England v Australia - the shape-up at the half way point

A series between Australia and England is renowned for its pain and passion, ultimately turning the great theatres of cricket into a coliseum-esque stage for the ecstasy and heartache of an Ashes series to be played out in front of adoring crowds of millions. 

This summer the treat is once again Australia, but the fight is not played out over 25 days and is not for the urn, instead cricket followers are experiencing a concept wholly new – an ODI series against a youthful looking Australian side just clutching their world no1 ranking. 

Australia’s recently mixed bag of ODI results show that by no means do they dominate their opponents as they did in the early-mid noughties.  Old campaigner Brett Lee is as destructive as those days, but the Australia around him has changed. 

Their batting line up fizzles out beyond the fifth batsman and it is credit to England’s bowlers that, even without Jimmy Anderson on Sunday, they were able to prevent the Australians accumulating a big score.  

Only Brett Lee and Michael Clarke seem able to provide the knock-out punches, a last reminder of the days when Australia bulldozed their way through cricket matches.  Nonetheless, the visitors are providing an interesting warm-up act to what is likely to be seen in the two 2013 Ashes series and the English fans are lapping up the ‘new youf’ paraded by Clarke in this series. 

Also, the movement in the Australian team between Lord's and the Kia Oval, Forest replaced Smith and David Hussey dropped a place in the batting order, reflected England’s stamp of authority over their opponents.  Mitchell Johnson, coming in for Cummins, quite literally wobbled under the pressure of the fan’s ‘love to hate’ relationship, bowling three no-balls and not completing his allocated 10 overs. 

This ODI series, so far, has an air of expectation about it, as both sides expect to win. Australia only appear as the underdog, but if England were to steal their world ranking from them with a 5-0 whitewash it would be an extraordinary feat.  By going 2-0 up in the series England are on track to hold the top world ranking in every form of the game, the first side in history to do so, but Australia are not out of this series and could still clinch victory.  

England v West Indies, 3rd Test, Day 4

by Sofia Westaby at Edgbaston 


There were points to prove at Edgbaston today, with two West Indian wickets up for grabs and a reputation to shake off for Tino Best, whose 2004 dismissal at Lord's has been eternalised in cricket pop-culture by Flintoff's famous words, "mind the windows Tino".  But in a Test match heavily affected by weather, it was the icing on the cake when the players were twice ordered off the pitch due to poor light.

This added another bizarre twist to an unconventional day of Test cricket. The few spectators got their money's worth with the early  wicket of  Rampaul proving to be only the support act to  Tino Best's return. He kept his cool until, finally, sending a ball sky-high towards third man ending in an easy catch for Strauss, retreating from the slips.  Best's 95 off 112 balls showed maturity and control, making him the highest scoring number 11 in history and a global twitter trend.

In response to comments made by the former West Indian captain and all time batting great, Sir Viv Richards, Ramdin celebrated his ton by throwing the bat down and ripping off his gloves to produce a scribbled note, "YEA VIV TALK NAH", a 'verbal' two-fingered salute. Richards criticised Ramdin's form in England, saying it had "deteriorated", the response in turn overshadowing the importance of his runs towards the final total of 426.

England require 56 runs on day 5 to avoid a follow on, having lost wickets quickly.  Pietersen made a respectable  78 runs in his first Test as a  specialist, but minds still turned to his retirement from the short-form of the game.  This could be short lived, "I said I'd play the Twenty20 world cup if they want me to play", but the stubbornness of the ECB towards Pietersen makes this unlikely.  If rain holds up for another 24 hours the West Indies might just squeeze a victory out of the game, but with the forecast as it is now the draw is on its way.

England vs West Indies, Third Test, Day 3

Sofia Westaby at Edgbaston 

The crowds returned to Edgbaston, bringing with them cold but dry weather and a sense of anticipation, England would have expected to take more than just the wicket of Powell in the morning session, having put the West Indies into bat. Instead the West Indies remained commendably disciplined, never being drawn into playing wild shots and fully utilising well timed drives, sending the ground into raptous song by the 16th over. 

