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England need positive mindset

Jonathan Agnew | 12:37 UK time, Wednesday, 12 December 2007

As in the first Test, England - although failure to do so this time will also cost them the series.

There is, however, one significant difference to , which England narrowly failed to save, as they start the last day 149 runs behind, compared to 340 in the opening game.

This means that if they score at a reasonable rate, England will be able to make the game safe without having to survive for the entire day. They should be on level terms sometime in mid-afternoon, and it will be easier batting with a positive plan in mind, rather than just holding out grimly with runs being worthless.

England captain Michael Vaughan

That said, it will be another trial against our old friend, . Rumour has it that it was his input that delayed Sri Lanka鈥檚 declaration until well after tea and it is curious that the most successful Test bowler of all time should apparently harbour self doubt.

But it seems that he was insistent Sri Lanka grind England into the dust and create more wear on the pitch, rather than bat positively and leave England longer to survive.

Murali will be encouraged by the turn and bounce that Monty Panesar and Kevin Pietersen found, particularly from one end. It didn鈥檛 help England much, though, as Panesar took just two wickets in 50 overs and it was the hard-working seam bowlers who were the most successful.

Of these, it was really heartening to see Steve Harmison come through the ordeal so well.

Bearing in mind that this is his first Test since the final match against West Indies in June and he has only played a handful of games since then, even his most outspoken critic would have to concede that he gave it all in conditions that offered him absolutely nothing.

Theoretically, this could now lead to his being omitted from the next game through the this morning.

Personally, I can鈥檛 bear the thought of fans buying tickets months in advance and then discovering on the day that leading players have been left out purely to give them a rest.

The problem is that too much international cricket is being played, leading to injury and staleness and that is the issue that needs to be tackled rather than choosing England teams from a football-style squad system.


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  • 1.
  • At 01:20 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Mick wrote:

Interesting story coming out of Australia that EWCB have refused ACB proposal to play 6 tests in next two series.

EWCB say they want to play the 2 test series against Zimbabwe (as long as they retain test status).

Coudl I ask all fans who they would like to see?? Also, another cricket ground can get a share of the action and thus vital revenue.

Sounds like a no brainer to me!!

  • 2.
  • At 01:20 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • tenipurist wrote:

Interesting Aggers, I found the point on the football style "squad system" of picking players particularly intriguing. I agree and I think that this squad system will be the method increasingly adopted by countries, in the absence of tackling the - in my opinion absurd - problem of there being far too much cricket.

Not only that but I think it is a perfectly reasonable thing to do, and if they have a sufficient amount of test ready players available then its what needs to be done to extend careers. People who watch manchester united know that on occasions a star might be rested, we will have to get similarly accustomed.

and besides, if they do a rotation policy with the batsmen too, we might get to see ramps don the whites of england for one last shimmey! sashaying down the wicket and plopping murali into the stands...

  • 3.
  • At 01:25 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Mick wrote:

Interesting story coming out of Australia that EWCB have refused ACB proposal to play 6 tests in next two series.

EWCB say they want to play the 2 test series against Zimbabwe (as long as they retain test status).

Coudl I ask all fans who they would like to see?? Also, another cricket ground can get a share of the action and thus vital revenue.

Sounds like a no brainer to me!!

  • 4.
  • At 01:27 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • William Benson wrote:

Aggers

Good point about the so called rotation policy. It is a completely absurd idea.

Can you imagine the Aussie selectors ever telling Shane Warne or Glen McGrath "Sorry mate, you're being rested for this test match"?

There would have been a mutiny in both the dressing room and at the turnstiles.

I'm not sure there is too much international cricket in the calendar. The problem is these ridiculous back-to-back tests that are inflicted on the players.

Why is it necessary to start a test 2-3 days after the end of the previous one? It's insane. Will the ICC listen? Like hell they will.

  • 5.
  • At 01:28 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • William Benson wrote:

Aggers

Good point about the so called rotation policy. It is a completely absurd idea.

Can you imagine the Aussie selectors ever telling Shane Warne or Glen McGrath "Sorry mate, you're being rested for this match"?

There would have been a mutiny in both the dressing room and at the turnstiles.

