UPHILL BATTLE
England’s struggling young batters told to prove they belong at Test level or face the consequences
ENGLAND’S misfiring young batsmen will need to show their “desperation” to stay in the Test team by coming up with big scores or face the axe this summer.
Of the top seven, only Rory Burns enhanced his reputation during the 1-0 series defeat to New Zealand by grabbing the solitary hundred for Joe Root’s team.
And Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence have been put on notice that their current output will not be tolerated for much longer and they must improve in the India series.
Batting coach Graham Thorpe would like nothing more than to see them succeed, but as someone who saw team-mates come and go during the 1990s, he knows there is only one thing that keeps you in the side.
“It was a bit like that in years gone by, but these players have to show a desperation to stay in the side as well,” said Thorpe. “They have to earn the right to stay in the side.
“They will be fully aware of that, because we’ve some players who will come back into that team and there are others on the outside putting pressure on.
“That goes with the territory of playing at the highest level. You do have to keep producing. Your righthand column is very important, it is what keeps you in the team.
“It’s for us to keep observing the players to see whether they have the temperament to apply their techniques to score runs.
“We are hugely disappointed as a group but we have to keep working with the players and we have to keep looking at players who actually can do that for us going forward.”
Thorpe has seen it all before as a player in the England side in 1999 the last home series defeat by New Zealand - and now as a coach trying to help the batsmen produce their best. He has plenty of understanding for young players finding their feet who are bound to be inconsistent early on.
But he also knows there is no getting away from just how tough the Test arena is, as James Bracey has found out over the past two weeks.
“Test cricket can be a brutal place,” added the 51-year-old (below). “I expect the players to be fired up from this. We’re trying to find the characters who can show those things we’ve talked about - the temperament and desire to score big.
“Technique is hugely important and is what keeps you scoring runs, but it’s your decision-making that keeps you out in the middle whatever technique you have.”
■ OLLIE ROBINSON is set to return to action with Sussex second XI today in two T20 matches against Hampshire.
The fast bowler took a break after racist and sexist tweets he posted in
2012 and 2013 overshadowed his England Test debut. He is suspended from international cricket but eligible for his county.