Graham Onions, returning to the side after a two year absence from home Test matches plagued with injury, fell victim to Ian Bell's buttery fingers, twice having a simple slip catch being dropped. Bell, incidentally, stood in the foot holes of Anderson at third slip, a cruel reminder of the safe hands usually there.

Bresnan and Onions pulled the game back into England's control with a sucession of wickets after lunch, leaving the West Indies 164-5 at tea. The game offered up little hope that either team will get a result, with both chipping away at one another, England not taking all 10 wickets in the day and the West Indies total is not sufficient for a three day game, ending at 280-8 after 98 overs. 

Despite the stalemate, the contest for the third seamer position continues to add extra dimensions, pace man Finn worked tirelessly to get bounce from the pitch and was rewarded with two wickets. The place is likely to stay with Bresnan, but rotation would be a sensible consideration particularly for overseas trips, where the flat wickets will suit Finn's bowling. Of course Chris Tremlett needs also to be added to the mix, as he begins to return from injury. Anderson and Broad left big shoes to fill and whilst this new look attack can be deployed here, the dimensions added to the side, both in bowling and fielding, by the missing duo are essential for success, regardless of what Onions and Finn bring to the table. 

England vs West Indies, Third Test, Day 2

Sofia Westaby at Edgbaston 

The most action the day two square at Edgbaston has been subject to is the periodic rolling and unrolling of the covers, offering momentary glimmers of hope that some cricket might be on its way, but alas the umbrellas stayed up. With the rain easing over night, a small window for cricket is likely today, offering up an exciting battle between scoring quickly and getting the all important wickets. No wonder the top order batsmen braved the short trip across the ever growing puddles accumulating on the outfield towards the to the indoor nets. 

The dominance of the West Indian batsmen in the net session before lunch reflected the desperate hope to overcome the problems of Lord's and Trent Bridge where the top order collapse easily and the lower order is unable to stick around and support the likes of Chanderpaul, Samuels and Sammy. Powell set up camp in lane 3 fully focused and intent on facing everything the bowling machine could offer, cutting and driving balls away, much to the delight of the small number of ticket holders sheltering from the stormy conditions. Powell will be conscious of the need to perform, having only past double figures once on this tour. 

Perhaps an even more telling sign of the West Indies desperation to support their middle order was Tino Best's in depth coaching session from Toby Raford, who halted Best between balls, readjusting his head and back foot positioning, surely on what is supposed to day 2, it is to late to be adjusting fundamental balance, positioning and movement? Best will be wanting to put his best foot forward, having been left out of the West Indies side who played at Edgbaston in 2004 and not having had a Test call up since 2009. He will be very aware that a damp Edgbaston pitch is not ideal for a pace bowler, and must make his mark else where.

In stark contrast to the West Indies, opener Alastair Cook looked comfortable and calm whilst working repeatedly on his sweep shot so as to direct the ball forcefully down to the fine leg boundary. Jonny Bairstow is the only England batsman who will feel he has something to prove, hiding the nerves below a confident exterior. This maybe being described as 'dead Test', but both sides still feel they have things to prove, here's hoping the weather will let up and the battle will unfold. 

England v West Indies: 1st Test - Lord's, Broads and IPL Flaws

England can smile again after taking their first home victory of the summer against the West Indies at Lord's.  Batting the side home, Cook and Bell provided England with the partnership required to chaise down 191 runs on day five, but not before the Windies demanded Jonny Bairstow's presence at the crease with England on 189 after Alistair Cook opened the bat looking for glory, but instead finding the hands of Kirk Edwards.  Despite the score sheet now reading 1-0 to England, the West Indies can take away a wealth of positives from their performance at Lord's.  Shiv Chanderpaul showed off his class, forcing the game to extend to five days, and should have been rewarded with his name on the Lord's honors board.  His trademark anti-reflective strips, worn on his cheek bones, appeared like facial war-paint, as he ground England's bowling attack to a halt.  "The war will be over by Christmas" they cried in 1914, that phrase coming to mind late on day three when Surrey announced their free entry policy for Lord's ticket holders the following day.  Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?  