I'm not sure there is too much international cricket in the calendar. The problem is these ridiculous back-to-back tests that are inflicted on the players.

Why is it necessary to start a 2-3 days after the end of the previous one? It's insane. Will the ICC listen? Like hell they will.

  • 6.
  • At 01:30 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • William Benson wrote:

Aggers

Good point about the so called rotation policy. It is a completely absurd idea.

Can you imagine the Aussie selectors ever telling Shane Warne or Glen McGrath "Sorry mate, you're being rested for this match"?

There would have been a mutiny in both the dressing room and at the turnstiles.

I'm not sure there is too much international cricket in the calendar. The problem is these ridiculous back-to-back tests that are inflicted on the players.

Why is it necessary to start a 2-3 days after the end of the previous one? It's insane. Will the ICC listen? Like hell they will.

  • 7.
  • At 01:32 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Matt wrote:

Spot on regrading the rotation suggestion Aggers. The Aussies might drop Ponting from the odd meaningless game, or Gilchrist, or whomever, but the real issue is the relentless schedule. Suggesting rotation as a solution to player fatigue is papering over cracks. Why don't they deal with the fundemental issue and stop chasing short-term pay-offs? I don't see why we can't reduce the amount of games, but increase capacity. Rarity drives up quality and prices, so short-term financial short falls could be recouped and built upon with a longer-term view.

  • 8.
  • At 01:33 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Matt Grayson wrote:

A positive mindset does not seem to be a prequisite of any England team at the moment.
The must not lose philosophy is engendered throughout the whole sporting society, as we continue to aim to just not lose we end up falling short and losing. If we are aiming to win then maybe we could salvage a draw at the very least.
Vaughan must go on to a big score I feel tomorrow because it's easier to see Bell and Cook getting bogged down and batting for the draw.
Batting for a draw isn't Pietersen's forte either.
I thought Vaughan missed a trick yesterday when the ball stopped doing anything and Monty wasn't working, namely to put on Bopara and Collingwood with an in out field and make the Sri Lankans work for their runs with no pace on the ball and no easy singles. Too easy to rotate the strike at times.
I know it's hot but I'd rather be there than here..

  • 9.
  • At 01:47 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Steve Banjo wrote:

But you frequently pay money to go see England these days and then find out, on the morning of the match, that your "favourite" player is out through injury. That's much more aggravating -- especially when I can't recall the last time we played our full "Best" uninjured XI.

As an England fan, I'd rather see a player rested for a game and learn a new way of approaching being a supporter: becoming emotionally attached to the whole, rotated, larger squad than have to go through the constant agony each Test Series (see last Ashes) of lamenting the fact that so many of our best players are not in the team, because they're crocked.

Fewer games is never going to be an option in any sport these days. Money talks, and cricket needs all the money it can get.

  • 10.
  • At 01:48 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Matt Grayson wrote:

Positive mindset will be key Aggers!
Unfortunately I'm not sure any England team has it in any sport, first priority seems to be not to lose. This I feel leads to negative performances, because people concentrate on playing "safe" and not making a mistake which stifles attacking possibilities.
I would suggest that Vaughan needs a big score tomorrow, as Bell & Cook can be a bit safe and get bogged down. I would hope that Engalnd can overhaul Sri Lanka between lunch and tea (with positivity) then push on and give them something to think about.
I don't see to many "snakes" in the pitch barring Murali's magic.
I think England missed a trick yesterday by not taking the pace off the ball with Collingwood and Bopara and making the Sri Lankans work for every run. With Monty not firing there appeared to be no Plan B as well as the seamers bowled there were to many easy singles and too much tinkering of field placings.
Hindsight being 20-20 of course.

  • 11.
  • At 01:49 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Steve Banjo wrote:

But you frequently pay money to go see England these days and then find out, on the morning of the match, that your "favourite" player is out through injury. That's much more aggravating -- especially when I can't recall the last time we played our full "Best" uninjured XI.

As an England fan, I'd rather see a player rested for a game and learn a new way of approaching being a supporter: becoming emotionally attached to the whole, rotated, larger squad than have to go through the constant agony each Test Series (see last Ashes) of lamenting the fact that so many of our best players are not in the team, because they're crocked.

