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England’s upturn in form is hard to assess against uninspiring India India’s capitulation makes it hard to assess England’s upturn in results
(about 2 hours later)
They do not much like three-day Tests at The Oval – or anywhere else for that matter. They do not make commercial sense. At lunch Richard Gould, chief executive at The Oval and a strong candidate to replace David Collier at the ECB, mentioned that the last three-day Test here was in 2004 against West Indies. Back then, Ian Bell was playing his first Test match and Jimmy Anderson his 11th.They do not much like three-day Tests at The Oval – or anywhere else for that matter. They do not make commercial sense. At lunch Richard Gould, chief executive at The Oval and a strong candidate to replace David Collier at the ECB, mentioned that the last three-day Test here was in 2004 against West Indies. Back then, Ian Bell was playing his first Test match and Jimmy Anderson his 11th.
Unsurprisingly Gould was inclined not to blame his groundsman for the speedy end to proceedings but the ineptitude of the tourists. No doubt this was also the explanation 10 years ago when West Indies were blown away by Steve Harmison and co. Then England, guided by the inscrutable Duncan Fletcher, were in the process of developing a formidable Ashes-winning side. It would be presumptuous to assume that this England team are so well advanced but it is tricky to know what to think.Unsurprisingly Gould was inclined not to blame his groundsman for the speedy end to proceedings but the ineptitude of the tourists. No doubt this was also the explanation 10 years ago when West Indies were blown away by Steve Harmison and co. Then England, guided by the inscrutable Duncan Fletcher, were in the process of developing a formidable Ashes-winning side. It would be presumptuous to assume that this England team are so well advanced but it is tricky to know what to think.
India have performed so lamentably since their victory at Lord’s that it is hard to gauge the scale of England’s improvement. At The Oval and at Old Trafford the impression was that Derbyshire would have rolled the batsmen over without much resistance.India have performed so lamentably since their victory at Lord’s that it is hard to gauge the scale of England’s improvement. At The Oval and at Old Trafford the impression was that Derbyshire would have rolled the batsmen over without much resistance.
But improvement there has been within the England camp. It has, perhaps, been most visible in their out-cricket, which has become as sharp as the Sunday lunchtime mustard. On Sunday there was Gary Ballance sticking out his left hand at third slip to pouch the finest catch of the series to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane; Chris Woakes’ deadeye throw from mid-on caught Gautam Gambhir napping – not that the beleaguered opener looked as if he had ever really woken up to the possibility of playing in this series. And if Ballance was unable to take the ball cleanly, it was parried in the air so that Bell could complete the formalities.But improvement there has been within the England camp. It has, perhaps, been most visible in their out-cricket, which has become as sharp as the Sunday lunchtime mustard. On Sunday there was Gary Ballance sticking out his left hand at third slip to pouch the finest catch of the series to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane; Chris Woakes’ deadeye throw from mid-on caught Gautam Gambhir napping – not that the beleaguered opener looked as if he had ever really woken up to the possibility of playing in this series. And if Ballance was unable to take the ball cleanly, it was parried in the air so that Bell could complete the formalities.
England were superb in the field, increasingly forthright with the bat and at the end Chris Jordan (known as “CJ”) demonstrated that he did not get where he is today without being able to bowl with impressive pace and swing. He picked up four wickets in 17 balls as India’s finest subsided as if they had purchased special bats without a middle from some Grot shop.England were superb in the field, increasingly forthright with the bat and at the end Chris Jordan (known as “CJ”) demonstrated that he did not get where he is today without being able to bowl with impressive pace and swing. He picked up four wickets in 17 balls as India’s finest subsided as if they had purchased special bats without a middle from some Grot shop.
Unwittingly Jordan put an end to the possibility of Jimmy Anderson overtaking Ian Botham as England’s leading wicket-taker this summer – he needs four more. The manner in which he started suggested that Botham, sitting up in the commentary box, might have been required to polish a few pearls of wisdom to pass on to the man who overtook him. Now those pearls may be saved until the Test tour of the Caribbean.Unwittingly Jordan put an end to the possibility of Jimmy Anderson overtaking Ian Botham as England’s leading wicket-taker this summer – he needs four more. The manner in which he started suggested that Botham, sitting up in the commentary box, might have been required to polish a few pearls of wisdom to pass on to the man who overtook him. Now those pearls may be saved until the Test tour of the Caribbean.
Anderson’s two wickets came from dream deliveries. The first to Murali Vijay was the perfect surprise in-swinger after a succession of balls swerving away towards an expectant slip cordon. No wonder he smiled so broadly. This was the equivalent of a wrist-spinner delivering his googly, the product of a special artistry. The second wicket was merely the ideal away-swinger, which brushed the outside edge of Cheteshwar Pujara’s bat. But thereafter Jordan, with a bit of help from Woakes, denied Anderson another go.Anderson’s two wickets came from dream deliveries. The first to Murali Vijay was the perfect surprise in-swinger after a succession of balls swerving away towards an expectant slip cordon. No wonder he smiled so broadly. This was the equivalent of a wrist-spinner delivering his googly, the product of a special artistry. The second wicket was merely the ideal away-swinger, which brushed the outside edge of Cheteshwar Pujara’s bat. But thereafter Jordan, with a bit of help from Woakes, denied Anderson another go.
Even so Anderson was nominated by Fletcher as England’s man of the series. Who knows whether Fletcher had to consult MS Dhoni and the rest of the India hierarchy before reaching this decision? It was, however, the correct cricketing choice. In the last three Tests Anderson has been on top of his game, even though he might have been haunted by the Trent Bridge incident while recovering his best form at Southampton. Anderson swung the ball so deliciously that he would surely have found the edge of the bat even if the Indians had been in good form and up for the fight.Even so Anderson was nominated by Fletcher as England’s man of the series. Who knows whether Fletcher had to consult MS Dhoni and the rest of the India hierarchy before reaching this decision? It was, however, the correct cricketing choice. In the last three Tests Anderson has been on top of his game, even though he might have been haunted by the Trent Bridge incident while recovering his best form at Southampton. Anderson swung the ball so deliciously that he would surely have found the edge of the bat even if the Indians had been in good form and up for the fight.
So here was a swift and jubilant end to a strange summer of Test cricket in which the post-Ashes angst was suddenly swept away by three massive victories. As well as joy this brings puzzlement – not just about the true worth of this new England team. In the brave new world of the Big Three India were one of the parties expected to maintain and enhance the status of Test cricket. With performances like these their players are doing the opposite.So here was a swift and jubilant end to a strange summer of Test cricket in which the post-Ashes angst was suddenly swept away by three massive victories. As well as joy this brings puzzlement – not just about the true worth of this new England team. In the brave new world of the Big Three India were one of the parties expected to maintain and enhance the status of Test cricket. With performances like these their players are doing the opposite.