England sealed an emphatic innings and 98 run victory over a surprisingly timid South Africa in Durban. The nature of the win has, for many, answered the questions I have raised over the course of this tour about the balance of a four man bowling unit, but in this slightly Jekyll and Hyde blog the problem will be re-examined in light of the events of the last week.

However, to avoid coming across all Bob Willis it is more than a little important that the win itself is at least touched upon, and what a win it was. Andrew Strauss said it was as good a victory away from home as he could recall and who can argue with him. Victories by an innings are rare against the major cricket playing nations, but to defeat the top ranked Test nation by such a margin in their own back yard is something worth heralding.

It was a victory to which everyone can lay claim. Trott and Onions may not have got the runs or taken the wickets they wanted but Trott withstood scrutiny in fading light on the second evening when losing another wicket would have dented any chance of such a sizable total, and Onions new ball bowling provided just the challenging control that the Kookaburra ball needs before the shine quickly disappears.

On another day this win could have belonged to either of them, but instead it was four others who soaked up the humidity down by the sea and returned performances of pure brilliance.

Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann produced one of those memorable sessions of international cricket on the 4th evening which is usually reserved for the Ashes to reduce South Africa to 50 for 6. For Swann, his 9 wicket haul for the match was a fitting end to a stunning renaissance year, almost a decade on from his debut. He is a reminder to all finger spinners that you don't need to dislocate your wrists or have a doosrah in your armoury to be successful, because simple mastery of your art will still confound batsmen at the highest level.

Broad again underlined his potential, taking three Proteas wickets for a single run at one point in his spell. It is easy to forget when he produces spells like this that he is only 23, and although fans may be desperate for him to turn in performances of this calibre every innings he is still learning his craft. That said, the ability is clearly there and the more he concentrates on trying to hit the top of off stump the quicker he will develop into a strike bowler to be feared.

With the bat, the two players under most scrutiny delivered characteristically contrasting innings and got the centuries they deserved. Despite averaging over 40 for the calender year, Alistair Cook has struggled to get beyond starts and there have been a few questions raised over whether he can produce match winning innings at the top of the order. His technique has undergone some tweaking and his innings was a lesson in mental restraint as he stubbornly refused to be drawn into the airy wafts outside off stump which have cost him his wicket over the last 18 months. For much of his 118 he was far from fluent, but his gritty performance and partnership with Paul Collingwood set the perfect platform for Ian Bell.

Bell has always been something of an enigma. As exemplified in the First Test he is does not seem to be a man for the crisis, but he has shown time and again that with a suitable foundation he can get England into a winning position. The tentativeness shown when England were struggling in the First Test was replaced by the sort of easy stroke play which has become his calling card. There can be no doubt that somewhere in there is a truly quality Test batsman, which brings us once more to the question of balance.

The first and arguably most important point was raised by Nasser Hussain. Simply put, this is not an issue of whether or not Bell is good enough to play for England. In truth it never has been, Bell has a good average and has shown again over the course of this last match that he is wonderfully gifted young man with many years of top level cricket left in him. That said, he would not have been in my England team before this century, and despite this wonderful innings he would not make the cut for the first Test of 2010.

Test match cricket has one major difference to One Day Internationals, namely the wicket requirement. In ODI's you can lose nine wickets and defeat a side you lost one, as a result of having more runs. In Test matches you can score infinitely more than the opposition but without 20 wickets it is meaningless and the game will meander towards a draw. England managed to do that in this game but I do not for one second that this four man attack will produce the required results on a regular basis for the following reasons.

Firstly, you cannot expect the opposition to be as bereft of fight as the South African's apparently were. Their tentative batting did not befit the top ranked side in the world, and for three quality batsmen to be dismissed attempting to leave the ball in such short time is unforgivable. Add to that Amla's poor dismissal and you have to accept that 4 top batsmen gifted England their wickets. This was less a case of bowlers defeating batsmen than it was a case of batsmen waving the white flag.

A further point would be that the South African bowling attack may have had five obvious prongs in name, but this was at best a three man attack in combination, with Kallis and Steyn only half fit and Ntini all but anonymous. de Whet must have been sat on the sidelines wondering what on earth he had to do on debut to warrant a place in this distinctly average bowling line up. For South Africa to pick Ntini over him for the next match would be at best sentimental ignorance. As a result, England will have to work a lot harder to give their bowlers such scoreboard pressure.

The inference would be that this was not a case of one unbalanced side being defeated by a balanced one, but rather a case of the least unbalanced side triumphing. England still need to win one of the remaining two Tests to be assured of victory and their best chance of victory does not lie in the hope that Graeme Smith's men will be as bad second time around. As a result, cruel though it is I would replace Bell with a bowler rather than gamble that four will be enough.

A nod to recent history would suggest that England have their best chance of winning with a five man attack. Few would suggest that England are a better bowling unit without Andrew Flintoff, and if the selectors didn't feel four was enough with him it seems odd that they suddenly feel that four is enough after his retirement. As the last man in, Bell would be the first man out, but this does not mean international exile. Think how long Hussey, Katich and Watson had to wait to prove their class. England should be thankful to have six batsmen and wicket keeper with such batting quality, but it doesn't mean that playing them all in the same side will bring victories of this magnitude on a regular basis.

Negative England Nearly Pay the Price

Cast your minds back to Cardiff this summer and you will recall a heroic last stand between Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar which held the Australians at bay in the crucial first Test. It is a little surprising that at the start of the very next series England found themselves in a near identical situation as Paul Collingwood (able to surpass his efforts in Cardiff) and Graeme Onions denied The Proteas the chance to take an early advantage.

History will also repeat itself in the aftermath, as the euphoria of saving the match will be tempered by a searching examination of what put England in a position where scraping a draw was the best they could hope for.

On this occasion it seems that Ian Bell will pay the price. The selectors preferred Bell to a fifth bowler, hoping to extend the batting line up precisely to avoid the situation that they ultimately found themselves in. Unfortunately for all parties Bell collected only 7 runs in two innings, a return which was made to look worse after England were twice unable to turn the screw in the field. At both 159 for 4 in the first innings and wobbling at 46 for 4 in the second Strauss's team had the opportunity to exert real pressure and possibly put themselves in a winning position. Instead, as South Africa rebuilt around Kallis or Amla Strauss cut a frustrated feeling, casting about for a wicket, even using Jonathon Trott for a couple of overs as England listed aimlessly, awaiting reverse swing or a bit of Swann magic after the new ball had lost his hardness.

Of course their is no guarantee that an extra bowler given England a different result, but it is always true that bowlers have more chance to recover from errors than batsmen. Ian Bell made two and found himself back in the pavilion unbuckling his pads, but a bowler could have sent down two shocking deliveries and maybe made that vital breakthrough with his third. As was shown in the first innings, although neither Swann or Broad is a natural Test number 7 the combination of them at 7 and 8 can be enough to add a hundred or maybe even more. As a result England will almost certainly opt for the five pronged attack in the second Test that they should have used in the first.

The other main point of interest was the referrals system which has had some tweaks since England last came across it a year ago and to my mind it was actually a success. By allowing the umpire's decision to stand in marginal cases their authority and dignity is upheld while glaring errors can be eliminated. It is a great compromise and although Stuart Broad's ugly outburst drew headlines it cannot be forgotten that the correct decision was actually reached. The system will need to be used before a practical decision can be made on how long is too long to appeal but either way, players like Broad will have to learn to hold their tongue because I have a feeling that this system is here to stay and I for one support this progress which still upholds the finest traditions of the game.

Wright the Wrong Choice?

The big question on everyone's lips round the England camp is what the balance of the bottom five places in the batting order will be. The top six has picked itself, with captain Strauss sure to be partnered by Cook with the Englishmen by trade Trott and Pieterson looking to form a solid middle order in the land of their birth. Collingwood will retain the number five position and Matt Prior is more than good enough to bat at number six. After that, Strauss and the selectors have a difficult task.

Balance was the talk of the ODI series, with South Africa struggling to select a lineup that satisfied the needs of both the bowling and batting departments. With Andrew Flintoff now retired, England would love a ready made replacement to slot in at number 7. But Flintoff was a once in a lifetime player; a batsman with of destructive capabilities on his day, and a bowler of frightening ability even when it wasn't.