Fewer games is never going to be an option in any sport these days. Money talks, and cricket needs all the money it can get.

  • 12.
  • At 02:00 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Richard wrote:

With regard to rotation, I agree the paying public would be a problem, but how could you possibly implement it in Test Matches anyway?

Do you rotate by test or by test series? If someone is in prime form and scores 250 in a test, do you drop him if it is his turn for a "rest", and worse still have to bring in someone who has not played for a few weeks while "resting". If someone averages 70 in a test series, but they are due a series off, do sides have to drop their best performing player? It's madness.

It might work for ODIs which are much closer to the Premier League example cited.

  • 13.
  • At 02:04 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Matt Grayson wrote:

Positive mindset will be key Aggers!
Unfortunately I'm not sure any England team has it in any sport, first priority seems to be not to lose. This leads to negative performances, because people concentrate on playing "safe" and not making a mistake that stifles attacking possibilities.
I would suggest that Vaughan needs a big score tomorrow, as Bell & Cook can be a bit safe and get bogged down. I would hope that England can overhaul Sri Lanka between lunch and tea (with positivity) then push on and (maybe, just maybe) give them something to think about.
I don't see to many "snakes" in the pitch barring Murali's magic.
I think England missed a trick yesterday by not taking the pace off the ball with Collingwood and Bopara and making the Sri Lankans work for every run. With Monty not firing there appeared to be no Plan B; as well as the seamers bowled there were too many easy singles and too much tinkering with field placings.
Hindsight being 20-20, of course.

  • 14.
  • At 02:04 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • William Benson wrote:

Aggers

Good point about the so called rotation policy. It is a completely absurd idea.

Can you imagine the Aussie selectors ever telling Shane Warne or Glen McGrath "Sorry mate, you're being rested for this test match"?

There would have been a mutiny in both the dressing room and at the turnstiles.

I'm not sure there is too much international cricket in the calendar. The problem is these ridiculous back-to-back tests that are inflicted on the players.

Why is it necessary to start a test 2-3 days after the end of the previous one? It's insane. Will the ICC listen? Like hell they will.

  • 15.
  • At 02:09 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Richard wrote:

With regard to rotation, I agree the paying public would be a problem, but how could you possibly implement it in Test Matches anyway?

Do you rotate by test or by test series? If someone is in prime form and scores 250 in a test, do you drop him if it is his turn for a "rest", and worse still have to bring in someone who has not played for a few weeks while "resting". If someone averages 70 in a test series, but they are due a series off, do sides have to drop their best performing player? It's madness.

It might work for ODIs which are much closer to the Premier League example cited.

  • 16.
  • At 02:29 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Mathew Francesco wrote:

I think the current system we have at the moment of playing players until they fall apart isn't the most ideal. From a purely selfish point of view I'd like to see as much cricket as possible so some sort of rotation seems to be a good option - I think rather than being regimental though it should be based on how a players performing and also just as importantly, how a players feeling. Someone like Pietersen who claims to be worn out but can still (just about) pull off enough runs to stay in the side would be better rested till he is match winning fit. I suppose for this to work the match fee arrangements would need to be looked at too.

  • 17.
  • At 02:42 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Graeme Edgar wrote:

Hmmm, well i agree in spirit with you Aggers but with the issues relating to burn out in mind i think rotation isnt such a bad idea: with mental burnout [Trescothick] and mounting injuries [Jones. Freddie] plus players losing focus on the technical aspects of their game [Strauss] I also think that rotation is a polite euphamism for resting players against poor sides.

I would like to ask Aggers, or England fans in general, what is missing from our bowling attack at the moment?

  • 18.
  • At 02:52 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Mathew Francesco wrote:

I think the current system we have at the moment of playing players until they fall apart isn't the most ideal. From a purely selfish point of view I'd like to see as much cricket as possible so some sort of rotation seems to be a good option - I think rather than being regimental though it should be based on how a players performing and also just as importantly, how a players feeling. Someone like Pietersen who claims to be worn out but can still (just about) pull off enough runs to stay in the side would be better rested till he is match winning fit. I suppose for this to work the match fee arrangements would need to be looked at too.

