HOW ROOT’S MEN WENT FROM CRISIS TO WORLD BEATERS
Revitalised England are giving the No 1 Test side a thrashing ... but there’s still work to do
England thumped India at lord’s to go 2-0 up in the Test series with three to play. Joe Root’s side seem to have put their winter woes behind them, but there are still problems to address as they target a return to the top of the rankings.
WE DIDN’T EXPECT IT TO BE THIS EASY, DID WE?
We CERTAINLY did not. This was meant to be the series where India proved they could overcome their travel sickness and finally conquer english conditions against a vulnerable home side. But they got off to the worst possible start with their dismissive approach to their only warmup match against essex.
Then a classic first Test just about went against them when they needed to win at edgbaston to set up the series. and when they lost the toss at lord’s and had the worst of conditions throughout the second Test their goose was cooked. now, at two down with three to play, they need a miracle.
IT HAS NOT JUST BEEN ABOUT INDIA BEING BAD, HAS IT?
an england side who were on the brink of crisis after losing the first Test of the summer against Pakistan have been resurgent.
They gave a masterclass of how to bowl with the dukes ball in conditions to die for at lord’s, none more so than the amazing Jimmy anderson. He came into the series with concerns over a chronic shoulder problem but has been imperious and, with nine wickets at lord’s, stands only 10 behind glenn Mcgrath as the most prolific seam bowling wickettaker in Test history. not only that but Trevor Bayliss reckons the 36-year-old can go on until he’s 40. ‘I don’t think there’s any age limit with him,’ said the england coach. ‘as long as he keeps fit there’s no reason why he couldn’t have another three or four years. He keeps on surprising everyone.’
JIMMY’S HAD SUPERB SUPPORT, HASN’T HE?
yes, that was the stuart Broad of old on the last day at lord’s, pitching the ball up and gaining movement at a consistently faster speed than he has managed in seven years.
chris Woakes had the game of his life and sam curran has defied expectations to take to Test cricket like a duck to water. and don’t forget a certain Ben stokes dragged england over the finishing line at edgbaston with his best bowling since his world was changed in Bristol last september. The fact england did not miss stokes at lord’s says everything about their display.
‘The guys are able to put anything off the field out of their minds and concentrate on what they’re doing,’ said Bayliss about the absence of any Bristol-based distractions at lord’s. ‘This was the perfect example.’
SO EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN IS ROSY?
sTeady. Three Test wins in a row has lifted spirits after a miserable winter but england still have issues to address if they are to get back to the top of the rankings. let’s start with the opening batsmen.
alastair cook’s two double centuries in the last year are beginning to stand out like skyscrapers in a long row of terraced houses, while Keaton Jennings hasn’t got a score yet in his second coming even though england reckon he has overcome the technical problems that led to him being dropped last year.
THE REST OF THE BATTING IS OK, ISN’T IT?
yes and no. Joe Root has looked much more like a captain in this series but he still isn’t going big with the bat and looked oddly out of touch at lord’s.
Ollie Pope made a very encouraging start but it is a bit much to expect big centuries from him just yet and Jos Buttler could do with a century to prove he can prosper as a specialist Test batsman. at some point, england may have to tell Jonny Bairstow to concentrate on being the prolific toporder batsman they need him to be and give the gloves to Buttler. Thanks goodness Woakes showed he can be a genuine all-rounder with that century at lord’s.
BUT WOAKES’ RECORD OVERSEAS IS DREADFUL
yes, there is every chance that even if england beat India 5-0, they are still going to run into the old overseas problems in sri lanka and West Indies this winter. Woakes played like a worldbeater at lord’s, and england are adamant he has the ability to do a lot better overseas with the Kookaburra ball than we have seen so far, so he will be given another away chance.
We know anderson in particular has the skills to flourish away from the green grass of home, but oh for that elusive X-factor bowler with the ability to bowl in excess of 90mph. Mark Wood never seems able to stay fit for long enough and is not as quick as he once was, while all the young hopefuls are going down like flies. england like the look of Warwickshire’s 18-year-old Henry Brookes but he has a stress fracture now too.
WHAT ABOUT THE ESSEX BOWLER?
THaT’s Jamie Porter. new bowling coach chris silverwood is a big fan from his time at chelmsford and it appears Porter, 25, is being groomed as the long-term replacement for anderson.
He was told before edgbaston that he would play against India at some point this summer but the workload hasn’t been huge for anderson and Broad so far so we will see. The only problem is he is not the quickest. could be another who struggles overseas.
HOW ABOUT SPIN?
We Haven’T seen enough of adil Rashid in this series yet to know whether he is a better Test bowler than when last he played red-ball cricket but he looks sure to be the no 1 spinner this winter as he can attack both edges.
Who goes with him remains to be seen as there is every chance england will need three slow bowlers in sri lanka. Here’s an interesting one for you. I understand the selectors feel Joe denly of Kent is a batsman worth having another look at who can bowl decent leg- spin. could be another of ed smith’s bold picks for a tour spot.
For now it’s all systems go to try to thrash India 5-0! Well, that would be a start…