The West Indies would have felt they could have done better than their 243-all out in the first innings, allowing England to take early domination of the game.  The atmosphere in the ground on day one was electric as the crowd rose from their seats to congratulate Broad's five-fore.  What a bowler Broad is, nearly left out of the side this time last year, he has well and truly silenced all critics.  Now his name is eternalised on all three honors boards, a test match 100, 5-wicket haul and a 10-wicket haul.  Broady is England's all rounder, no question.  England's first innings finally put an end to the run drought which has plagued the side over the winter.  Strauss smashed 100, whilst Ian Bell batted back into form with 61 off 105 balls.  Through the innings raised yet another question about Strauss' batting, he is still unable to convert an overnight 100 into a double hundred, the runs have silenced his critics...at least for now.  

This test match also threw up questions to cricket's future and its morals.  Where were key West Indian's like Chris Gayle?  Knocking hundreds for IPL teams rather than representing their country at the home of the cricket.  Why do we now live in a generation where domestic league cricket becomes bigger than representing your country at a test match? Everyone knows that, if they too were in Gayle's position they would take the money and the IPL season, but players should not be put into a situation where they have too choose money over playing international cricket.  The ICC should not be allowing the IPL to get bigger than playing test cricket with the national team.  The IPL teams are engineered each year, dictated to by dollar signs, and should not make players compromise their international duties.  These types of competitions are doing nothing for the future of test cricket or the development of young players and their dominance and importance should be culled and controlled by the ICC, before a situation like the English Premier League develops, where individual clubs are bigger than the national team.  I sincerely hope that the ECB take a different approach to improving domestic cricket and don't follow the advertising, money monster that is the Indian Premier League.    

Stuart Broad who took an 11-wicket haul in the match

Shiv Chanderpaul, number one batsman in the world with his trademark anti-reflective strips 

Pride & Prejudice - story of English Cricket & Great Romance: Broad, Bairstow & Hamilton-Brown

Do people really describe international cricket as "sexy"?  I understand the idea that cricket seduces spectators and that once you fall in love with cricket you never leave it and rarely cheat on it.  Under the summer sun and panama hats the game captures you, not able to look away, you watch every swing, every sweep, every turn and every spin.  It is a passionate love affair with a sport so deeply English that you're proud to be a countryman (or woman!).  So why, in a country so in love with cricket, have very few of us been seduced by the domestic game?

To be seduced by the county game one has to go looking for it.  County sides are playing hard-to-get and they're getting even harder.  Domestic cricket isn't the 'big hitter' for online reporting and county sides don't sell newspapers, so naturally their achievements are slowly becoming less and less significant with many games in empty grounds with no atmosphere.  How hard must that be for young English players, who dream of one day playing for their country to the roar of the Barmy-Army.  The economic troubles of county sides contribute to this, making the situation appear worse, clubs can't pour money into advertising and media and must instead rely on die-hard cricket fan's passing their love for a domestic club down to the next generation.  This isn't working.  

International cricket has drawn in so many new lovers over the past few years, me being one of them.  Individual brilliance and team effort has seduced me and so many others into a love affair with cricket.  It's now part of my summer and a part I look forward too.  How has the England team succeeded in romance where the domestic clubs have failed?  Exposure.  International cricket sells, particularly the development and achievement of young players, given the chance to be followed, to seduce and to enthrall.  The greatest example is the rise of Stuart Broad.  Entering the scene in 2006 at the age of 20, the youngster never left and  has risen to become one of the finest cricketers of his generation.  Stuart Broad being exposed at 20 and becoming a semi-regular appearance in the England T20, ODI and test squads allowed spectators and media to follow and fall in love with this player.  This is what domestic cricket lacks, the opportunity for us to fall in love with players whilst they develop and expand, whilst they seduce us.  

There are so many 'Stuart Broad's' out there, every county team has one, but with such a strong England squad there's no opportunity to captivate.  A player like Jonny Bairstow, wowed in his 'out-of-the-park' style innings during the first ODI against India last summer, could be the next great romantic, but a space in the England side so hard to come by, players must now rely on love at first sight.  This is difficult and though so memorable to watch, Bairstow hasn't made me fall in love, hasn't seduced me to his playing, hasn't made me turn to Yorkshire to watch more.  Cricket writers, both amateur and professional, need to identify the 'Stuart Broads' and give them a platform to make us fall in love with the game all over again.  