  • 19.
  • At 03:15 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Asad Ullah wrote:

Dear Agnew
Let me say it very loudly,if the English team will hear it or not,play Murli on the front foot and well stretched. Don't play him on the back foot or even think about cut shots.Murli is not invincible.No douibt that a positive mentality will save the match for England but English team has been lacking that element for a long time.This match is a testing time for them. If they survive this time and don't get any scare at the end of the day, will change the whole mindset of the English team

  • 20.
  • At 03:15 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Alex T wrote:

In response to Matt (post no. 1), I must say he offers some absolutely pointless comments. Yes, playing to win would do better than playing to not lose. But in this case, playing to win would be extremely risky. In this match, at his point in the match, and on this pitch, a win is about as likely as it is for Monty to get a triple century.
I don't want to see England slump to 150-ish all out, because they were chasing an unrealistic win.

I do, however agree with your point on the bowling, with a slight addendum. I would have liked to see Colly get a few more overs, but in tandem with KP, who got some lively bouce and spin, and was unlucky not to get two or three wickets.

  • 21.
  • At 03:19 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Chadders wrote:

This match looks like it has draw all over it, especially when you look at the forecast for Colombo:

/weather/5day.shtml?world=2136

Monty & Murali may have a sticky wicket to work with though.

  • 22.
  • At 03:21 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Trevor Fuller wrote:

SOS Troy Coolidge! All is forgiven! England needs you back!

Whatever it takes! Pawn the Crown Jewels. Mortgage Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Sandringham, Balmoral & also throw in Lords Cricket Ground as well, but bring back Troy Coolidge as fast as possible!

His labours were only partially done before the 'myopic skinflints' at Lords (The EWCB), deemed it necessary to curtail his services; either in their 'infinite irrationality' or in a 'fit of pique', probably at the Australian's realistic & expected remunerative requirements for his very necessary (& in reality), indispensable, professional skills.

England's Management & Selectors need to pay this man (Troy Coolidge) whatever he requires & do it quickly, to prevent a further slide in team performances. Otherwise, also incurring the unforgiving wrath of the Fans & the Country & not to disrupt & undo any further, his previous good work with the team鈥檚 bowling section. Then maybe, England's bowling capabilities may again continue to develop successfully like before!

Judging by what's happening to them now, they should book him also on the first flight to Colombo!

  • 23.
  • At 03:26 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Chadders wrote:

This match looks like it has draw all over it, especially when you look at the forecast for Colombo:

/weather/5day.shtml?world=2136

Monty & Murali may have a sticky wicket to work with though.

  • 24.
  • At 03:38 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • seismicd wrote:

Good article, however your understanding of both the mechanism and impact of football rotation policies on fans enjoyment is ill-informed.

A rotation policy ensures one or maybe two players of the squad are rested at any one time. If England have the depth then resting a Harmison in favour of a Broad in 2008/9 will hardly deterioate the game from a fans POV.

Rotation policies are not possible withut suficient depth so I dont see the worry...the objective will always be to win!

  • 25.
  • At 03:45 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Adam K wrote:

The Australians employ the rotation system pretty effectivley. ( and have done so for 3-5 years)

Note yesterdays 20-20, Ponting and Hayden both rested in a meaningless game.

Keep your eye on the one day series against NZ starting friday. As they will also rotate their bowlers, and gilchrist.

this is a good way to avoid player burnout. And as Australia have only employed this system in the one day /20-20 games, they still consider test cricket the ultimate, and will always send out the Best 11.

  • 26.
  • At 03:58 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Phil Stuart wrote:

I was impressed by Harmison today, thought he did a good job in difficult conditions. In actual fact i thought all the seamers did well. Just a shame the pitch is so bland and lifeless that a results is very difficult to come by. We can blame our batsmen for not getting enough runs but tbh if we had got 500 it wouldn't have been any easier to get Sri Lanka out more cheaply.

also, how come so many comments get repeated so many times? its really irritating!

Could I suggest a rotational policy for ECB employees? There would then be the chance to drop them from time to time when they have overexerted themselves coming up with odd ideas.

