When I was a lad, plying my trade in the Jersey Under 15's football league, I was a reliable left back for my home Parish, Grouville. In the spring of 1995, we went on a cup run that took us to a prestigious final at Jersey's answer to Wembley; Springfield Stadium.
I was as excited as an England fast bowler, marking out his run up against a West Indies middle order batsman, but my cup final dream was to turn into a nightmare. Martin Roberts, a nippy left winger, nippier than me anyway, had forced his way into the reckoning and Robbo, our coach, looking for more attacking flare in the final, delivered the news I dreaded just an hour before kick-off:
"Marty' starts, sorry Tom!"
This of course was before terms like "rotation" and "managing your resources" we're part of sporting vernacular, this was simply a question of who was the best player, and I lost out. Boo Hoo!
Obviously it's much, much different these days. Nowadays the best players are not always the ones that are selected to represent their side.
In football, squad rotation has been in place for over a decade now. England managers have used friendly matches to audition future potential in the senior side. You could say this has played its part in devaluing playing for your country, or you could say it is this policy that has given the likes of Danny Welbeck the chance to shine in Euro 2012 that is on-going currently.
Cricket is going through a transformation of similar sorts now, with England apparently leading the way in squad rotation.
Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad were both rested from the final test match of the series against the West Indies last month, to rest them up for the busy summer that lay ahead. The series already won, it gave the selectors the chance to look at Steven Finn and Graham Onions, both fine bowlers, both in good county cricket form, both deserving of a chance then, surely?
With the third and final One Day International between the same two sides scheduled for this Friday at Headingly, and with the home side again taking an unassailable 2-0 lead into the match, England's selectors have decided to shuffle their pack once more. Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad and Graham Swann are all “rested” from the squad and in their place come Stuart Meaker, Jade Dernbach and James Tredwell. Chris Woakes is already in the squad and you might see all four on appearing on Friday.
This news has not been universally welcomed, with the likes of BBC TMS commentator Jonathan Agnew voicing concern for the punters, who pay top dollar for these tickets only to see a second string England bowling attack appearing before them. How can England expect to sell out future series against lesser sides if punters know rotation will be employed as soon as the series is in the bag?
It's a difficult problem for the ECB, and for cricket globally to thrash out. Schedules are ridiculously full at present; England have a One Day series against Australia up next this summer (why, exactly is the subject for further debate, surely), before South Africa's tour across all formats. Following that it's the T20 World Cup and then England's tour of India. I'm tired just thinking about all that.
And this is without considering the IPL, which is still shunned by international cricketing bodies, and England's own T20 tournament which is struggling for crowds both because of the weather and perhaps because of the lack of top England players appearing in the format because they're all preparing for or resting from England duty.
Until cricket schedules are considered on a global scale, rotation you suspect will be omnipresent in international cricket.
Schedules aside though, is rotation really that bad for the players, and for punters? Steven Finn has been magnificent in One Day cricket over the last 12 months and is a joy to watch. Chris Woakes is a genuine all-rounder in prospect and Jade Dernbach has been an England One Day regular over the past year as well, so we're hardly talking Bearded Bob and Jimmy Knuckles from the village green, are we?
These guys deserve a chance and from the ECB's perspective, as long as they are putting out a competitive side - and I believe tomorrows will be - then I don't have too many issues with them getting opportunities.
Plus England have to look to the future. Look at the post-ashes 2005 period, when ready-made replacements for the likes of injured Michael Vaughan, Simon Jones and Freddie Flintoff were in short supply. This gives England a pool of players to choose from as and when required, and that has to be to the benefit of the overall setup?
Punters heading to Headingly on Friday may be disappointed that they won't see Broad, Bresnan or Swann, but in my view we will still see a very competitive England side and in all probability, given the ineptitude of the West Indies middle order, will still win.
Supporting England has to be about supporting the team –it might be a shame not to see certain individuals, but the coach and captain have to plan for the future, as well as ensure they win every game, and in my view they will be adhering to both for the match up in Leeds.
