We need to build a Den
JOE: NEW BOSS WANTS BATSMEN TO DIG IN AND HIT BIG RUNS... NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES
ENGLAND’S batsmen have been told to be ruthless with their wickets and book in for bed and breakfast, if they want to be a Test success away from home.
A rejigged top order must rediscover the art of Test-match batting by grinding down the opposition in a way that has not been seen since the Class of 2013/14 broke up on the rocks of an Ashes whitewash.
And with newish faces Dominic Sibley and now Ollie Pope doing exactly that in their two warm-up matches so far, the outlook appears bright for Joe Root’s side against a New Zealand team sitting above them at No.2 in the rankings.
“We’ve spoken about that as a group,” said fit-again Joe Denly after hitting 68 in Whangarei. “Scoring those big first-innings runs, especially.
“Chris Silverwood has said he doesn’t care how long it takes, he wants big hundreds from the changing room and, if you get that chance, kick on.
“Test cricket is all ebbs and flows. You’re always up against a good bowling attack and you have to respect those good balls. You have to be positive and put them under pressure and look to score, but, when you get that opportunity, it’s about grinding it out and keeping them out there as long as possible.”
England didn’t have things all their own way to begin with against a New Zealand ‘A’ side that reduced them to 105-5 at one stage with Sibley, Root and Ben Stokes all falling cheaply.
But Denly and Pope rebuilt the innings superbly before Jos Buttler was able to capitalise in a way that England hope he can from No.7.
Pope’s 88 was a high-quality innings from a 21-year-old of whom much is expected now he will be able to bed in at No.6.
He has averaged 96 in five first-class matches since returning from shoulder surgery and looked a class act once again.
But the sight of No.3 Denly batting with elegant fluency after an ankle injury that threatened to rule him out of the tour was a welcome one, especially since his last Test innings was a match-winning 94 against the Aussies at The Oval.
“I was probably thinking my tour was over,” he added. “But I’ve been on the ice machine, an amazing bit of kit, and, if it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have been playing now.
“It feels fine and I’m delighted because sitting on the sidelines does make you hungry to go and perform.
“Playing in that Ashes series, being exposed to those bowlers and being the challenge it was, I’ve come out of it a more confident player. It would be nice to get that first Test hundred on this trip.”
These two matches against the Kiwis are about England finding their identity as a Test side and getting players to fulfil more traditional roles.
The Test team has been skittish – now is the time for less fire and more patience.