Finding those who succeed abroad always tough to do...
THERE has been plenty of soul-searching in recent days as England supporters scrabble around for answers to the side’s dismal surrendering of the Ashes Down Under.
There have been plenty of stats thrown around too as people look to explain why it took the Aussies just 15 days to reclaim the Urn.
It may be unfair to use Chris Woakes as the prime example of England’s struggles overseas but his bowling figures away from these shores go some way to illustrate the issue facing Joe Root’s men.
Woakes’ record away from England tells its own story.
In ten overseas Test matches, Woakes has taken 15 wickets, all of which have come at an eye-watering cost of 58.06.
His best bowling outside of England came at Adelaide in the second Test of this Ashes series when he took 4-36 as he skittled the Aussies in tandem with Jimmy Anderson.
Compare that with his exemplary performances at home, which have seen him take 42 wickets at a cost of just 24.
In home conditions, Woakes is as dangerous as any bowler in world cricket. Take those home comforts away, though, and watching him bowl is something that’s best done from behind the sofa.
It’s not a problem that’s unique to the Warwickshire man, with the likes of Anderson also struggling to make an impact in Australia.
The Lancastrian has snared 55 wickets Down Under but has taken just one five-wicket haul in 16 matches. His average in Australia is a full eight runs higher than his career figure of 27.
Dean Headley, the hero of Melbourne in December 1998, agrees that an inability to produce bowlers capable of taking wickets both home and abroad has been a problem that has spanned the ages.
Headley took 19 wickets in three Ashes Tests Down Under – almost a third of his England career tally of 60 and he tells
that only a select few English bowlers possess the ability to transfer their skills
Paper The Cricket
from English pitches to the flatter, faster pitches of Australia.
“I think at any stage there are probably 20-odd bowlers who could come in and do a job for England on English pitches,” Headley says.
“That was certainly the case when I played and is probably still true today. You’ve got Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad who are automatic picks but there are a fair few others who could come in during a home series and do a job against most opposition.
“But I think there are only ever going to be four bowlers who have the skills to bowl on Aussie pitches – bowlers who can either get it through at a good pace or can disconcert batsmen with bounce, which is what we saw in 2010/11.
“The problem for England has always been finding those bowlers.”
Headley was one of the rare bowlers who seemed to relish playing Australia, taking 35 wickets against them at a cost of just 24 in six Tests.
The hero of Melbourne all those years ago, though, will be tucking into the turkey leftovers rather than Aussie batsmen on Boxing Day.
England will hope revenge is a dish served similarly cold at the MCG.
It’s not just England who struggle when travelling overseas – all nations have issues when venturing away. Conditions certainly play their part, but there’s no obvious reason as to why countries can’t replicate their home success when travelling. India’s trip to England next year will be well worth a watch. Can Virat Kohli and Co buck the trend?