There is talk that England will try and replace him like for like with Luke Wright, a player who - like Freddie - plies his trade under the label of an all rounder. He too is a powerful right hander and a bowler capable of breaking the 90mph barrier. However, for the moment at least he is not a man capable of winning a Test match with either bat or ball and a quick recap of Freddie's finest hours of late for England explain why Wright should not make his Test match bow next week.

Although we all recall those halcyon days of 2005 when Flintoff emptied bars by swashing his buckle in that greatest of Ashes summers, in truth that was the last time he changed a game for England with the bat. As injuries blighted his career he found it easier lacing up his bowling boots than putting on his pads after extended periods on the sidelines. If you need any more proof then think no further back to Lord's when a devastating spell ended England's hoodoo at the home of cricket against the players in the baggy green.

In that series it was Broad and Swann who provided the lower order runs, so in truth Strauss is arguably only looking for a bowler who can bat, as opposed to a genuine all rounder and this must be the strategy if England are serious about building on their excellent ODI series win. Extending the batting lineup and only playing four front line bowlers would be a step back from the aggressive attitude that served them so well thus far on the tour and a step in the wrong direction.

However many runs you get, in order to win a Test match you must take 20 wickets and England's best chance of doing that is to select a fifth bowler and trust the batsmen to do their job and give them something to bowl at. With this in mind I would expect Stuart Broad to be promoted to number 7. The combination of him and Swann at 7 and 8 is far from a weak one, and although it undoubtedly draw yet more media comparison between him and Freddie on an individual basis, it would be nothing more than the most positive selection for the team.

It is a given that Anderson will take one of the remaining slots now that he has proved his fitness and Ryan Sidebottom has bowled himself into contention in the final warm up game with 5-42. The fact that he may generate rough for Swann on what is not known as a spinner's paradise at Centurion will also count in his favour. This leaves just one space and given his selection for both warm up games and the quick pitch it may be the case that Wright does get the nod. To my mind this seems like a defensive selection and I would have liked to see a fit Onions of Plunkett getting more of a run out on the tour. If England were concerned about the length of the tail then Plunkett is not incapable and both are more complete bowlers than Wright. What is certain is that this will be a real test of England's selection committee as they try and balance a side without the sizeable counterweight of Mr Flintoff.

From Insipid to Inspirational in the Blink of an Eye

England's bowlers produced two highly contrasting displays to take a 2-1 lead in the ODI series against South Africa with one fixture remaining. The Protees were able to take advantage of a poor display from the English attack on Friday, but had no answer to a more controlled and ruthless performance on Sunday.

The game on Friday had many highlights, but the match will be remembered for AB de Villiers stunning century to take his side to a total which England never looked like chasing down, even on a friendly surface. The numbers game told as the English batsmen fell to shots born out of frustration and pressure.

In fairness, South Africa also put in a very disciplined shift with the ball, quickly finding the correct length to bowl on the surface and stubbornly refusing to budge from it. The result was that the English batsmen were unable to profit in the same way that de Villiers et al had done earlier in the day, tucking into a mixture of half volleys and long hops on their way to 354-6.

However, if there was a clear contrast between the two bowling units on Friday, the difference in England's seam attack from that humiliating annihilation to their resurgence on Sunday was the equivalent of night and day. Broad, Bresnan and in particular Anderson gave away nothing, turning the screws with the grim satisfaction of a medieval torturer. Anderson will undoubtedly get the headlines for his superb five wicket haul but Bresnan once more looks as if he is growing into international cricket, and his miserly spell helped to assert the pressure which gave Anderson his victims. Broad's spell on the Sunday will also have been a pleasing sight to Flower and Strauss. After going round the park in Cape Town he looked much less ring rusty and got some good overs under his belt.

The one disappointment for England will have been Luke Wright, who in many ways sums up England's side at the moment. He is a player capable of pulling off the sublime, both in the field as he did to dismiss Peterson and with the ball, but he seems to lack the consistancy that fans and captains alike desire at this level. He was the only player on Sunday who made Friday's mistakes; perhaps spending too much time trying to outwit the batsman with slower balls and yorkers which failed to hit the mark. If this series has shown anything to both sides it is that while variations are useful, there is no replacement for a tight line and finding the length best suited to the wicket.

While England continue to put in mixed performances South Africa seem to have a totally different problem. England's issues stem from a lack of consistancy, but looking at both the team and the squad the balance seems good. As noted in last week's blog, everyone seems to be int he right position and although the personel may change both the bowling and batting units seem to potentially offer all the right qualities in all the right places. In contrast, South Africa seem stumped as to how to balance their side without Jacques Kallis. Just as England struggled when they first lost Flintoff, the Protees seem clueless as to who should play where when the talismanic all rounder is unavailable.

Many South African fans will find the decision to have a player of Herschelle Gibbs' quality carrying the drinks when the batting seems a man light is odd indeed. If he is seen as disruptive for his actions off the field then he shouldn't be around the squad, but if he is then surely he could add some steel and experience to a top order that if pressurised looks light on both. If England bowl as poorly as they did in Cape Town then perhaps it won't be an issue, but if they are able to put on a display of unified discipline as they did on Sunday then Graeme Smith's men may suffer a rare home series defeat.

Collingwood and Trott give England the Iniative

A magnificent unbeaten century from Paul Collingwood helped England defeat South Africa by 7 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series. Chasing the Proteas 250 he shared a partnership of 162 with Jonathon Trott to place England within sight of victory before Eoigan Morgan finished the job with a swashbucking 27 from 18 balls.

England had already impressed with the ball, reducing South Africa to 165 for 6 before Peterson and Boucher had marshalled Graeme Smith's men to a competative 250. Collingwood had already caught the eye with a stunning diving catch to dismiss AB de Villiers before sharing a somewhat surprising bowling partnership with Trott. The pitch itself seemed to favour more medium paced bowling and the pair combined to return joint figures of 2 for 45 from 13 overs, capping a wonderful day as captain for Andrew Strauss who saw his bowling changes result in immediate wickets on 4 seperate occasions. To use up so many overs not only ensured that the main seam attack of Anderson (3 for 60), Bresnan (2 for 46), Wright and Mahmoood was ably supported in the middle of the innings, but also made up for the limited use of Rashid, who would have been expected to offer more than the expensive 3 overs he managed.

Bresnan and Wright were particularly impressive, having been dealt with so harshly in the Pro20 matches they were back on their metal, doing the basics well and backed up for the most part by an energetic fielding performance. Andrew Strauss's inability to hold on to 2 very basic chances were the only major blots on a England's copy book as the South African's struggled to take charge with a line up which looked decidedly light on genuine top order ability without the injured Kallis.

While England had relied on the taking the pace off the ball, South Africa didn't have anyone in the same mould as Trott or Collingwood and were unable to take advantage of the slight slowness in the track. Trott impressed at the top of the order with a well paced 87 but it was Collingwood, earning a record 171 ODI caps who guided England home with his fifth one day century.

The match as a whole was a lesson in how vital it is have a balance in your side. England only used one more bowler than the Proteas, but there was a lot more variety in their attack. Anderson and Bresnan offer swing at good pace, while Wright can hit the deck hard and is quicker than he seems. With Collingwood and now Trott bowling tight areas at a tricky medium the seam department is multi-dimensional, especially compared to the South African attack. On another day they could have turned to spin with Rashid or even Pieterson but the key in this shorter format is for the captain to have a variety of options.

In contrast, Graeme Smith will have looked at Steyn, McLaren and Langeveldt and known that even though they bowl at slightly different paces they all rely on swing and skid onto the batsmen. Albie Morkel is not yet the finished article and although van der Merwe continues to improve he does not have the depth of backup bowling that Strauss has, and as a result needs the conditions to favour his frontline attack.
The same could be said of the two batting line ups on display today. Trott's county experience as an opener showed, and throughout the middle order you saw people who knew the position they were in. Pieterson should have been England's no.3 for years, while Collingwood's experience and recent developments as an attacking force make him a natural foil for Morgan and Prior at 5 and 6. Beyond that, Wright and Bresnan are more than strong finishers as they showed against Australia in the Champion's Trophy semi-final and Rashid has several first class centuries to his name. The Proteas clearly struggled to balance their team without Kallis, and as a result nearly the entire line up looked like they were batting one position higher than they their attributes suit and Graeme Smith will be praying that Kallis is fit to bolster and balance both his batting and bowling attacks.

