Wisden Trophy is back

paulmthomas — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:08:38 +0000

The English cricket team have racked up a well-deserved 2-0 series victory over the West Indies with a convincing win in chilly Chester-le-Street. James Anderson displayed excellent mastery of the swinging ball to blow away the West Indies’ lower order with a series of deliveries that will have the Australians hoping that he can’t repeat this sort of form. Bresnan chipped in with his first (but could they be his last also) test wickets, and Collingwood took his first catch as wicket-keeper, although I don’t think Prior will be too worried about his place.

It was a shame in this series that the West Indies weren’t entirely committed, and that the authorities thought it necessary to play the games so early in the season, and in the cold weather. That England won in preparation for the Ashes was vital, but they’d have preferred a stiffer test.

So who will turn out for England in the Ashes – assuming Flintoff is fit, here would be my selection, which is not too controversial:

Strauss
Cook
Bopara
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Panesar

The reason I include Monty is that the Australians are now without any world-class spinner, and if we have turning pitches, then England now have the spin armoury to really attack Australia with spin. Swann is surely now first choice spinner, and is an excellent batsmen to appear at 9 in the batting order. Broad’s seam and Anderson’s mastery of the swinging ball provide a perfect opening pair, with Flintoff the go-to bowler at any time of need. And if one of Panesar or Swann is stuggling, there is always Pietersen’s off-spinners for a change.

Prior should now naturally bat above Flintoff, since the latter’s batting is no-where near the force it once was, and Broad should look to become a competent no. 7 in the future – a test century should be his for the taking in the next couple of years. Swann is also capable of making a test century and England have the longest batting line up in a very long time.

We’ll see what happens in the coming 7 weeks!

Conclusion of 1st Test

paulmthomas — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:46:06 +0000

The Lord’s test match stuttered towards its inevitable conclusion yesterday afternoon, and New Zealand will probably take the most positives out of the match. One of their debutants, Flynn, hung around for a long time with 29 not out, giving him vital practice out in the middle, Jacob Oram, arguably New Zealand’s most dangerous player, found form with a Century, and England yet again failed to polish off a weaker team’s lower order. Too often do England’s bowlers start well, and then struggle to break through against lower order batsmen. Admittedly neither Oram nor Vettori can be classed as “rabbits”, but you’d have thought that England’s bowling quartet could have capitalised on the last innings situation with New Zealand effectively 5 down for 120 with McCullum’s injury. Just after lunch it looked like England could have a chance to win the game, but by tea the game as a contest was over.

Of course it is not all negative for England. Michael Vaughan’s increasingly sumptuous century marks a welcome return to form for him, and all the bowlers put in decent performances.

Highlights

Sidebottom’s delivery to dismiss Oram just after he reached his century
Daniel Vettori’s all round performance
New Zealand’s grit and determination to make sure that England couldn’t force a win
The England top order’s return to some sort of form.

And Finally…

Shane Warne just can’t keep out of the headlines. Fresh from his continuing excellent performances in the IPL, he seems to be offering his services back to Australia for the 2009 Ashes. Of course by that time he won’t have played and First Class cricket for a couple of years. Should the England players be quaking in their boots – probably not; the burger and kebab vendors probably have more to fear.

Paul's Pages » Ashes

Wisden Trophy is back

Conclusion of 1st Test

Highlights

And Finally…