  • 28.
  • At 04:13 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Ian T wrote:

In response to Graham Edgars question the one thing that is missing in Englands bowling attack is consistency. The key to picking up wickets in my view is having bowlers with the ability to work as a unit to build pressure on batsmen which ultimately lead to them making errors. We had it in the 2005 Ashes but we do not have it now!! In response to "rotation", do England have enough "world class" players to implement such a system. No way!! The problem is that there is simply too much cricket and not enough time for technical preparation and analysis. Take Paul Collingwood for example. He has played almost non-stop for the last twelve months (albeit he is the one day captain). Can we really expect players like him to produce all the time, day in and day out and not to be mentally and physically fatigued

  • 29.
  • At 04:22 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Acorn Winkle wrote:

Squad rotation is a ridiculous idea, and the idea has only been hatched to maintain the ECB's gravy train of long tours and back to back cricket. All they see is money, not what's best in the players' interests.

Using football as an example is very spurious. The England football team does not have a rotation policy in place, it is the domestic clubs only.

The English public expects the best England team to be named for all competitive matches, and cricket is no exception.

  • 30.
  • At 04:32 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Peter Graham wrote:

If the ECB are to propose rest our players will there be a tete a tete relationship with the opposition - perhaps Sri Lanka should rest Murali, Jawawardene and Sangkarra after their recent monumental efforts for the final test?

  • 31.
  • At 04:42 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Ray Smith wrote:

Medium-fast bowlers have been useless on flat slow pitches for years. Sri-Lanka only need one spinner because he is the best ever, we don't have that luxury.

Swann should have played all tests, he is an attacking off-spinner who actually turns the ball and would have taken wickets.

The rotation policy everyone bemoans is understable with these 'standard' bowlers. they try hard, have good games and bad but with no Brett Lee to bowl fast, swinging yorkers/agressive bouncers then it doesn't really matter who you pick.

also with umpiring deciding test matches (all over the world) isn't it time to use technology more rather then going with the age old "they even themselves out" policy?

  • 32.
  • At 04:56 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • andy wrote:

I still cannot get my head round the comment "playing too much cricket".Surely what you mean is that top cricketers have to travel too much as opposed to playing too much.

  • 33.
  • At 05:01 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Jamie Dowling wrote:

Simple test of the idea of the rotation policy:

Ask any of the Australian test team if they would like to be "rested" or "rotated" for one of their upcoming games against India. I doubt you'd be able to publish their response on this website!

Ask the same question of the Indian test team, the South African test team or any other test playing nation. The only way those players will be withdrawn from the team is if they can't get onto the park.

This is international cricket we're talking about here, not a wine warehouse! Giles Clarke has failed to grasp the real issue that too much meaningless international cricket is being played.

  • 34.
  • At 05:16 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • ness77 wrote:

Rotating Squad system? How would Jack Hobbs, Fred Trueman or Geoffrey Boycott have responded to that? Surely Giles Clarke will be recommending Raphael Benitez as the next England cricket coach!!

  • 35.
  • At 05:42 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • ciderguzzler wrote:

"The problem is that too much international cricket is being played leading to injury and staleness and that is the issue that needs to be tackled rather than choosing England teams from a football-style squad system."

With the greatest respect, the ballooning of international cricket activity has occurred because there's a huge demand for it. It's far from cost-free to cut back the activity to a level where one group of players can maintain fitness and enthusiasm. So why not look instead to having two separate groups of players? One for Tests/First Class and another for One Days.

Of course, initially, the players would have to cut back on their remuneration - after all they're doing less work - but there's no reason why in time they shouldn't make most of this back up, as the amount of play/work they are doing expands to fill up their time again.

I'm also rather dubious as to whether the players' disenchantment is really to do with the amount of cricket they're expected to play. On average over their careers, players such as Trueman and Statham bowled twice as many overs per year as do the likes of Hoggard and Harmison, and in those days England didn't tour every winter. It seems to me, no matter how easy they've got it, that today's players will remain disenchanted until they are able to eliminate all expectation of adult application and endeavour from what they are paid a king's ransom to do.

  • 36.
  • At 06:23 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Tom wrote:

People buy Test match tickets months in advance not knowing whether their favourite players will play or not - be it through injury or losing their place in the team or whatever.