For your information, I made it on for the second half at Springfield and more than played my part in Grouville securing the trophy – or so I have told myself for the past 17 years, anyway.
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Who can replace KP?
Kevin Pietersen announced his retirement from limited overs cricket on Thursday and inevitably England fans and observers alike went into meltdown, with a divide between those who felt KP had been mugged off by the ECB for failing to accommodate his wishes to remain in the T20 setup on one side, others claiming he was in breach of his contract sitting on the other. KP always did divide opinion, didn’t he?
KP has been an artist with the bat as much as anything else over the years – an innovator, making strokes such as the Switch Hit and the Flamingo shot his own, not to mention scoring with a strike rate that had opposing bowlers quaking in his boots before a ball was even bowled. KP will be missed, whether you love him or despise him to your very core.
Pietersen, the best T20 batsman in the world, will now miss the World Cup later this year. England selectors and captain Stuart Broad therefore have the unenviable task of having to replace their match winner with only months to go before the tournament begins.
To help the ECB on their way, we’ve devised our own little scouting list, see if you agree with who we’ve got and who we’ve not:
Michael (Hampshire)
Carberry has been in and around the England set up for years, making his test debut in Bangladesh in 2010 before illness put his career on ice for over a year. Carberry has began 2012 strongly and played in the England Lions side that took on the West Indies in May. And with 290 runs in just four CB40 matches this season, Carberry is the leading run scorer in domestic One Day cricket so far this summer. At 32 however, England’s selectors may feel he’s too old as they look to build for the future.
Verdict: Look out for the slow left armer!
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Yorkshireman Bairstow made his debut for England's one day side last September, impressing in the home series against India. He also played in the UAE against Pakistan, and made his debut at test level in May against the West Indies. Capable of explosive innings in the mould of KP, such as his superb 41 from 29 balls on debut against India in an ODI at Cardiff last summer, Bairstow, 23, is most certainly an England star in the making.
Verdict: Switch-hit for SIX!
James Taylor (Notts)
You couldn’t write the script, could you? On the day Pietersen retired from limited overs cricket two of his former counties, Hampshire and Nottinghamshire went head to head in a one day game at the Ageas Bowl. In that match, Notts James Taylor scored a fantastic 115 from just 89 runs, showing the sort of explosive strike rate and array of strokes that has made Pietersen such a hit with the punters over the years. At 22 Taylor also fits the ECB demographic to invest in youth, and with a maiden One Day International cap already attained against Ireland last July, Taylor will surely make the step up a regular one in the near future.
Verdict: Switch Hit for SIX!
Alex Hales (Notts)
Hales, also from Notts, is another young cricketer with England experience. He has appeared in 4 T20 games already including a debut against India last September and he also travelled to India a month later, appearing in both T20’s over there. And as if to emphasise his T20 pedigree still further, he was Notts’ leading run scorer in the format last season, scoring 544 runs.
Verdict: Switch Hit for SIX!
Nick Compton (Somerset)
To give you an idea of Compton’s form with the bat this year, he finishes May with 950 first class runs – 50 short of the prestigious 1,000 run mark which has been reached by the end of May only 9 times in 117 years. Impressive. With a One Day average of 40 over 88 games Compton has experience and form on his side. At 28 he’s still at the peak of his powers and having appeared for the Lions earlier this summer too, he is certainly on the ECB’s radar.
Verdict: Look out for the slow left armer!
Jos Buttler (Somerset)
21 year old wicketkeeper batsman Buttler has already began the transition into England regular having appeared in seven T20 matches and a single One Dayer, against Pakistan earlier this year. Buttler has yet to find his feet however, with a top score of just 13 across the 8 innings. He has time on his side however and the additional bonus of being a decent wicketkeeper, so his future is bright, although perhaps not as a direct replacement for KP
Verdict: Switch-hit for SIX!
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Stokes is another young batsman looking to establish himself in England's limited overs sides now. Stokes had to miss the Lions match against the West Indies in May due to a back injury, and is perhaps not the golden boy he was a year ago having been leapfrogged by Mr Bairstow, but Stokes time will undoubtedly come for England, having performed well for England at Under 19 level in the past and his continued successes at Durham.
