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Samit Patel's mastery of moving ball supplies early county highlight Samit Patel's mastery of moving ball supplies early county highlight
(about 2 hours later)
We are just over a month into the season and I have managed to see a fair bit of cricket, which I know is the object of the exercise but for a variety of (usually) England-based reasons, has not always been possible. We're just over a month into the season, and I have managed to see a fair bit of cricket, which I know is the object of the exercise, but which, for a variety of (usually) England-based reasons, has not always been possible.
There have been trips to Trent Bridge, Fenner's, Northampton, Edgbaston and Lord's where I have watched Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Middlesex and Durham, as well as Essex. It has been instructive, with a lot learned about the mentality of many batsmen, the moderate standard of much of the bowling and, by contrast, the quality of the fielding. I thought, though, I might offer an opinion on the best that I've seen of three elements, a sort of state of the nation: best innings, best pace bowling and best spin bowling. There have been trips to Trent Bridge, Fenner's, Northampton, Edgbaston and Lord's, where I have watched Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Middlesex and Durham, as well as Essex. It has been instructive, with a lot learned about the mentality of many batsmen, the moderate standard of much of the bowling and, by contrast, the quality of the fielding. I thought, though, I might offer an opinion on the best that I've seen of three elements, a sort of state of the nation: best innings, best pace bowling and best spin bowling.
First things first then. There is a difference between the best batsman to be seen and the best innings. In terms of achievement, the best batsman is Alastair Cook, but he didn't play like it in the first innings at Cambridge when I watched. Anecdotally, the innings of the summer so far must surely be the hundred, 189 not out in fact, made by Ian Bell against Sussex, which as an exhibition of batsmanship of the highest quality elevated him way above any player in the land. I haven't seen Bell play this season but I did see Samit Patel make a superbly crafted 93 on a capricious Trent Bridge surface against Jimmy Anderson and the rest of the Lancashire seamers. First things first, then. There is a difference between the best batsman to be seen and the best innings. In terms of achievement, the best batsman is Alastair Cook, but he didn't play like it in the first innings at Cambridge when I watched. Anecdotally, the innings of the summer so far must surely be the hundred, 189 not out in fact, made by Ian Bell against Sussex, which as an exhibition of batsmanship of the highest quality elevated him way above any player in the land. I haven't seen Bell play this season, but I did see Samit Patel make a superbly crafted 93 on a capricious Trent Bridge surface against Jimmy Anderson and the rest of the Lancashire seamers.
The art of playing the moving ball is fast disappearing, it seems to me, with too many batsmen, hard-handed and front-foot thrusters, taking the view that they might as well just tee off because they will get out sooner rather than later. Patel took a different view, batting for almost four hours as the ball darted around. As Graham Gooch would tell you, one of the secrets is to play the line of the ball and stick with that, and on no account be drawn into trying to follow any movement away. Play and miss and generally you are still there, he will say, what has gone has gone. Patel remained phlegmatic throughout, smothered the full ball, gave himself time on the back foot otherwise, put away the bad ball with aplomb and, by all that is right, deserved a hundred.The art of playing the moving ball is fast disappearing, it seems to me, with too many batsmen, hard-handed and front-foot thrusters, taking the view that they might as well just tee off because they will get out sooner rather than later. Patel took a different view, batting for almost four hours as the ball darted around. As Graham Gooch would tell you, one of the secrets is to play the line of the ball and stick with that, and on no account be drawn into trying to follow any movement away. Play and miss and generally you are still there, he will say, what has gone has gone. Patel remained phlegmatic throughout, smothered the full ball, gave himself time on the back foot otherwise, put away the bad ball with aplomb and, by all that is right, deserved a hundred.
If it is promise we are looking for, however, the most instructive innings came at Edgbaston where Sam Hain, Warwickshire's 18-year-old right-hander on his first-class debut, made 42 against Middlesex; not a huge score but an accumulation of considerable calmness and maturity, tidy off his legs as may be expected of someone brought up watching Jonathan Trott, and dismissed only by his own youthful impetuosity. One to watch. If it is promise we are looking for, however, the most instructive innings came at Edgbaston, where Sam Hain, Warwickshire's 18-year-old right-hander on his first-class debut, made 42 against Middlesex; not a huge score, but an accumulation of considerable calmness and maturity, tidy off his legs as may be expected of someone brought up watching Jonathan Trott, and dismissed only by his own youthful impetuosity. One to watch.
