Trouble at the Top

We have looked on in wonder over the past 6 months at the spectacle that is English cricket. From the lows of a 5-0 Ashes whitewash to stuffing Australia at their own game, on their own turf. And now, we stand bemused by a thus far lacklustre performance in the World Cup; still waiting for them to shine. Perhaps they won't.

It could be that they are at the top of their game already. That we are simply a poor ODI side. Or it could be that we have been holding back. Whatever it is, today we have a fight on our hands. I read with interest Mike Selvey's attack on the team in today's Guardian. He says that we rely too much on Collingwood and Figjam for batting and that without Monty & Freddie our bowling is poor. To some extent I will agree; we do lack depth in our bowling and even those two much esteemed ball flingers seem off colour. But I am more convinced that this is down to poor preparation. Everyone knows that West Indian pitches are slower but I don't think we realised how much slower. It has been fascinating to watch part time spinners doing damage across the matches. It seems to work too. Today, against one of the best batting lineups in ODI's, we will need to take the pace off the ball. We need to bowl with intelligence. Bowling length balls like we did on our last outing will only mean alot more fetching the ball practice as the likes of Jayasuriya & Tharanga pierce our in field defences. It really is time to step up to the plate.

Ok, so what's wrong? Well, to start with we must acknowledge that the ODI success of other teams is mainly down to how their perform with the ball. Batting first and getting a big score on a flat wicket is no guarantee to winning. SL's run rate is impressive. They attack bowlers. They also know us well. So it's time to mix it up a little. Get Jimmy boy to pitch it up. Don't give their batters time to adjust. It's a shame that Mahmood hasn't come good because his slower ball is great. Let Virgil & KP bowl their tweakers. SL won't have seen much of either of them. Attack them from the off. We know where Jayasuriya & Tharanga score their runs so strangle their supply. Take catches. Save the 1s. And most importantly, BOWL THEM OUT.

Our top order is in trouble. My bet is that Strauss will come in today for either Joyce or Bell. This is good. Not for his batting so much but because Strauss has a decent cricket brain and Virgil will need to turn to him in the field. But our batting still needs sorting. Strauss & Virgil open. KP at 3 and Colly at 4! That should put the cat among the pigeons. Freddie & Bopara to follow. At this level we shouldn't need anymore than that. These are impressive players who can all hurt bowlers. Today's the day to hit them with maximum pain.