Both sides have time on their side before next Friday's fixture, as England hope that Swann and Broad will be fit with Mahmood and Rashid the likely players to miss out. Strauss can only hope that bringing in these players with so little match practice doesn't disrupt the balance which served them so well today.

South Africa Smash Records En Route to Victory

A masterclass of clean hitting from Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman gave South Africa a colossal 84 run victory in the final Pro20 match at Centurian.

With Collingwood and Swann added to the injury list England brought in Rashid and (ahead of schedule) Kevin Pieterson, offering Alistair Cook the opportunity to captain his country for the first time. As a result England took to the field with only 2 players boasting 10 or more international Pro20 caps and the inexperience told under the pressure of the Proteas attack. England looked a little frenetic and void of ideas in the face of such clean hitting and looked devoid of ideas once the initial game plan was swiftly undone.

That said, there are few sides that would not look a little fraught under the pressure applied by Bosman and his captain in a record stand of 170. The two hit fifteen maximums between them, equalling the previous record for a Pro20 inside 16 overs before Albie Morkel and de Villiers added one apiece as South Africa posted an intimidating 241 for 6.

Although the class of the batting in undeniable, England will have been frustrated by their inability to apply the lessons learnt from the first Pro20, serving up a mixture of full tosses, half volleys and long hops. The bowling, perhaps understandably had an air of desperation, as England seemed more concerned about finding a magic delivery than bowling disciplined length and (in particular) line. With the exception of Jimmy Anderson they all erred, and many will need to improve their basic disciplines if they wish to oust Onions, Broad, or Swann once they return from injury.

England's response looked somewhat lacklustre as they looked to surpass such a monumental total, but although the decision to open with the more circumspect Denly and Cook in favour of Luke Wright seemed to deny the task facing them 154 is actually an above par score for that ground. Jonathon Trott looked assured once more as he amassed an impressive half century, while Kevin Pieterson looked in good touch and (more importantly) fit. With Morgan and Prior to back them up and Collingwood and Strauss to slot in England's batting order has a sense of both solidity and flair.

Whilst the only selection headache in the batting lineup is whether to open with Denly or Cook, the bowling department may select itself for a different reason. With Swann joining Broad on the sidelines and Anderson not 100% fit, the selectors face a difficult task, as the majority of the bowling attack failed to cover itself in glory in either Pro20 outings.

As noted in the previous articule, these two matches have failed to give either side any particular advantage before the more serious aspects of the tour start in earnest. Both are capable of playing scintilating cricket, but I would expect the South African's to triumph. In all aspects of the game England are capable of producing brilliance, and their bullish new attitude in terms of batting is a clear step in the right direction. However, as they showed at Centurion, Graeme Smith's men are equally capable and to my mind are more likely to show this level consistantly. As a result I would expect the Proteas to triumph in the seven match series, although don't be shocked if England let them have it all their own way.

England Set Tone for Tour

England triumphied by one run on the Duckworth Lewis method last night in the tour curtain-raiser at the Bull Ring in Johannesburg, but it was the manner of performance rather than the result which will have left Andy Flower and the England camp feeling very satisfied with how the tourists are preparing for the more serious business that follow these Pro20 hors d'oeuvres.

The Champion's Trophy had shown glimpses of a new English attitude towards the shorter forms of the game. Throughout that tournament England played with a previously unseen freedom. Gone were the singles and nudges which had so often resulted in lifeless middle overs, and batsmen who had spent so much of their recent careers seemingly so afraid of losing their wickets that they were unwilling to chance their arm for victory were reborn or replaced with a middle order capable of both finding and clearing the rope.

The result was that Andrew Strauss's men notched up some impressive scalps and returned to England with renewed optimism that they could compete with the best in the world over one day as well as five. It was vital that they began this tour in the same frame of mind; playing fearless cricket in order to assert themselves against such fine opposition.

In truth, the result last night was of little importance. Obviously it is always better to win than to lose but in truth both the result last night and in Sunday's repeat fixture will have little bearing on the overall complexion of either the ODI or Test series. They serve merely to hype the upcoming series and neither side would trade victory in these two fixtures for overall supremacy in the older formats.

So if the financial bonuses are taken out of the equation, what (if any) is the pure cricketting value of these fixtures where victory is of such comparative unimportance? The only way to make an impression in these fixtures is to play aggressive and fearless cricket, making a clear statement of intent. If England were to play the way they did a couple of months ago and lose, they would have a much better chance of winning the mind games before the ODI series begins next Friday.

When Joe Denly was dismissed first ball it would have given England the perfect excuse to retreat back into their shell and revert to their old ways, but as Jonathon Trott took 18 of Dale Steyn's first over it was clear that this was not on the cards. Trott himself was run out after a moment of hesitation for an impressive 33, allowing Morgan to join Collingwood and share a partnership of 98 for the fourth wicket.

Collingwood's innings was perhaps the best illustration of the new mentality Flower has instilled. The archetypal grafter, so often in recent years either unable or unwilling to wrest the initiative from the opposition had a swagger to accompany his new high backlift. Not only did he look a more imposing proposition at the crease, he looked more relaxed than I recall seeing him in recent years and it clearly paid off as he cleared the rope 4 times on his way to an quickfire half century.

Although Collingwood may have looked like a new man, it was the relatively inexperienced Morgan, continuing his good form from the Champion's Trophy who rightly drew most plaudits. His 85* from a mere 45 deliveries had literally everything that has been lacking in an English middle order in coloured kit. A phenomenally powerful man for his size he combined intelligent placement with brutal inside out hitting, as well as moments of improvisation and inspiration.

Two of his five maximums will have left Graeme Smith under no doubt that England's middle order is no longer content to merely let overs tick by. Hitting Steyn out of the ground was magical, but is almost forgettable compared to the arrogant flick over fine leg in the final over off Charl Langeveldt. Over recent years we have seen the switch hit, the Dil-scoop, but this required all the bravery of Dilshan's innovation as well as the movement of the switch hit. Put simply, this boy is very special.

He is also surrounded by a fresh middle order which, in virtue of the qualities the players not only have but are allowed to express doesn't put pressure on itself in the ways of old. Trott, the revitalised Collingwood, Prior and Wright are all shot makers, so it is less that those stale periods, often followed by a flurry of wickets as scared players try and overhit their way out of trouble will be allowed to happen.

The bowlers will have been disappointed with their inability to bowl tighter lines, but the replacement of Mahmood with Anderson as the rain came down meant England were able to keep the South African's at behind the required target. Although the track was excellent for strokeplay they will be aware that as a unit they will need to improve, and it isn't impossible the Broad and possibly Onions will return on Sunday with that level of control in mind.

Most importantly though, England have clearly arrived with business in mind on this winter tour. They have not suddenly become world beaters and there will be times when their strokeplay gets them into trouble. If you require comparison think of Newcastle United under Keegan in the 90's: great to watch, very entertaining, but always with more than a tinge of risk. It will bring victory far more often than the old, tentative approach but more importantly in the context of this tour it has made sure the Proteas know they are in for a tough few months.

England Battle to Ashes Glory

It has been said before that there are lies, damn lies and statistics. As England and Australia reflect over the series both will contemplate that sentence with a very differing emotions.

Australia had 8 centuries to England's 2 and three of the top bowlers in the series. Only Andrew Strauss was able to compete with the Australian batsmen in terms of volume of runs as the rest of England's middle order either floundered or was chopped and changed and yet despite all the stats suggesting an Australian series victory would be guarenteed, the only numbers that count are England 2-1 Australia.

The Test itself was fascinating from the moment the teams were announced. The dominance of the Australian seamers at Headingly meant that their bowling attack remained unchanged while England called on the talismanic Flintoff and emergency batting of in form Jonathon Trott. No spinner for Australia? An untried international batsman in the most important match since 2005 for England? It was almost destined to be an intriguing Test before the first ball had been bowled.

