Monday 21 May 2012

When People Answer THIS Critic

Listening to Test Match Special on Friday, I was able to hear the moment that England captain Andrew Strauss finally reached three figures for England, 18 months after his last century and nearly three years since his last one in England.  Stopping short of calling for the head of our run less (by comparison) skipper, I had been very critical of Strauss and the seemingly easy ride he was being given by the media, remembering the treatment meted out to my hero Michael Vaughan leading up to his 2008 relinquishing of power.  Now he seems to be safe, and a safe bet to probably be in post not only for the upcoming South Africa series, not to mention the tour to India and probably next Summers Ashes series.

The achievement of Strauss led me to think about the current England XI, and made me realise how many of them I have, shall we say, not exactly backed 100% (wanted them out and away from the Test side) at one stage or another of their careers.  Here, I take a look at the low and high watermarks for the England side, in my eyes.

Andrew Strauss - After a lacklustre 2007, highlighted by Strauss nicking off to first slip to an endless number of back of a length deliveries, I felt it was time for him to sit out.  Indeed, I was quite happy with the prospect of Vaughan moving back up to opening with the new wunderkind Alastair Cook.  He was dropped for a three match tour of Sri Lanka.  Cook and Vaughan were not a disaster, but the middle order failed to fire, so Strauss returned to bat at 3 for the New Zealand tour.  The first two tests produced very very close to bugger all, but he saved the 3rd test with 177 to set up a win.  By the time the Kiwi's toured England a few months later, he was back opening the innings.  Less than a year later, he was England captain.
Alastair Cook - After a run of failing to convert starts into big scores was halted during his caretaker captaincy trip of Bangladesh, Cook seemed to have regressed again during the summer tests in 2010 against the same opponents and Pakistan.  I made no secret of the fact that I felt Cook should be left out of the 3rd test at the Oval.  He was not, and produced an innings low on quality but big on heart, scoring 110.  I remained unconvinced, and bemoaned the fact that this knock had guaranteed him an Ashes berth.  Well, we all remember what happened then don't we....
Jonathon Trott - I have never actually called for Trott to be dropped, though I did voice a concern that he should not be batting at 3 after a torrid tour in South Africa, and should maybe be moved into the middle order.  Wrong again...
Kevin Pietersen - After losing the England captaincy, KP had endured a rough time with the bat, going from March 2009 to December 2010 without a test century.  His double ton at Adelaide went a long way towards winning the match, but he failed to significantly contribute for the remainder of the Ashes.  I don't recall ever seeking his removal (though I recall saying Ian Bell may be a better choice at number 4...), but I was keen for him to get his bloody head down and start scoring some runs when it mattered.  In 2011, he averaged 78 in Test cricket, including a blistering 202* against India at Lords.
Ian Bell - I called for Bell to be dropped after the Ashes 2005, in which he performed an excellent impression of a minesweeper being horrified to be caught nicking other peoples drinks, tormented as he was by Warne.  He returned the following summer, batting at six, and performed admirably.  For the next few years he flitted between five and six, before moving up to 3 after Vaughan retired.  After playing a shot best described as "f***ing awful" in Jamaica, sparking a collapse that would see England bowled out for 51, I demanded he be consigned to the scrapheap again.  He was, but once again returned soon after.  His form since then has been nothing short of exceptional, but he should never ever be allowed to bat at three again.
Jonny Bairstow - England Test debut.  Can't really call for him to be dropped, plus he's a Yorkshireman.
Matt Prior - After a summer of solid batting and amusingly laughable wicket keeping in 2007, Prior produced an absolutely garbage level of performance away in Sri Lanka, leading to his dropping for Tim Ambrose.  Ambrose's keeping was slick and steady, but he looked very much out of depth with the bat.  Prior returned in 2008, and has shown a dramatic improvement in his keeping.  More, he has shown that he is without question the best keeper batsman in the world at the moment, with six test centuries (three at Lords.)  And my word what a beard.
Tim Bresnan - Never called for him to be dropped. (see Bairstow) Plus he has won 12 out of 12.  And he bowled Ricky Ponting.
Stuart Broad - Broads self appointed role of "enforcer" of the attack in 2011 seemed to consist of him bowling a succession of poorly directed bouncers at the Sri Lankan batsmen, none of whom seemed in the slightest bit scared/bothered/to even notice.  Added to a stagnation of his batting skills, I was quite vociferous in calling for his head prior to the Indian series in favour of Bresnan.  My call was not answered, and Broad proceeded to enjoy a Flintoff-esque series against the poorly labelled best team in the world, highlighted by a hat trick and six wickets at Trent Bridge, helping England to climb to the top of the world rankings.
Graeme Swann - Never EVER want to see him dropped.  He gave the world The Sprinkler Dance.
Jimmy Anderson - Ah, Jimmy, where do I start...wanted him dropped during the South Africa series in 2003 (he was).  Wanted him dropped in 2004 in favour of Martin Saggers (he got injured instead).  Couldn't believe he was called in for Simon Jones for the 4th test in South Africa (he bowled like a drain).  Wanted him dropped after allowing Sehwag to get off to a tremendous start to an epic run chase in Mumbai in 2008 (he was out by the time England travelled to the West Indies for the first test).  Its quite strange when I think about it, but it is not a bowling performance that finally won me over for Jimmy, but it is instead his epic last wicket stand with Monty Panesar in Cardiff in 2009.  Since then, he has of course become one of the best bowlers in the world, culminating in a 24 wicket series in Australia.  He now has over 260 test wickets, and if he remains fit he should become the first England bowler to 400 test wickets.

So what do I know? Not a lot, but will this stop me ranting raving and posturing?

Hell no.

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