I have witnessed a lot of industry from seam bowlers, much huffing and puffing, and some good pace too, but all too often an inability to harness conditions or indeed maintain a consistent length or line. Do they get bored? Perhaps it comes down to over-zealousness when presented with a helpful pitch. Often the key is not to try to get the ball to do things but to prevent it from doing too much. Trying to bowl dot balls – the sort of attritional bowling that will serve on a flat pitch – will do just as well when there is help. I have witnessed a lot of industry from seam bowlers, much huffing and puffing, and some good pace, too, but all too often an inability to harness conditions or indeed maintain a consistent length or line. Do they get bored? Perhaps it comes down to over-zealousness when presented with a helpful pitch. Often the key is not to try to get the ball to do things, but to prevent it from doing too much. Trying to bowl dot balls – the sort of attritional bowling that will serve on a flat pitch – will do just as well when there is help.
The most talked-about spell of bowling that has come to my attention was from Liam Plunkett when bowling at Lord's for Yorkshire against Middlesex, and Sam Robson in particular. Gus Fraser showed me some footage when I saw him at Edgbaston one day and waxed lyrical about his high pace, and the capacity to sustain it, and so did those who were at the game. There has also been praise coming from those who saw Plunkett in the Lions squad last winter. He will certainly be around the Test squad. The most talked-about spell of bowling that has come to my attention was from Liam Plunkett when bowling at Lord's for Yorkshire against Middlesex, and Sam Robson in particular. Gus Fraser showed me some footage when I saw him at Edgbaston one day, and waxed lyrical about his high pace, and the capacity to sustain it, and so did those who were at the game. There has also been praise coming from those who saw Plunkett in the Lions squad last winter. He will certainly be around the Test squad.
The best pace bowling I have seen by a distance came during Northamptonshire's second innings against Lancashire when Anderson, having groomed himself into shape in the first innings, gave a masterclass in swing bowling. His run was athletic, aggressive and rhythmical, his action fine-tuned, his pace on the quickish side of waspish, his length immaculate and the movement in the air pronounced and, frankly, too much for the batsmen. The best pace bowling I have seen by a distance came during Northamptonshire's second innings against Lancashire, when Anderson, having groomed himself into shape in the first innings, gave a masterclass in swing bowling. His run was athletic, aggressive and rhythmical, his action fine-tuned, his pace on the quickish side of waspish, his length immaculate and the movement in the air pronounced and, frankly, too much for the batsmen.
Spin bowling, or rather the lack of quality, is a serious concern. The most accomplished spinner now that Graeme Swann has gone is Monty Panesar. He has certainly not been ditched by England although they would like to see consistent evidence that he has got his bowling back to its dipping best: he will tell you that he has worked hard in Australia post-Ashes to rediscover the degree of overspin that he needs to go with the sidespin. Spin bowling, or rather the lack of quality spin bowling, is a serious concern. The most accomplished spinner now that Graeme Swann has gone is Monty Panesar. He has certainly not been ditched by England, although they would like to see consistent evidence that he has got his bowling back to its dipping best: he will tell you that he has worked hard in Australia post-Ashes to rediscover the degree of overspin that he needs to go with the sidespin.
Beyond Monty there has been little to see of spinners in a seam-dominated spring, although there is excited talk of Kent's Adam Riley. Simon Kerrigan, for example, has scarcely turned his arm over when I have been there. Beyond Monty, there has been little to see of spinners in a seam-dominated spring, although there is excited talk of Kent's Adam Riley. Simon Kerrigan, for example, has scarcely turned his arm over when I have been there.
I did, however, see what is possibly the best spell of what we might call orthodox off-spin that, Swann excepted, I have watched for many years. It came from the former New Zealand bowler Jeetan Patel against Middlesex and it harnessed the conditions beautifully: flight, spin, drift on the breeze and craftiness. The comparison with Middlesex's Ollie Rayner was stark.I did, however, see what is possibly the best spell of what we might call orthodox off-spin that, Swann excepted, I have watched for many years. It came from the former New Zealand bowler Jeetan Patel against Middlesex and it harnessed the conditions beautifully: flight, spin, drift on the breeze and craftiness. The comparison with Middlesex's Ollie Rayner was stark.