Victory can be platform for Ashes success

Earlier this year we lost three Tests against Pakistan and one against Sri Lanka. We then batted appallingly in the first Test at Ahmedabad to lose by an innings. Suddenly everybody in India thought this set of Englandplayers would roll over and get beaten 4-0.

They deserve a lot of praise for showing character, determination and ability to come back and win well in Mumbai and Calcutta.

That was not straightforward either because England have had problems. They had to find a new opening batsman after Andrew Strauss’s retirement.

They have also had to identify another middle-order player in, first, Jonny Bairstow and then Joe Root. Their big fast bowler, Steven Finn, has broken down twice so could only play in one Test and Stuart Broad featured only in two matches, failing to take a wicket before succumbing to injury.

Tim Bresnan played in two Test matches but he has been 10km slower and pretty easy to face since his elbow operation earlier this year. So England have won this series with only three major bowlers: James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar.

We also made a cock-up in our selection in Ahmedabad by picking three seamers and leaving Panesar out. You cannot say this series has been plain sailing for England.

I accept that India are not the force they have been in the past. Two great batsmen have retired in VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid while Sachin Tendulkar is no longer the great player he once was. Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan have been fine bowlers but are past their best. You could say touring India is a bit easier now because the hotels are better, English food in the big cities is excellent and travelling is so much easier.

So if you wanted to undermine the victory you could but, quite frankly, of recent performances this ranks second only to winning in Australia two years ago.

Nobody should try to belittle what England have achieved. You can only play against the team selected and, in the past, even average Indian sides have been difficult to beat at home. To put it into context, this is only the fifth time England have won a series in India in 14 attempts.

Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Anderson have been outstanding. We have seen a true world-class performance from each of them. Our two spinners, Swann and Panesar, outbowled the two Indian spinners. Even famous former Indian cricketers have accepted our two spinners are much better than theirs. That is a real compliment.

There are areas we should improve on the trip coming up to New Zealand, when we will begin to focus on the Ashes in England next year.

Someone needs to get into Ian Bell’s head and explain to him that he has great talent but he must improve his thought process and return to his form of 2011. The one innings here in Nagpur showed he can be a class act, but he cannot keep repeating the stupid shots that cost him his wicket both in Ahmedabad and in the first innings in this last Test. He needs to raise his game.

Joe Root, will now provide Bell with competition. The coaching staff and English hierarchy think highly of Root and will try to find a place for him in the middle order whatever happens because they regard him, correctly, as is the next top-class player coming through.

Then there is Jonny Bairstow. He still has a bit to learn against the slow turning ball but England will want him in the side because he is very good under pressure and plays the seamers well.

Nobody will have forgotten his innings last summer at Lord’s against South Africa’s seam attack, the world’s best. He was under pressure, so were the team, but he coped superbly.

You cannot drop Nick Compton. He has had some good starts and not built on them. But he has helped us to make platforms for the middle order. It would be unfair not to give him further opportunities in New Zealand.

We have to get Broad back to fitness and, more importantly, bowling at pace. In the two Tests he played here, he produced “powder-puff” deliveries, floating the ball down the pitch. He is a key bowler for England and a useful batsman. Finn is a concern because he has tremendous talent, with pace and bounce because of his height. But if he cannot stay fit and get on the park, he is no use to the team.

I really believe that Graham Onions must come back into the selectors’ thoughts. He was a forgotten man on this tour. Somehow he has been shoved down the pecking order but conditions in New Zealand and England make him a fine bowler. His performances against Australia when they toured in 2009, for example, were excellent.

Like all great winning teams, England should enjoy the spoils of victory but also look on this as a time to improve. Do not court complacency. Prepare for the next challenge.

8 Responses to “Victory can be platform for Ashes success”

1. Dean Measor
   December 22nd, 2012 @ 3:41 pm

   Very interesting and well written thoughts Geoff. The key to England’s success in my humble opinion, is their bowling department The correct “mindset” and “fitness” of Finn, Broad, Bresnan, Anderson, Swann, Panesar and indeed Onions is both crucial and critical. Australia, despite the raw batting talents of Warner, Watson and co… rely heavily on the ever consistent talent and concentration of Clarke and Hussey. Jonny Bairstow should do well, especially against the likes of Lyon and I think Joe Root looks very promising indeed. The England “selectors” need to make the absolute correct bowling decisions and judgements at the right possible moments. May the best team win…….(Come on England!)

2. Dean Measor
   December 22nd, 2012 @ 4:12 pm

   Ian Bell has a near faultless technique. I find the “mind-space” and the “mental-toughness” required in sport and life in general, absolutely fascinating. Australian Vice Captain Shane Watson, in addition to his “position” faces long standing fitness concerns and his failure to convert many solid starts into centuries. Both players could potentially “shape” The Ashes off their own bats…..(so to speak)

3. Dean Measor
   December 22nd, 2012 @ 4:37 pm

   I so desperately want England to retain The Ashes but Clarke and Hussey are quite capable in all practical ways of making enough runs between themselves! I would love to know a way to try and combat their consistency and class against both pace and spin bowling. If England’s bowlers can remain fit and the selectors get the bowling line up correct to suit the conditions………..then, GAME ON!

4. Dean Measor
   December 22nd, 2012 @ 4:42 pm

   Kevin Pieterson is WORLD CLASS.

5. Dean Measor
   December 22nd, 2012 @ 6:38 pm

   “Boycott-The Autobiography” photographs of Geoff’s career follow after page 288- My all time favourite pic of Geoffrey Boycott- “All the comforts of – Nagpur” If you have not seen it, then you should do so. I just wonder how many modern day professional cricket players would enjoy “tweeting” away after spending say seven hours in the field/middle in those “THEN” very different and often trying times. Happy Christmas to Geoff and his family and also all his world wide loyal fans. Dean Measor.

6. Dean Measor
   December 29th, 2012 @ 9:46 am

   The very sad passing of the great Tony Greig will provide the ultimate platform for England to do well. Tony Greig was a fantastic cricket player and captain. His actual knowledge of the game was tremendous. A true all rounder who was as brave as they come. Funny, out spoken and a true gentleman. Rest In Peace Greigy.

7. Dean Measor
   January 10th, 2013 @ 3:18 pm

   Hussey now retired to spend more time with his family. I left a comment or two about two weeks ago, regarding the obvious threat he and Clarke posed for the England side. I think his retirement is good news for England. I’m also not yet convinced about Hughes in the Australian side, but I may well be proven wrong. Time will tell. Come on England!

8. Dean Measor
   January 10th, 2013 @ 3:22 pm

   Happy New Year to the Boycott family and also to all his loyal world wide fans! Cheers to you all!

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