6 and make him play aggressively. This England has long missed Thorpe who was always a great player to come in at 5 when we were 35 for 3. He would always see us home. Colly could play a similar role at 6. 6/10
Kevin Pietersen: This guy should really bat at No 4. His average so far is great. He has real character and true natural talent. He plays exceptionally well under pressure and fears no one. He is awesome. 9/10
Andrew Flintoff: In a way Freddie has been overshadowed by KP. They are both big personalities and perhaps there isn't room for that in a side. However, he does always give his all. His poor form with the bat could be atrributed to his capatincy roles but I'm inclinced to think that he is simply not match-fit. I don't think he is a captain and should step down so that he can do waht he does best. In 2005 MV got the best out of each of his players. Freddie hasn't managed that and by asking him to captain the side he has been spread too thin. He came into the side originally as a batter who can bowl. We need to remember that and use his talents accordingly. 5/10
Geraint Jones: 3/10 duckie.
Saj Mahmood: What a great prospect. The most natural run, leap & bound in test cricket. I feel this one will come good...soon. 7/10
Matthew Hoggard: This guy is a real performer at key times. Bowling Langer 1st ball was outrageous and brilliant. Langer is rarely bowled and to be bowled by us twice in a match is very bad for him! Hoggard needs to be used in the way that suits him best; ie at very key times. He can swing the ball both ways and has an extraordinary yorker that is under-used. Excellent effort. 8/10
Steve Harmison: We haven't seen the best of this guy yet. He has talent but fails to unlock it sometimes. His figures for the match do not reflect just how well he bowled. He was great. 8/10
Monty Panesar: Hey! A real competitor this one. He will always fight and to finish up with 8 wickets for the match was very good. Long time since we have had a finger spinner who could produce such results. And of course he bowled Langer who is very difficult to get past. For the stand with Harmy alone he is worth inclusion. 9/10
Me
Contemplating polishing my forehead a bit more
About Me
- Middle & Off
- Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
- Mad as a box of frogs when it comes to cricket...playing, watching, eating, sleeping, everything cricket. Not a great season for me last season. I took 21 wickets @ 19.75 and scored just 62 runs at 15.50. Heroes: Ramps, Randall & Langer Zeros: Nasser Hussain & David Graveney.
3 comments:
Agree with most of that - but I think you're a bit over-generous to Harmy. On his day he can be just about the most dangerous fast bowler in the world. The trouble is that he only has those days once in a blue moon at the moment. The Old Trafford test in the summer was probably the last occasion. he wasn't bad at Perth in the first innings, but he wasn't quite at full throttle either. And when he's bad he's awful. That first ball of the series was a downer from which England never quite recovered. I don't know if the problem is his action or his psyche or a bit of both, but he can be disastrous when he goes wrong. England need to manage him a lot, lot better come 2009. If he lasts that long.
As for Mahmood he fizzes with potential, but it would be nice if he took a wicket from time to time. Having said that, harmison on the previous tour was at about the same stage, and went on to become a world beater.
Bell is looking good and getting better by the match, but I still worry about that rather frozen defensive shot he sometimes gets out to.
Similarly, Cook as you say is clearly an England opener for the next decade -- a sort of Essex Gary Kirsten. But McGrath has found him out around the off stump, and he needs to tighten up. But anyone who can take a hundred off that attack, especailly at age 21, has a big future.
As you say, Strauss has had a lot of bad luck (another reversal of fortune from 2005, when it tended to be aussies who got sawn off) but has also got himself out to silly shots. He is due a score and looked to have the measure of the aussie opening attack. But maybe the england opening partnership needs a heavier hitter? With Strauss at three?
Collingwood has looked wonderful on slower piutches, not so hot on faster, bouncier tracks. It's a limitation which could come back to haunt him. I still think he's the most likely victim if Vaughan returns to the side. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that - but not holding my breath)
Flintoff has never looked 100 per cent to me, with either bat or ball. I don't think he did badly as skipper, given that half his bowlers were in need of therapy at any given time. No-one's going to look like a great captain when most of your attack can't hit the cut part of the pitch five balls out of six. But I worry about that injury. His bowling never quite had that uninhibited "charge in and knock their blocks off" edge that was so dangerous in 2005. And his batting looked careworn and tired. If he has to be managed to keep him going, and if leadership inhibits his batting, someone else should be captain.
Geraint Jones looks finished. (Now he'll get a hundred or two in the remaining tests) No major mistakes as keeper, but nothing worth noting with the bat. And England need a no7 who delivers more consitent scores. I don't think it will be Read, so time to call up Davies of Worcs. A class keeper, and potentially a good batter, but one who needs better technique, I reckon.
Hoggard. Consistent, effective, workhorse. Every captain's dream. No change there. No blame for anything.
Giles. Eclipsed by Pansear. Sorry. A great stalwart, but we need a world class attacking spinner and he's not it.
Anderson. Who?
I can see we are like minded. Cook is indeed very like Gary Kirsten who was the mainstay of SA for a real long time. As regards to a big-hitting partner I'm not sure who to suggest. We could do with a Kallis or a Hayden but there seems to be a lack out there. I do worry about Collingwood...he could be great but something about his mentality isn't quite right. It's almost all or nothing. But then I do think thats Strauss will turn it around because he has real skill square of the wicket. Needs to work on the hook and pull but when he's flying he really is flying. I have been unfair to Freddie and you are right about Jones...he will score runs at Melbourne!
With you on most points but...
You have not been unfair to Freddie. He picked these crocked lunatics for his team. He is not up to the job, injured or otherwise.
Jones missed catches and at least one stumping.
If Collingwood has any future in the test team it is at Number Six and contributing some more medium pace bowling. But he will go when Vaughan returns.
Importantly, we do have some more young fast bowlers who should be being used to put pressure on the ones in the team. Broad, Tremlett et al. Oh yes, but we couldn't be bothered to hang on to our best ever bowling coach.
It is beyond a joke.
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