The toss itself played an important role, particularly given the full time spinner England had at their disposal and England were able to press home their advantage with a solid display in the first innings. Bell dogged out a torrid opening hour to top score and Strauss was able lead from the front in the same style as he has done all series. However, although the pitch did have some demons in it it was impossible to say whether or not it was a par score.

In truth, as Shane Watson and Simon Katich steadily built a decent opening stand it may have been difficult to believe that there would be a result inside 4 days. Enter Stuart Broad, the man annointed by many as the natural successor to Flintoff, but one as of yet unable to provide he game changing spells of bowling associated with the great man. He produced a career-defining spell to place England firmly in the driving seat, an advantage that Trott pressed home in emphatic style.

There was always a sense that Trott wasn't going to simply score a couple of quiet 30's. He would either crash and burn and be a wonderful scapegoat for England's batting woes throughout the series or he would produce a display that would help secure the urn for his adopted country. How fortunate that the South African had read the English script rather than the Australian version. His innings was an example to Bopara, Bell and Collingwood that once you get in you don't get out until you have made the opposition pay and it was the perfect compliment to Broad's spell the day before. To bat with so much class on an occasion of such magnitude may secure his place on the plane to South Africa, but more importantly it batted Australia out of the game.

Although the Australians fought manfully from the moment England declared so far ahead it was essentially a question of when rather than if England could regain the Ashes. The only genuine blip was a magnificent partnership between Ponting and Hussey. Ponting was fighting to avoid another failed tour of England and captain, while Mr Cricket was fighting for his place after a poor tour but both played innings of astonishing bravery and determination. It took something great to end their century partnership and sure enough, it was England's go to man who provided it. Flintoff had been quiet throughout the game with only a brief second innings cameo to ignite the crowd, but as he through down the stumps to dismiss the Australian captain the crowd had their moment and rose to adore their hero. He will be missed for a great many reasons, not least of which will be his great sense of timing.

From then on England marched with relative ease towards their goal and sure enough, they retained the Ashes by finally removing the stubborn Hussey. It was the most unlikely of victories for a side that were demolished twice in the series but managed to fight back and on both occasions win the following match. What price Collingwood's innings at Cardiff or for that matter the 11 overs of fight by Monty and Jimmy Anderson?

The series will naturally draw comparison with four years ago but this was a series of less quality. In 2005 there was a memory born every minute whereas this series has been far more about the attrition and battling instincts of two young sides as opposed to the class and maturity of two sets of legends. That said this series has been no less compelling, no less emotionally draining and no less satisfying or heartbreaking for those involved. It provided a timely reminder of why the five day format is perhaps not as under threat by the shorter game as some may think and it was a wonderful example of why this game is so cherished by so many.

Brave Australia Powerless to Stop Freddie Fairytale

There is a reason that Test cricket is so called. With an hour to go at Cardiff Australians looked to have an all important first Test victory in the bag and had England crumbled then, who knows how the last few days may have panned out. However, that denial ensured that after dominating 90% of the game, the momentum was arguably with England.

The announcement by Flintoff before a ball had been bowled that this would be his last five day series resulted in speculation that England may be distracted, and that their last ditch efforts to save the first Test might be in some way compromised and again, so it may have been. To my mind it would come down to who won the first session: if Australia dominated then their suggestion that Freddie had distracted his team mates would seem to have come true, but if England dominated then surely it would be Freddie's perfect goodbye to HQ.

It proved to be the latter, as Strauss and Cook put on a consummate batting display, taking apart a hapless Mitchell Johnson and posting over 120 at lunch on the first morning. From that moment on it felt like it was England's game to lose. In the first innings Freddie played second fiddle to impressive displays from Anderson and latterly Onions before the decision to not enforce the follow on was announced.

With hindsight it could have been a disaster. Had Ponting run out Pieterson and caught Bopara in just the space of two overs then England would have been just 90 for 4 and in severe trouble. Instead, Prior was able to nail home England's advantage before fate had her say on the last two days.

Much will no doubt be made of what could have happened if Flintoff had been no-balled when he dismissed Katich, if Umpire Doctrove had referred Strauss's catch to the third umpire as he had done Hauritz's or indeed if Hussey had rightly been given not out off Swann but whatever is said of these events and the effect they had on the ending this Test match will be Flintoff's forever.

The aggression, the passion and the sheer force of will were all there, written in fire on that wonderfully expressive face which hurt as hard in '07 as it had smiled in '05. They were in every ball and ultimately every celebration as Freddie hauled his team over the finish line in his own unique style. Even for Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin whose brave knocks threatened momentarily to hand Australia an unlikely victory it must have been terrifying to look down the other end and see a man willing to literally destroy his own body purely to take your wicket.

There were other positives that will have been buried under the red top salute to England's one man army and they too were key in this victory. Strauss's opening knock was one to savour, while Cook's aggressive 95 reminded me briefly of how Trescothick used to bully the opening bowling, although to fall once again to a simple straight delivery will have been frustrating. Prior and Collingwood both came back well from first innings disappointments to bat Australia almost out of the game while Swann's four wicket haul will have done wonders to restore his confidence.

Obviously there will be concerns that Flintoff's body may be unable to repeat these heroics in each of the next three games, but I would be amazed if he wasn't at the very least fit for the final match of the series. Other lingering doubts hang over Onions and Pieterson who looks as though he may well have played his last game of the series as his troublesome Achilles effects not only his form but also his state of mind. However, whoever is selected at Edgbaston now is a time to celebrate and recall one of the greatest performances seen at Lord's, as well as remember that no matter how much England dominated the last five days, in the Ashes momentum can change against you as well as for you.

England Steal back Gifts to deny Australia

For the last two weeks everyone has relived the glory of 2005. While the memories of the 5-0 whitewash a year later are banished forever, lifelong fans and '05 converts have sat together and reminisced about where they were when Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath survived the last over at Old Trafford, when Simon Jones knocked back Michael Clarke's off stump with phenomenal reverse swing and when Harmison rattled the top order greats on that first morning at Lord's. So many great moments, such great drama, surely it couldn't happen again?

The finish yesterday rivaled almost anything that was thrown up four years ago but as the performance as a whole is assessed, there can be no doubt that England got away with a result that was ultimately earned, but not deserved.

In every aspect of the game the Australians were better. In the first innings England had seven scores of 30 or more but failed to convert any of these starts into three figures. Even more frustrating was the manner in which these foundations crumbled, as so many batsmen gifted their wickets away after working so hard to wrest the initiative from Australia. A loose shot from Cook, Strauss's failure to lower his gloves and Pieterson's arrogant sweep. Bopara had already had a narrow escape from a Johnson slower ball before falling victim to a second, Flintoff yet again chopped on playing away from his body and Prior attempted an expansive drive when he needed to ensure he was there at the start of play on day 2.

By contrast, Australia converted four centuries, while Michael Clark fell only 17 runs short. They were exemplified to my mind by Simon Katich, a man who endured a torrid time on his last Ashes tour but has converted himself into a quality opening batsman, never being lured into playing outside of his limits. There were no gifts from these batsmen until quick runs were needed to hasten the declaration. Each innings was distinct from the others, ranging from the finesse of Ponting to Haddin's brute force. It was the perfect example of how this great game is one for the individual as well as the team.

Of even more concern is how the mindset didn't seem to change in many as England tried to save the game. Cook, Bopara and Swann were all out LBW playing across the line and although some could argue that Bopara got a poor decision and Swann had stuck about, a straight bat would have meant there was no need for the excuses. Pieterson had already survived one close LBW shout to a Hilfenhaus inswinger before shouldering arms to a straight delivery and the captain slashed at a wide one after already losing an early fifth day wicket. It could be argued that some of these are technical issues but to my mind these are mental and no amount of net time over the next three days will change that. Strauss needs to ensure that the application matches the undoubted talent there is throughout the England batting order.

As far as the bowling is concerned it was the lack of imagination that was most upsetting, in particular from the seamers. If the ball is not swinging then you try cutters, go around the wicket, vary the pace, but very few of these options were tried and certainly rarely stuck with. These are international players who seemed to think that the pitch and the conditions owed them something. In truth, you have to make the pitch work for you and that was forgotten as England wandered listlessly through the Australian innings.

