North v South
All the reaction as the South beat the North 3-0 in Dubai
Pages 4-5
Will Macpherson examines the recent North v South series, and discusses its merits to unearth hidden talent for the England selectors
It’s likely that you know little of Andrew Strauss’ pet project, the inaugural North-South series. There was certainly no one in the ground. It was not on TV, or streamed. Only the third game was on radio.
And yet Strauss and his team left very happy with how things had gone. Strauss admitted he would have liked the series, which the South won 3-0 (sharing £50,000, while the North left penniless), to be a little closer, and for the fielding to have been a bit better, but otherwise they were pleased. ‘They’ proved to be a huge raft of ECB staff, coaches Trevor Bayliss, Paul Farbrace, Ottis Gibson, Andy Flower and Chris Taylor, selectors James Whittaker and Mick Newell, a full set of medical staff, two umpires, the head of security and an anti-corruption officer, too.
The purpose of all these people was to make the selected players understand what it is like to tour with England, and the levels of fitness, scrutiny and intensity they receive. Some have already played for the national team, some definitely will in the future, and others will have had lines drawn through their names on this trip. At times it felt like a meet-and-greet for all involved, at others it had the air of an internal assessment. Strauss and the selectors certainly felt they left the UAE a more knowledgeable bunch.
“It’s been really interesting to watch from the outside,” he said. “The intention behind it was for us to broaden the base of players that might be capable of playing a part in the 2019 World Cup, and for the England coaches to have a better idea of those players that are just beneath the surface who are pushing hard for a place.”
The cricket was fiery, and the cream generally rose to the top. Mark Wood got better as it went along, while Steven Finn will be a step closer to the Champions Trophy squad now. Liam Dawson, for his performances with bat and ball, was named Man of the Series, cementing his place in the England squad. Dawid Malan and Tom Curran are not far off ODI debuts – they, along with Liam Livingstone, can be expected to play either against Ireland next month or West Indies in September – while Toby Roland-Jones, Sam Northeast and Daniel Bell-Drummond furthered their reputations, too. The South, well-drilled under the stewardship of Farbrace and Flower (working together for the first time), gelled quite exceptionally in a short period of time.
It was a good tour for spinners, with Livingstone – having swapped from leg-breaks to off – Dawson, Josh Poysden, Graeme White and, lastly, Mason Crane all doing well. Crane has had a winter of accelerated development, first when tearing it up for Gordon CC in Sydney Grade Cricket, then for New South Wales, and now for the South; after Tim Bresnan – what a cricketer he remains, by the way – thrashed him around in the first game, Crane returned in Abu Dhabi to claim four wickets in 12 balls, for one run. All four were high-class batsmen, and none got themselves out. It was a very impressive display.
So the next generation of players have got to know the coaches, and the selectors have taken a look at the players, but does this event have legs? Is it just a gimmick, taking place away from our gaze? And is it worth all the effort, and expense? (Six-figures worth of expense…)
Strauss is committed to the project for two more years at least, up to the World
Cup. There will be a full review of this year’s event, and they are not tied to the UAE as a venue (next year it could be in the Caribbean because the Lions are touring there), or March as the date. Indeed it could take place post-season, rather than pre-season.
A stream is planned next year, and perhaps TV the year after, as well as the possibility of some spectators. The hope is that the 2019 event will be shortly before the World Cup, with England’s very best players available. Interestingly, the North were much weaker this year, but the full England ODI squad is positively teaming with players from further up the M1.
If the coaching staff are unavailable, the event certainly becomes less worthwhile (England are due to be in New Zealand this time next year), and the players – who are generally supportive of the venture – will be strongly put off if the best performers do not find themselves getting the nod from the selectors.
As Malan said after his century in the opening game: “It’s nice to do it in front of the England selectors. That’s what these games are designed for: it’s a sort of second chance for guys to push their case and show the selectors what they have been missing out on.
“No one is really sure if these games really are that important in terms of ‘are they going to matter if you score runs or take wickets?’”
As things stand, they will go back to their counties singing the event’s praises (giving it kudos and currency for next year, and perhaps a helping hand for the Royal London One-Day Cup), but if the management fail to follow up their talk with selections, players’ interest and support will drop off, you would expect.
With an eye on the Champions Trophy squad, which looks settled, Strauss said: “There’s always one or two places available.
“This is more with a slant and a focus on 2019 rather than 2017 to be honest with you, but there are a couple of slots that still are to be decided.”
Perhaps the greatest beneficiary was not a player or selector, but Bayliss, who knows so little about county cricket. It provided a first look at Bell-Drummond, Curran and Northeast, as well as all the spinners. He will tour the country in the early weeks of the season to further his county education, too. This event proved that he and the selectors have plenty to work with for the summer, the winter’s Ashes tour and beyond.
It’s nice to do it in front of the England selectors. That’s what these games are designed for: it’s a sort of second chance... DawidMalan