Verdict: Switch Hit for SIX!
Ok so we will miss KP and I for one will treasure the memories he’s given us. England’s T20 World Cup aspirations may lay in tatters on the floor of England HQ but the talent of batsmen available is high enough for us to be optimistic for the future, even without KP.
KP has been an artist with the bat as much as anything else over the years – an innovator, making strokes such as the Switch Hit and the Flamingo shot his own, not to mention scoring with a strike rate that had opposing bowlers quaking in his boots before a ball was even bowled. KP will be missed, whether you love him or despise him to your very core.
Pietersen, the best T20 batsman in the world, will now miss the World Cup later this year. England selectors and captain Stuart Broad therefore have the unenviable task of having to replace their match winner with only months to go before the tournament begins.
To help the ECB on their way, we’ve devised our own little scouting list, see if you agree with who we’ve got and who we’ve not:
Michael (Hampshire)
Carberry has been in and around the England set up for years, making his test debut in Bangladesh in 2010 before illness put his career on ice for over a year. Carberry has began 2012 strongly and played in the England Lions side that took on the West Indies in May. And with 290 runs in just four CB40 matches this season, Carberry is the leading run scorer in domestic One Day cricket so far this summer. At 32 however, England’s selectors may feel he’s too old as they look to build for the future.
Verdict: Look out for the slow left armer!
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Yorkshireman Bairstow made his debut for England's one day side last September, impressing in the home series against India. He also played in the UAE against Pakistan, and made his debut at test level in May against the West Indies. Capable of explosive innings in the mould of KP, such as his superb 41 from 29 balls on debut against India in an ODI at Cardiff last summer, Bairstow, 23, is most certainly an England star in the making.
Verdict: Switch-hit for SIX!
James Taylor (Notts)
You couldn’t write the script, could you? On the day Pietersen retired from limited overs cricket two of his former counties, Hampshire and Nottinghamshire went head to head in a one day game at the Ageas Bowl. In that match, Notts James Taylor scored a fantastic 115 from just 89 runs, showing the sort of explosive strike rate and array of strokes that has made Pietersen such a hit with the punters over the years. At 22 Taylor also fits the ECB demographic to invest in youth, and with a maiden One Day International cap already attained against Ireland last July, Taylor will surely make the step up a regular one in the near future.
Verdict: Switch Hit for SIX!
Alex Hales (Notts)
Hales, also from Notts, is another young cricketer with England experience. He has appeared in 4 T20 games already including a debut against India last September and he also travelled to India a month later, appearing in both T20’s over there. And as if to emphasise his T20 pedigree still further, he was Notts’ leading run scorer in the format last season, scoring 544 runs.
Verdict: Switch Hit for SIX!
Nick Compton (Somerset)
To give you an idea of Compton’s form with the bat this year, he finishes May with 950 first class runs – 50 short of the prestigious 1,000 run mark which has been reached by the end of May only 9 times in 117 years. Impressive. With a One Day average of 40 over 88 games Compton has experience and form on his side. At 28 he’s still at the peak of his powers and having appeared for the Lions earlier this summer too, he is certainly on the ECB’s radar.
Verdict: Look out for the slow left armer!
Jos Buttler (Somerset)
21 year old wicketkeeper batsman Buttler has already began the transition into England regular having appeared in seven T20 matches and a single One Dayer, against Pakistan earlier this year. Buttler has yet to find his feet however, with a top score of just 13 across the 8 innings. He has time on his side however and the additional bonus of being a decent wicketkeeper, so his future is bright, although perhaps not as a direct replacement for KP
Verdict: Switch-hit for SIX!
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Stokes is another young batsman looking to establish himself in England's limited overs sides now. Stokes had to miss the Lions match against the West Indies in May due to a back injury, and is perhaps not the golden boy he was a year ago having been leapfrogged by Mr Bairstow, but Stokes time will undoubtedly come for England, having performed well for England at Under 19 level in the past and his continued successes at Durham.