Plus, people may buy tickets to see Pietersen bat, like Aggers says, then on the day England might actually spend the whole day fielding, or Pietersen will get out for a duck or whatever.

If you only buy a ticket to see certain 'stars' of the England team then you are not a true fan and shouldn't be buying a ticket in the first place.

  • 37.
  • At 06:35 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • L A Odicean wrote:

What a great thing Test cricket is!

I look forward to tomorrow with huge interest despite the apparent plight of the England team.

What other sport can be so intriguing even when one team has been dominant, and the best we can hope for is a heroic draw?

  • 38.
  • At 08:00 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • david young wrote:

What was the point in playing Bopara ?He hardly bowled at all,yet Vaughan inexplicably gave part timer Pieterson twice as many overs.Idiotic!

  • 39.
  • At 08:28 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Simon Ellis wrote:

Jonathan,

I listened to much of your interview with Giles Clark and I pity you for having to liaise with such a sit-on-the-fence character. Your last question regarding rotation was met with a reply of 'maybe like commentators' Fantastic Mr. Clark, please don't tell me we have yet another 'blazer' in a position of ECB
authority who is going to provide all the dynamic leadership of a dead slug.

The test records are already becoming meaningless due to the inclusion of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and the fact so many tests are played, it is almost nailed on that the once holy-grail of 100 tests is easily within reach. With rotation, you may just as well call time on the records there and then. Instead of playing such ridiculous amounts of 'fast-food'cricket; not 20-20 but the poitless one-day series, give players quality rest time and good test series'.

  • 40.
  • At 10:02 PM on 12 Dec 2007,
  • Rod Stark wrote:

On the rotation concept, in the old days a lot of the best players simply chose not to be available for what they perceived as less glamorous tours. At some point this changed, and players who made themselves unavailable were punished by no longer being automatically reinstated. But this used not to be so. When I first started following cricket, England had a special captain (Mike Smith) for their winter tours who could not even get into the team during the summer. Just look at the touring party to Indian in 1963-4, for example; it had almost nothing in common with their regular best team.

On another matter, I'm just finding England's batting a bit depressing. No one expected this attack to be able to bowl SL out for low totals, but why can't England build really long innings and huge totals as their opposition and other Asian teams can? I simply can't imagine this England team ever scoring 600 against decent opposition or any of the current players batting for a couple of days and scoring 300. Boring high-scoring draws may be unexciting, but thy're better than entertaining defeats.

  • 41.
  • At 12:26 AM on 13 Dec 2007,
  • sleezygordon wrote:

Some thoughts and questions:

1- Who is Troy Coolidge?
2- Why did Vaughan not bowl himself, or bowl Collingwood more, instead of Bopara?
3- How sick must Swann be feeling at not getting a game?
4- Why not reduce the number of pajama games if players are really worn out.
5- Why does cricket always seem to need so much money these days? We've already seen it taken from regular tv (this is always linked with the phrase "grass roots development" for some reason). How will youngsters get interested in a game they can't even watch? Wasn't there supposed to be lots of money from Sky etc? Is the money needed to fund S.Hughes's beloved cameras/technology, or just to pay players too much?

  • 42.
  • At 12:26 AM on 13 Dec 2007,
  • Mark Kidger wrote:

What people forget is that in the past squad rotation was the rule for England. If the series was still live in the final Test you picked your best side but, if there was nothing on the match, you'd rest one or two players and try a couple of youngsters to test them out before the winter touring party was selected. Over the last few years this has not been done, but it was a standard tactic for many years pre-Fletcher.

Selecting a deliberately weakened squad is foolhardy and demeaning to public and opponents alike but, if your leading new ball bowler has already sent down 300 overs in Tests in the series, there is nothing riding on the match and you want to blood a youngster and see what he is made of, what is wrong with resting him for bigger battles ahead? The same if one of your batsmen is having a tough time, looking jaded, and you鈥檇 like to try out that lad Atherton, or Hussain, or 鈥

On this match, things are very interesting, again. Tomorrow is being billed as a battle for survival (again), but it should not be beyond a determined side to survive 80 overs on a flat wicket (ok, Pakistan barely survived 30 overs today, but...), particularly if the umpires use their common-sense.