However, although England were undoubtedly at fault for the position that Collingwood, and the bottom order dug them out of it was impossible to not be impressed by the Australians. As a team they were clearly well prepared with seperate plans for each English batsman but it was two individuals who really caught my eye. Both Brad Haddin and Nathan Hauritz were heavily questioned in many parts of the media before a ball had been bowled but they both delivered. Hauritz took as many wickets on his own as the entire England attack, comfortably outbowling both Panesar and Swann and Haddin delievered a blistering assault to take the game well out of England's hands. Both these men may not be as good as the men they replaced, but Gilchrist and Warne would arguably both walk into an All Time World XI. There are a lot of players who are not as those two, but this doesn't make them bad players or weak links and England will have received a rude awakening.

Ultimately then it was the English characteristics of grit, determination and sheer bloody-mindedness that saved the game, but there will be some searching questions asked before the squad is announced later today. I would expect Panesar to drop out with Harmison rivalling Onions for the 4th seamer slot. I hope they stick with Onions, the man in posession. Although Harmison has taken wickets against Yorkshire this week, Onions was only denied that chance in virtue of being in the Cardiff squad. He also took wickets for the Lions and should be the man to replace the second seamer and I hope England back him, select and give him some confidence on a ground which already holds fond memories for him.

England Bow Out With The Usual Problems

It seems that no matter how much innovation T20 spawns, there are some problems with England that refuse to go away. In truth if anything, the shorter the format the more evident they become. England's lack of top quality batting in both the 50 and 20 over format is there for all to see. They can't pray time and time again that their bowlers will be able to protect low scores as against India and it is this overall inability which will continue to be their downfall in the shorter forms.

The game itself was a frustrating watch. Luke Wright failed to come off once more (although in his defence the job he was asked to do will not result in success every time) and Kevin Pieterson was once more left to provide all the impetus. With Bopara he got England into a position where 180 should have been possible but as they both fell to poor shots for settled batsmen, England's middle order were all too easily shackled. Simply put, there are not enough batsmen capable of hitting boundaries. There seemed to be a lack of confidence from Shah and Collingwood in particular, both almost too conscious of getting out to a poor shot and unwilling to risk opening their shoulders, despite both having the ability to clear the rope regularly. In many ways it was simply a condensed version of an ODI, with England looking good while Pieterson is in and then failing to show any aggression once he has departed. If it wasn't for the 10 runs Stuart Broad smashed off the last two balls England's total would have been embarassing as opposed to poor.

In the 50 over format more of a balance is needed, but England had a squad full of players seemingly built for T20 but they refused to use them. Graeme Napier has sat on the bench for the entire tournament when England were crying out for someone who could finish a game by coming in at 5/6/7 and take bowlers apart. You can afford to take that risk when you only have 20 overs to play with. He would have added another option with the ball and it would have made it possible for James Foster to drop a bit further down the order.

Another possible error was made before the tournament even started. It is easy to say with hindsight but the captaincy would almost certainly have been better in the hands of Rob Key. Collingwood has no track record as either a captain or a T20 batsmen, whereas Key (despite a poor start to this season's domestic competition) has a proven track record in both. There has been a lot of rejigging so far but it seems a little odd that something resembling the following was never settled on.

Key (Captain)
Bopara
Pieterson
Wright
Mascarenhas
Napier
Broad
Foster
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson

Obviously once the squad was announced there was never a question of Collingwood not being involved but consider the balance in this T20 side. Of the top seven there isn't a single batsmen who couldn't rattle along at a strike rate of over 100. There is strength from 4 to 7 which could take advantage of any foundation laid by the top 3 with Broad aboce Swann and Foster as he always should have been given his ability with the bat and to score at a decent rate. The bowling too is well rounded with 4 proven internation bowlers and Napier, Mascarenhas, Wright, Pieterson and Bopara providing a bit of variation to be used as the situation required. Although a bit of a case of after the horse has bolted this tournament has shown England where they need to change. The bowling and fielding are areas where they can compete but the batting is too easily strangled and anything other than a selection which shows a balance more akin to that above for the next Internation T20 match would show little more than England's ignorance of their own performance.

The only other issue to be raised last night was why the match itself was shortened. If there are floodlights up and running and a packed house who have paid a sizeable amount for their tickets then why shorted their spectacle unneccesarily? They could still have been playing at midnight on light alone and given those who remained their value for money. You would have thought the ECB would have done their homework given the unsatisfactory specator offering at the 2007 World Cup and this is the first time they have got it badly wrong, but at the end of the day they are masters to the punters and they need to be seen to give them more than they did last night.

India Stumble Leaves Tournament Wide Open

Two more games, two distinctly differing performances but against all odds England have an outside chance of making it through to the semi-finals. Their opportunity comes at the expense of early favourites and defending champions India who England beat late last night.

In many ways it is difficult to analyse England's performances. Against both South Africa and India the batting looked patchy. There is a definite feeling that if Keven Pieterson doesn't come off then England will struggle to make a competitive total, as there is a noticeable lack of batsmen in the middle order who can come in and start hitting or clearing the boundary. The contrast between Yuvraj Singh (who cleared the boundary with his first ball) and the English middle order was clear for all to see and this may prove to be their downfall should they proceed to the business end of the tournament.

The two areas in which they can compete with the best is the bowling and the fielding. Although lacking in consistancy, they have several naturally gifted fielders, with pressure created in the ring by the athleticism of Collingwood and Bopara, and Jimmy Anderson and Luke Wright patrolling the square boundaries. James Foster is also starting to feel comfortable and produced the best piece of wicket keeping seen so far in the tournament to dismiss the dangerous Yuvraj. With the ball they have three seam bowlers more than capable of executing any plans devised in Broad, Anderson and Sidebottom who returned from exile to claim the Man of the Match award. Graeme Swann is capable both of tying down batsmen and taking key wickets and with these four almost guarenteed to provide most of if not all of their 16 over allowance, and a decent support act of Mascerenhas, Wright and Pieterson can pick up the rest of the overs during quieter moments.

There is an irony that, after 6 months of competition it comes down to a straight shootout between England and the West Indies for a place in the semi-finals. Both have shown they can beat anyone but are far from unbeatable so tonight's game is anyone's. One great performance by a player on either side could be the difference, and who would bet against either Pieterson or Gayle putting their hands up on the big stage. Expect fireworks, expect excitement, expect the unexpected. It promises to be an intriguing forty overs.

T20 heats up with England on Song

It is fair to say that in the 50 over format England have the potential to turn in performances of breathtaking quality and miserable ineptitude in the space of a single week. It seems that it is an affliction which will not be cause with a short dose of T20, so be prepared for a week of highs and lows as England enter the Super Eights.

Against Pakistan Collingwood's men produced an inverse display of the one against Netherlands, showing the pure mental grit that was required after such a humbling display. The selection showed bravery: two spinners, one less batsman and Mascheranhas in the top 6. It was a team selected with calculated risk, looking at how the pitch had taken spin earlier in the day and backing Kevin Pieterson to come off at the top of the order.

It all came off. After Ravi Bopara's first failure in an England shirt this summer Pieterson was at his best. While Wright was playing in his usual aggressive style he was easing himself in, and once the opener was gone he simply replaced him to ensure the run rate never dipped. The middle pitched in and more importantly, England were able to not only clear the boundary, but do it at key times to relieve the pressure which had cost them wickets against the Dutch.

With the ball, Adil Rashid and Graeme Swann bowled well in tandem with Rashid seemingly more relaxed, perhaps as a result of having a more experienced spinner at the other end, helping to build the pressure and tie Pakistan down in the middle overs. Impressive though they were, the stand out for me was Broad. He is a confident young man, but even he must have been shaken by the last over against the Netherlands. Although he bowled it well the ultimate outcome must have hurt but he was back to his very best, bowling with pace and aggression to shake up the Pakistan top order. He was aided by England's electricity in the field, and if they want to progress any further in a group including South Africa and India then these basics will need to be in full evidence.

The other team England will face will be a side to which they have dominated this summer, but who took them to pieces in the ill-fated million-dollars-a-man match in the Caribbean. The West Indies took the first step to dumping Australia out of the competition courtesy of a breathtaking innings by Chris Gayle. If ever a tournament was designed for a single man it is this World T20 for the West Indian skipper. He was brutal, and supported well by Andre Fletcher. Their bowling lacks refinement and variety and their fielding is less than average, but if Gayle can keep coming off at the top of the order they can upset anyone.