Verdict: Switch Hit for SIX!
Ok so we will miss KP and I for one will treasure the memories he’s given us. England’s T20 World Cup aspirations may lay in tatters on the floor of England HQ but the talent of batsmen available is high enough for us to be optimistic for the future, even without KP.
Friday, 1 June 2012
Busy Old Week
Well its been a busy old week or so.
Last week I popped down to the Ageas Bowl and caught the end of day one against Glamorgan. Hants recovered well to post 316 with Slug scoring a superb century. Superb all the more because of the wicket it was scored on. It was green - in fact you could hardly decipher the surrounding square from the wicket itself.
I managed to grab a word with Hants keeper Michael Bates at the close of play, which was much appreciated after a hard days yakka (him, not me). He was in good form having scored 41 earlier that day, acting as the catalyst to ignite Hampshire's innings after a slow start.
He talked about his form this season, which has been good, as well as Hampshire's, which he felt had also been good in challenging conditions. He's also keen on playing for England one day, obviously, but knows there's a lot of work ahead of him before he gets there. He's got the right attitude though, and is a brilliant wicket keeper. If his batting continues to improve he can be the real deal, thats for sure.
I made a faux pas by sitting in the seat right next to him as we sat down outside the players room. Awkward. He laughed it off though which was essential to the modicum of self respect I managed to maintain from the situation.
He also told me Chris Wood was the live wire of the group - seconds later Wood ran down the stairs from the changing room in his boxer shorts. Case in point.
I also had a quick chat with Jimmy Adams who told me Hamza Riazuddin had to bus it back from Scotland the week before because he'd forgotten his passport! You couldn't make this stuff off.
Hampshire lost their first CB40 game of the season last night to Notts. what an innings from James Taylor. As Jimmy Adams said after the game, sometimes you've got to just hold your hands up and say you were beaten by the better team, or man in this case. Taylor will be one of the biggest benefactors from former Hants batsman Kevin Pietersen's retirement from limited overs international cricket - he looks a proper player and will certainly feature for England in the future.
Anyway, Surrey Lions next up for Hants on Sunday. Another tough challenge but Hants will want to get their CB40 campaign back on track.
Last week I popped down to the Ageas Bowl and caught the end of day one against Glamorgan. Hants recovered well to post 316 with Slug scoring a superb century. Superb all the more because of the wicket it was scored on. It was green - in fact you could hardly decipher the surrounding square from the wicket itself.
I managed to grab a word with Hants keeper Michael Bates at the close of play, which was much appreciated after a hard days yakka (him, not me). He was in good form having scored 41 earlier that day, acting as the catalyst to ignite Hampshire's innings after a slow start.
He talked about his form this season, which has been good, as well as Hampshire's, which he felt had also been good in challenging conditions. He's also keen on playing for England one day, obviously, but knows there's a lot of work ahead of him before he gets there. He's got the right attitude though, and is a brilliant wicket keeper. If his batting continues to improve he can be the real deal, thats for sure.
I made a faux pas by sitting in the seat right next to him as we sat down outside the players room. Awkward. He laughed it off though which was essential to the modicum of self respect I managed to maintain from the situation.
He also told me Chris Wood was the live wire of the group - seconds later Wood ran down the stairs from the changing room in his boxer shorts. Case in point.
I also had a quick chat with Jimmy Adams who told me Hamza Riazuddin had to bus it back from Scotland the week before because he'd forgotten his passport! You couldn't make this stuff off.
Hampshire lost their first CB40 game of the season last night to Notts. what an innings from James Taylor. As Jimmy Adams said after the game, sometimes you've got to just hold your hands up and say you were beaten by the better team, or man in this case. Taylor will be one of the biggest benefactors from former Hants batsman Kevin Pietersen's retirement from limited overs international cricket - he looks a proper player and will certainly feature for England in the future.
Anyway, Surrey Lions next up for Hants on Sunday. Another tough challenge but Hants will want to get their CB40 campaign back on track.
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