Although this series looks like being another heroic defeat, the differences with 2003 are quite large. Then England were never ever competing at any point. In this series we have never been really embarrassed or humiliated and after three and a half days of the Kandy Test an England victory was still a possibility. In 2003 we were barely scoring one run per over against Murali, this time he is at least being made to work far harder for his wickets (at the SSC, Muralitharan had the extraordinary figures of 40-21-40-3 in England's first innings of 265). Steve Harmison looks more like the Harmison of 2003/2004 than the defeated figure of the end of Duncan Fletcher鈥檚 reign. Matt Prior, away from the constant carping of critics, is scoring runs and snaffling catches. Ryan Sidebottom is confounding the sceptics with ball and, more surprisingly, bat. Ian Bell is scoring consistently again and seems to lack just a little luck to make a really big score. And Stuart Broad has shown just enough to suggest that in more helpful conditions in New Zealand he could make a real impact. It鈥檚 not all bad news!

However, it looks like India are going to overtake us for the Number 2 spot now. Of course, every time for the last ten years that a new challenger for their top spot has arrived in Australia, the Australians have utterly destroyed them. It will be interesting to see if India can do better than South Africa, or Pakistan, or ourselves, or even India have done in the past. Don鈥檛 hold your breath!

  • 43.
  • At 04:37 AM on 13 Dec 2007,
  • Sam wrote:

More than half of the Pakistan team that will take on Zimbabwe in a five-match one-day

series at home next month will consist of rookie players, visit:

href='https://www.cricketviewer.com/pakistan-to-show-more-faith-in-youngsters-after-disappoin

ting-india-tour.html'>Pakistan to show more faith in youngsters after disappointing India

tour

Australia鈥檚 batting axeman Phil Jaques believes his unorthodox technique can be just as

successful at One-day International level and has implored selectors not to pigeonhole him

as an opener, Read abt him at

href='https://www.cricketviewer.com/i-want-to-play-both-forms-of-cricket-says-phil-jaques.htm

l'>I want to play both forms of cricket, says Phil Jaques

The West Indies cricket team arrived in South Africa on Monday evening and Chris Gayle is

promising a 鈥渇ight鈥 in the upcoming series....

  • 44.
  • At 05:34 AM on 13 Dec 2007,
  • Assad wrote:

i m assad from pakistan, i feel that england is a good n talented side of cricket, but they need some match pratice to perform better,one problem with england is that they have alots of injuries,guys like steven harmison, flintoff, bopara,are not always fully fit and r not able to give full time to the team.

england must rely on youngsters, i have always experienced that when they give change to new comers, majority of them r at the age of 27,28, or even 30 which is not a correct method, they must start the carrier of players have the age of early 20's,n they must play allrounders as well.

england is a far better side then srilanka,n have strong skills but they take pressure on the asian soil. n r not able to overcome.

My favourite players r vaughan, flintoff, monty, bopara, shah, anderson, bell, wood etc.

  • 45.
  • At 10:41 AM on 13 Dec 2007,
  • David Roger Martin wrote:

I wonder if Bearders can confirm that there really is more cricket played these days? I have a feeling that whilst players are playing more international games with potentially 4 series per year, the difference might not be that great when you add in the amount of county and touring cricket played by players previously. And has it really escalated so much since, say the 1980s?

  • 46.
  • At 12:04 PM on 13 Dec 2007,
  • Gary Dunton wrote:

Many people have commented about the "relentless" schedule and "meaningless matches". I wonder should we include matches 4 and 5 of the recent Ashes series. In another rational world these wouldn't have been played as they were dead games.

  • 47.
  • At 05:41 PM on 13 Dec 2007,
  • Dave Winstanley wrote:

Can't really agree that 'too much cricket' is being played now that the central contract system is in operation. Steve Harmison for one is always saying that he needs more, rather than less matchplay. Personally, I think the contract system should be modified, so that players get plenty of country cricket in which to work on technique and form. Personally, I'd be really radical and go back, rather than forward, to three-day Championship matches, with a vast reduction in the number of one-day games. It worked in the fifties, and my guess is that ability and mentality, rather than the structure of the game, were the issues where the fault was when it was all changed.

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