As the Australians they are off to lick their wounds, but while many are suggesting this could have a negative on their Ashes preparation their history suggests otherwise. Australia are an animal which, if bitten will come back with a vengence, just ask any member of the England touring party in 2007. They will use this extra preparation time to ensure they are primed for Cardiff but before that, hold onto your hats for the Super Eights and cross your fingers for Collingwood to lead out this England rather than the sorry bunch who faced the Dutch.

England Throw it Away

Less than 24 hours ago I predicted both upsets in the T20 World Cup and that England would almost certainly be unscathed before the Ashes by this three week tournament, regardless of the results. With the former confirmed by the Netherlands last ball victory in the dusk at the home of cricket, there is more room to speculate on the latter.

The loss itself is an embarrassment, right up there with the poorest results in English cricket history but the manner in which England went about their task after Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright had given them an excellent start. As a partnership they have a nice balance between deft grace and brute force and in their opening stand set the base for England to score anything up to 200 with wickets in the bank. However, Ravi Bopara threw his wicket away and from then on England looked to be completely without a plan. An inability to clear the boundary clearly frustrated and England's innings petered out with a whimper.

Even so, 162 should have been sufficient for a side whose bowling and fielding have been electric thus far this summer. Anderson and Sidebottom showed that quality in their spells, as to a certain extent did Broad, but the fielding at times beggared belief. For a team which boasts so many outstanding individual fielders the number of fumbles and wayward throws were inexplicable. It was summed up by the last ball overthrow which gifted the victory to Holland. Make no mistake, if England hadn't been so intent on literally throwing runs to the Dutch then we would be discussing a poor victory rather than an embarrassing defeat.

Oddly the major concern isn't the result. Granted it is never pleasant to lose to largely amateur team but it is the manner of defeat which will have put the biggest strain on the players mentally. Another show as poor as that against Pakistan will not only see the hosts out of the tournament, but will also surely effect the confidence of the Test players involved. England need to regroup quickly, not only for the sake of the tournament, but to ensure the relevant individuals aren't still in shock come the first ball in Cardiff.

Stage Set for the Great Entertainers

In the furore which naturally encompasses an Ashes summer, the T20 World Cup has perhaps been a little overlooked. However, in just a few hours the opening ceremony will be over and the curtain raiser against Holland will be well underway. The sport's most glittering stars will be on its most lucrative stage.

For England it is difficult to say how the tournament sits in this summer's grand plan. The squad boasts plenty of players who will not be playing against Australia in the Test series so there is every chance that whatever the outcome over the next few weeks the good morale and spirit of the five day squad will remain unharmed. The only real question is how Pieterson, Anderson, Broad et al will cope with the mental changes that go from flitting between the longest and shortest formats but for players as versitile as these it may be a case of worrying about nothing.

As for the tournament itself it is impossible to not be excited. After the poorly organised and arduous 2007 World Cup this is perfect (if a tad belated) antidote: all the stars and all the matches but compressed into three weeks.

The big teams will of course be in the mix, so expect Australia, South Africa and India to lead the way but expect a few upsets along the way. If Scotland and Ireland can pick up victories against top sides in 50 overs there is no need to suspect that they can't do it over 20, where just a few balls can change everything.

An excellent outside bet would be Sri Lanka. In Jayasuria, Jayawardene and Sangakara they have a top order which can take apart any bowling attack, and in Mendis and Murali they have arguably the two finest spinners in the world at this moment in time, and spin is often the game breaker in T20.

Either way, if you live near one of the grounds wear a hard hat when you are out and about because even without Andrew Symonds (sent home for breaking team rules on drinking) there are plenty of big hitters in England for the next three weeks.

England Maintain Winning Habit

It is amazing the difference a bit of rain and cold can make to a couple of sides. If you cast your mind back just a couple of months to the sun soaked pitches of the Caribbean, England were battling against a buoyant West Indies, embodied by their talismanic leader Chris Gayle who seemed to have discovered a way to temper his natural aggression just enough to become hugely effective. They were energetic and lively. They were everything they haven't been in early English "summer" weather.

The ODI series has followed the same format as the Test series with England dominating from start to finish. Andrew Strauss's men have played some excellent cricket in both forms of the game but they have hardly broken sweat at any stage so far this summer. The only thing these games have offered them is a chance to hone a clinical style of victory, and it is a chance they have grasped with both hands.
The games themselves have been dictated by how England have bowled with the new ball. Whether bowling first or second they have been able to pick up the key wickets of Gayle and Sarwan relatively cheaply. Gayle's wicket in particular is of tremendous value, and it was great to see Strauss take a gamble by giving Swann the ball when it was just 9 overs old (and still in the powerplay). His first ball nearly went out of the ground but the second skidded off the big opener's thigh and clattered into the stumps. It was the sort of calculated gamble that quality captains take, and the sort of bowling that only those with unshakable self-belief can execute.

In many ways that single delivery was a metaphor for how England have been since their hard winter. The innovative risk taking has been seen in selecting Onions and putting Bopara at 3, both decisions which have paid off handsomly. Both are slightly enigmatic and will no doubt have days they frustrate, but they both have the class to change games in the favour of their side. For Bopara, it is his easy style which means he can accumulate runs quickly, accelerating England towards competitive totals. For Onions, his ability to swing the ball late at speed will pick give him wickets at all levels, although in less friendly conditions he will need to show more of the control of basic line and length.

The long break before the first Ashes Test is a frustration but should do little to effect the morale or momentum that the group has done well to discover over the last month or so. With so few of the Test squad involved in the T20 World Cup, any negative results should have little effect and a month or so away from the glare of international duty will give the players the chance to hopefully collect enough runs and wickets to ensure they are in peak form, condition and confidence come the first exchanges with Australia.

Solid England reclaim Wisden Trophy

It is difficult to temper emotions in an Ashes year, but England's latest destruction of the beleaguered West Indies side was solid rather than spectacular. It showed a more grimly determined side, focused on winning by graft and craft than impatience and inconsistency that has been on display throughout the winter and indeed for a couple of years.
The two clearest exponents of these traits were Alistair Cook who accumulated a beautiful century and James Anderson who is starting to look like a finished version of the starlet who took the World Cup by storm in South Africa.

For Cook in particular this was a welcome return to the hundred club after over a year in the wilderness. At the start of his innings he yet again looked scratchy and his footwork was lax, but from tea onwards he started to show glimpses of the touch play that is his hallmark when playing at his best. His return of a career best 160 will do wonders for his confidence in the last Test Match before the first Test against the Australians but he may be disappointed to have failed to record a first double hundred against a West Indian attack that was there for the taking.

In contrast to Cook, Anderson has hardly been short of form. In the absence of Andrew Flintoff he has become the spearhead of the England attack and has shouldered the added responsibility manfully. It was tough to not be impressed with how he stuck to the simple principles of line and length bowling in batsman-friendly conditions in the Caribbean and is now deservedly in amongst the wickets under kinder skies. The ability to create dramatic late swing in both directions will make him a challenge for the Australians and if he is firing with the new ball the talented players in the Baggy Green top three can expect a tough going over.

It will have been a relief to Tim Bresnan to get amongst the wickets but to me it looks like he may struggle to make the step up, particularly if Flintoff can get fit. He is a wonderfully honest bowler, a real workhorse and he will never go for too many runs given his consistency. While Onions is more unpredictable he is the sort of bowler who could pick up a few wickets and change momentum as he did to remove Sarwan and Gayle at the end of a long 4th day. I am unconvinced that Bresnan has that magic ball, and if you need to take 20 wickets to win a Test match then he may struggle to be an automatic selection. He is still young and may impress in the ODI's where his restriction of batsman may be more suited to the shorter format, but at the moment he is the clear choice to make way for the talismanic Flintoff. It is a harsh critique of a man who naturally exhibits the dependable qualities that England have returned to against the Windies, but sterner tests are around the corner, and with so much time before the start of the next Test match he (and any others looking to stake a claim for the Ashes) will need to maintain some phenomenal form in the county setup if he wants to be in the starting eleven in Cardiff.