For me it's Surrey.  A side with young players, it's a perfect place to go looking for cricket romance.  Rory Hamilton-Brown, the youngest Surrey captain for 138 years, is just one of their 'Stuart Broads's'.  The astonishing thing is that Hamilton-Brown has never had a first class England cap, no opportunity to seduce the widest audience of International cricket.  It is up to the media, the journalists and the bloggers to bring the domestic teams out of their hard-to-get days, to put them out there to allow the cricket and the cricketers to sell their game.  Money isn't needed for advertising, a subtle injection of romance is all that's required to allow Hamilton-Brown and his peers to begin their romance, a romance that would bring in more spectators, sell more seats and provide more income.  This is the England of the future, lets allow ourselves to fall in love now and we all know, once a player and their team have seduced us - we never leave.

Surrey's ground the Kia Oval during England v India 2011 test series.  All five days of this test match were sold out.  

Surrey's ground, the Kia Oval showing large numbers of empty seats for a domestic match.  

  

England's best Soap Opera: the Comeback Kings

Firstly, please excuse my long absence from the blogging scene.  Just because I haven't been writing doesn't mean I haven't been watching! What a winter.

I think my views of the Pakistan series are pretty well voiced.  I felt that England should have taken more risks, played around with their failing batting order and looked outside of the box.  Evidently my radical thinking (echoed by the great Bob Willis on SkySports) was not the way Flower and Strauss wanted to play.  Cowering behind the sofa, I couldn't watch and frankly I didn't want to. 

Bring on the ODI series.  Not usually the cry from an England fan, particularly when the opposition is Pakistan, however where on earth did the form come from?  Whitewash victory is just what we needed to reconcile the awful test performance.  

As I am writing England are still world number one, but boy did they make it interesting.  Under the watchful eye of huge traveling support, the England test cricket soap opera began.  I seem to be attracted to teams who like to keep things interesting, as a Liverpool supporter I'm used to 'expecting the unexpected' and when it all looks too good to be true, it often is.  During the first Sri Lankan test, my very proud half South African friend, Jacob Kaye, knew as well as I did that if England didn't win, South Africa would steal our world number one spot.  Although Jacob would never admit it, the smile on his face made me realize that if we lost our ranking he'd never let me hear the end of it and that my university cricket conversations would be ruined....at least till the summer!

England left it till the very last minute to save my cricket conversations.  Sri Lanka taking the early advantage, England had to win the second test.  Why, oh why do the teams I support always have to be down and out before they bring something back?  The comeback came from a surprising source, KP.  Pietersen, who has played dismally against spin all winter and who's presence at the crease changes the attitude of the batsman at the other end (I forget exactly when, but I have recollections of Cook's attitude changing when KP entered the arena , Cook was noticeably worried for his team-mate at the other end) and it was not the obvious 'comeback king'.  But, his 151  from 165 balls sparked real promise, a player who has struggled so much with spin, particularly left-handed spin, is the one who can dig deep enough and perform - a really cricketer!  Granted, Pieterson fell to an LBW, but his performance was inspired.

I still got stick from Jacob, who reminded me that KP is a South African rather than a true Englishman - but I could cope with that.  As long as KP and our other 'South African' players have  lions on their chest, I don't care much about the 'are they really English?' chirps.  Lions are lions.

Swann finished the job with a tremendous 6-wicket haul, England could breathe a sigh of relief.  With our world number one ranking in tact, it was only the batsman's egos that were broken.  We had survived a winter storm that was both unnecessary and embarrassing.

Hopefully this summer will be more like the last.  Our form at home is dramatically better than our form in the subcontinent.  But, South Africa (tests, ODIs and T20) will be tough and with the West Indies (tests and T20) and Australia (T20) also visiting, every fan is shouting: "Get your act together England - you're not the football team!"