Gayle the Exception, Not the Rule

Chris Gayle has always been something of an enigma. I was in Barbados in 2007 when he disinterest lead to a number of fielding errors and refusing several catches against Bangladesh, an attitude which ended in torrents of abuse from a West Indian public that expects more. Equally, who can forget how electrifying he can be with bat in hand, smashing quality attacks all over the place in blistering knocks when at his best. However, it is his attitude rather than his bat that has been attracting the headlines so far this summer.
Firstly there was his decision to stay with his IPL franchise rather than join up with his team. It is impossible to say that coming back earlier and having some warm up games would have resulted in a better return at Lord's than 28 and 0 but those meager offerings did little to persuade anyone that he made the right choice. Of even more concern was his ambivalence as his team collapsed to a crushing defeat. If a captain can't stir the troops then who can?
His lack of preparation drew comment from Andrew Strauss, who was quick to point out that no member of the England team would have been able to stay at what is essentially a domestic tournament at the expense of Test Match preparation. Amazingly, this rather innocent comment stirred the sort of passion so lacking last week as he launched a scathing attack on Strauss and Test Match cricket.
His outburst will have sent ripples of concern through the ranks of purists across the globe because for the first time an international cricketer has voiced their fears; that in the minds of some, Test Match cricket has been replaced by the shortest and most financially rewarding format. Fortunately, the majority of his fellow professionals don't think this way and Gayle has never been orthodox, but it is a genuine wake up call to those keen to push the T20 bandwagon and grab the cash: when you take the money you have to think what it will cost you. Test cricket needs preserving and protecting, and saturating the market with the cash cow format will do the sport no favours in the long term.

Swann and Onions Cook up a Storm

Well, it might not be as impressive as the various food based headlines that the red tops were thinking of this time yesterday, but it pretty well sums up the basis on which England won this test, certainly from a statistics point of view.
In truth the architects of the victory were the bureaucrats who scheduled a test match this early. It is hardly shocking that this West Indies side last warm up game and first test match ended in 10 wickets defeat. Imagine coming from the climate and wickets of the Caribbean to a cold and windy London. Even from a financial point of view it didn't make sense, with grandstands half full as fans firmly rejected the opportunity to journey to a very cold home of cricket.
The one thing it did do was give Graeme Onions a dream debut. He had a less than auspicious start, playing a poor shot to be bowled first ball and then seeing his first over eased around the ground. Credit to Andrew Strauss for persevering with his scatter-gun approach until he finally started to come good in his fourth over. He will need to work hard to tighten his lines on flatter decks, and the West Indian batsmen hardly provided a stern test, but although he rightly receives all the plaudits it should not be forgotten that he went at over five an over in the second innings. The biggest positive is not that he got his name on the honours board, but that he has the confidence to really assert himself this summer against sterner opposition.
The other debutant did little wrong, but Tim Bresnan will have to wait till Chester-le-Street to really showcase his talents. He took his catch in the gully beautifully and in his short spells he showed enough control to suggest that he will be a useful 4th seamer, but he will be hoping for a greater chance to impress the selectors in the North-East.

The performance as a whole will do wonders for a team that took a battering over the winter. Although it would flatter Chris Gayle's team to say they were lacklustre a 3 day win is a 3 day win and in international cricket, any 10 wicket victory is one worthy of celebration. The fielding standards showed a marked improvement from both India and the Caribbean, which I would suggest is largely down the fact that Andy Flower prefers cricket drills to the touch rugby favoured as a warm up by his predecessor. England started each day much faster than their opponents and this was key as they finally won the first test match of a series.
Ravi Bopara looked confident at 3. His selection surprised many (including myself) but he held the innings together and with Graeme Swann batted the Windies into submission on the second morning. He showed a mental steeliness which has been missing in his international innings to date and managed to reign in his easy style and play each ball on merit. Like Onions he had something to prove and came out of it with full marks.
In fact the only point of concern would still be Alistair Cook. He seemed to have rediscovered his natural style in a warm up game against the Windies, but once again, in the international arena he looked bereft of confidence in places. His greatest strength is the depth of the crease he uses, which is why he is so potent off the back foot and his hip, but he plays front foot shots from the same depth and looks uncomfortable as a result against the fuller ball. It got him out in the first innings and could have cost him his wicket in the short second innings run chase had Fidel Edwards been a little luckier. If I were Andy Flower I would be working hard with him in the coming weeks or he will be a weak link against the stronger Australian attack.

Either way England will go to Durham full of confidence and almost certainly with an unchanged side. Chris Gayle will need to get his team focused and use Shiv Chanderpaul's experience at Chester-le-Street to get his batsmen and bowlers prepared. If not there is not reason to believe that England won't be able to muster a similar result. It will not be so easy for the English bowlers all through the summer, but with Flintoff to come back into that attack there is a lot more room for hope than there was two months ago.

Onions for England?

Since my last blog the county season has started in glorious sunshine, before the one week of summer predictably gave way. However, in between the rain delays and the breaks for bad light (play at Headingly stopped in the gloom at lunch today) it has been interesting to watch the England hopefuls in actions as the West Indies play their warm up games before the summer starts in earnest.

Of those all but guaranteed a place for the first Test, Strauss and Cook have impressed. Cook batted through the pain for a quality 74* against the Windies and looked both well set and (more importantly) free flowing. His discomfort at the crease on pitches that most batsmen would like to roll up and carry with them in West Indies was concerning, but if his hand is fully healed then he looks in good nick coming into the international summer. Captain Andrew Strauss continued the form his form from the Caribbean against Leicestershire with 150 and if these two can work well together at the top of the order England will have a strong platform against any opposition.

In the bowling department, Anderson and Swann both took wickets in the first games of the County Championship, and for Swann in particular (who is recovering from elbow surgery) this will boost his confidence tremendously. After working so hard to earn his place in the Test team the injury could have lost him his place if he hadn't immediately reasserted himself. Anderson showed all the qualities required to spearhead England's attack on swinging pitches while his likely opening partner Stuart Broad took 7 wickets and scored a quickfire 60 against Worcestershire to immediately find his feet with both bat and ball and with Flintoff out for the series against the West Indies any runs he can add will be useful in an extended tail.

Perhaps of more interest however are those looking to either hold onto their places or reassert themselves on the international scene. Of the three main competitors for the number 3 slot Ian Bell has started the best by a distance. With two centuries in a week (one in each form of the game) and a grim determination to his training Bell has pushed himself to the front of the queue for this key position. Ravi Bopara has impressed in the IPL but given the change of format is unlikely to earn a Test place, while Owais Shah has failed to set the world alight in South Africa. As a result, Bell looks favourite to be recalled.

The only other player in the frame for this position is former captain Michael Vaughan. He has managed to make impressive starts thus far, but as yet has only converted once, to score 82 in the Friend's Provident Trophy against Sussex. There is no doubt that he will be more frustrated than most by the rain which arrived in Leeds this lunchtime, just as he took to the crease.
Vaughan's duel with other possible series outcast Steve Harmison in the season curtain raiser drew a large amount of interest, simply to see how these two players who have both topped the ICC rankings in their respective fields at one time would assert themselves ahead of the Ashes summer. Harmison picked up the wicket of his former skipper as one of his 4 first innings scalps but was expensive and unimpressive but as it seems his star falls once more, his county team mate caught the eye.

Graeme Onions has been a steady county bowler for a few seasons, and with his colleague Phil Mustard has been something of a tabloid dream. However, his performance against Yorkshire taking 8 wickets in the match (including an impressive 5 for 56) caught the eye of former of England captain Michael Atherton who suggested that Onions may be in line for a squad call up, possibly at Harmison's expense. With decent pace and excellent control, Onions may be the shock face to terrorise the West Indians and, who knows the Australians later this summer.
Having spent so long in the shadow of Harmison, Plunkett and even current England bowling coach Otis Gibson (who may well push for his former teamate come selection time) at Durham this could be Onions' chance to shine.

Of the wicket keepers Prior has managed a 50 in the FP Trophy but failed spectacularly against Lancashire in the four day game, while Foster looked solid against the West Indies for Essex before rain robbed him of a potentially big score which could have secured international places. Tim Ambrose managed an early 150, but runs have never been hard to come by for him in county cricket so he may still be overlooked as international first choice.

Finally, to pick another player who has avoided a lot of attention James Hildreth hit a superb 303* against Warwickshire on an admittedly batter-friendly surface and if he can put together a few more big scores he may snatch a squad place, although it is hugely unlikely he will wrest a middle order spot from Collingwood or Pieterson he may be an outside bet for a ODI spot. Either way, with squad selection just around the corner there are plenty of players who need to press their claims with big performances in the next few days unless they want to risk being out in the cold this summer.

KP or not KP?

England finally managed a genuinely earned victory this winter, as Andrew Strauss's form continued with the bat to guide his side over the finishing line. Although results may not have
gone his way, on a personal note, Strauss has managed the pressure and responsibility manfully, and deserves more plaudits than he has received.
However, it is not the result that has caught my attention. As the match began England looked themselves, tired, worn down and lacking inspiration. However, there was a clear turning point, sparked partly by a flurry of wickets including that of the talismanic Gayle but just as much by the departure from the field of one Kevin Pieterson.
There was an irony that his back went into spasm in the week that he had had enough and wanted to be back in Blighty, an irony exacerbated by the fact that the damage occurred as Pieterson bowled to Shiv Chanderpaul, the same man KP had accused of picking up oddly timed injuries. The conspiracy theories start here.
Of more interest was how the England players responded. It could be an illusion, no doubt aided by the victory, but the team seemed almost immediately re-energised and more relaxed. There is no doubt that KP is a model professional and a world-class batsman, but it is equally clear that he isn't over the mental anguish he suffered during the tour of India and being stripped of the captaincy. His century in the final test match masked a series of disappointment which has continued into the ODI series and as a result there is a question which needs to be asked; even if fit, should KP be dropped for the last match of the series?
The notion of being dropped has all sorts of connotations, and perhaps "rested" would be a better choice, but there is a strong argument for putting KP out of his misery and sending him home. He will not have wanted to effect his teammates, but there can be no doubt that his outburst last week will have caused alarm around an already shaken dressing room. England need Pieterson at his best; it is his confrontational nature that makes him such a pleasure to watch, but if he is distracted his public profile is such that anything he says will be over-analysed, and at the moment it is possible that his own personal battle this winter could start to effect his teammates, more than this top sportsman would wish.
As a result, perhaps the best thing England can do is send home their top batsman, even as a series stands in the balance. The early retreat would allow Pieterson some clearly needed "me time", and the sooner he can relax the better for England with the Aussies just around the corner. Equally, it would allow his teammates time away from the media circus that will follow him even more keenly after his interview last week. It is possible his injury will make the decision for the selectors, but even if he is passed physically fit, perhaps his mind needs a break.

England Slump to Devastating Defeat

Kevin Pieterson said this week that he couldn't wait to get home, and it seemed as though his top order friends were desperate to oblige him. It seems farcical that it required a spirited fightback, lead by Mascarenhas and Batty to force England's total up to 117, and past the previous worst, 86 against Australia eight years before.
Of more concern than the defeat, will be the manner in which class batsmen relinquished their wickets. The West Indians bowled well, but the loose and lazy manner in which England's top order were dismissed was very alarming. At a time when they should be fighting for the series, pride, and a place in the Ashes XI, very few looked interested in showing any kind of grit or determination to deal with a situation that was getting more embarrassing with ever over.
Chris Gayle then showed the exact gulf in confidence with a blistering innings, to show the England players exactly how easy batting could be, even on a track that had some moisture in it. Although not everyone is capable of that kind of aggressive batting, the conviction in his stroke play (no doubt helped by the small total he was chasing) was in stark contract to the timid attempts at aggression shown by his England equivalents.

However, as this tour slowly winds to a close there seems to be (yet again) an issue with the organisation of England's tours overseas. Very few teams would be on tour for over two months, especially after difficult India series, and it seems that England have had their fill of life overseas. Despite the long tour they still managed the age old touring affliction of failing to prepare adequately. Although this is perhaps an excuse, the England setup need to look at tour structures. International players shouldn't lose interest in playing as the current crop seem to have done, so the coaching set up may need more scrutiny as well. Either way, despite Strauss's platitudes one can't help but feel that the best thing for this wounded England team is to get home as soon as possible.

England Revel in World Cup Victory

In all honesty, I wasn't sure I would be able to write the words in that headline for any number of years, but England Women's Team have built on the unbelievable Ashes success they enjoyed over the winter to pick up the World Cup.
Their dominance of the tournament is reflected in the Team of the Tournament, where England have 5 representatives. They also boast the leading run scorer, the only century maker and the leading wicket taker. But for the blip against Australia in the final Super Six game (effectively a dead rubber as England were already in the final) their march to the trophy has been flawless.
In losing 5 wickets for 40 runs they briefly offered a wobble in the final, but the ultimate quality of this side shone through, posting a solid total and bowling immaculately to secure the victory.
It is difficult to see this as anything but a new dawn in the women's game.
The quality of the England team not only means the question of professionalism may be raised as the players battle to make ends meet, it has raised the level of the women's sport. Half the side are under 25 and they are building a platform, not only for sustained success but sustained quality. Although the first one will draw the plaudits, it is the second that is most important if the women's game is to grow. Other sides will need to catch up and provide sterner tests in the future but the signs are promising, and excitingly, it is an England side who have taken the first step. For once, the often derided ECB deserves to take some praise. The general consensus is that England cricket is on a downward spiral, but in one corner at least, it seems to be in wonderful health.

Basic Errors Cost England

England went back to school on Sunday. After Friday's math's class Sunday was all about P.E.. This time it was England making junior school errors, rather than Mr Dyson as they crumbled to a 21 run defeat. Be under no illusions either, whilst the numbers may suggest a fairly close game, in truth England were seldom in this match.
Let's start with the pluses. England's stand out performers were Collingwood, Mascarenhas and Anderson. Anderson in particular looked dangerous, and the support bowlers were rewarded for tight control of line and length by being thrown the ball at key times. Collingwood also once again fielded superbly at all times, although his quality boundary catch will naturally take the focus, and Mascarenhas slugged admirably at the end. I still wonder how many other international sides he would get into, but he whilst he will forever frustrate with his batting, for the moment he adds some solidarity in all departments that England badly needs.
For me, Andrew Strauss provided the ugly between the good and bad. A century in international cricket is always worthy of praise, but it concerns me that the numbers will cement his place in the team as ODI captain while the manner of the innings will be ignored. He was sluggish at key points against a bowling attack without comparison to the top ODI sides in the world and although he had to stabilise England's rocky start this excuse does not convince me that this was the innings of a quality ODI opener.
The disappointments however, far outweigh the positives, simply because of the basic nature of a lot of them. Shah seemed devoid of his usual gap-finding inspirations in a sluggish 22, whilst Gareth Batty's inclusion seems another selection brought about through the lack of form of others and limited squad depth. But even more concerning than these were the performances of three key players at vital moments. Bopara and Pieterson have taken on the responsibility of key positions in this England batting line up, and both played lazy shots to chop on at times when their team needed them to build a foundation to push on from. Pieterson's stock may not have fallen much as a result of this, but with every innings Bopara looks more and more out of his depth at the top of the order. Stuart Broad also had a day to forget, but with his limited experience you would expect them more often than he has done and his more experienced team mates should be able to support him during these rare weak moments, although more often it has been him carrying them.
That said, the most disappointing performance by a distance was that of Matt Prior. Any cricketer knows that "catches win matches" and his drop of Chanderpaul (only a quarter of the way through his century) was an awful error. Even beyond that his glove-work has looked messy throughout the tour and if he isn't pitching in with the runs this aspect of his game needs to secure. Every player in the international setup must have two strings to their bow, so they can justify their place if one isn't firing. It was Collingwood's fielding and bowling that impressed whilst his batting letting him, and as such he could contribute effectively. Prior looks to me to be in the classic mould of recent English keepers, a one string cricketer who isn't consistent enough with the gloves. I wish the selectors had persevered with Mustard as an aggressive opener last winter, but once more this slot looks open to applications.
England need to learn their lessons quickly as they are lucky to not be 2-0 down in this series. Strauss has said he believes that the pitches in Barbados will be more to their tastes but, in truth, unless they eliminate these basic errors it won't matter.