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England, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott face stern test from West Indies England, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott face stern West Indies test
(about 1 hour later)
It was a little over six years ago at Sabina Park that the pace bowler Jerome Taylor produced one of the finest of all West Indies bowling performances and, arguably if inadvertently, became the catalyst for one of the most successful periods for England cricket. It culminated in three successive Ashes wins, a World T20 title and victory away in India.It was a little over six years ago at Sabina Park that the pace bowler Jerome Taylor produced one of the finest of all West Indies bowling performances and, arguably if inadvertently, became the catalyst for one of the most successful periods for England cricket. It culminated in three successive Ashes wins, a World T20 title and victory away in India.
Taylor took 5 for 11 as England were bundled out for 51 to lose by an innings a match they should have won. The repercussions of that were massive for had England won, and gone on to take the series, it is quite possible Andy Flower would not have been given the permanent position of team director, Ian Bell would not have been challenged to harden up and become the player he now is, and the team would have drifted on. Taylor took five for 11 as England were bundled out for 51 to lose by an innings a match they should have won. The repercussions of that were massive for, had England won and gone on to take the series, it is quite possible Andy Flower would not have been given the permanent position of team director, Ian Bell would not have been challenged to harden up and become the player he now is, and the team would have drifted on.
Much of this is purely hypothetical but we are back in the Caribbean, entering an Antiguan Test once more, as we had after the Jamaica defeat, with England cricket in turmoil. The consequences of Taylor humiliating them this time would be dire, for losing is not an option for Alastair Cook, his team or the head coach, Peter Moores. This is a series they must win, and do so convincingly, as beyond it they face a stretch of a further 14 Test matches in nine months, against New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa, as tough a schedule as they will ever encounter. Much of this is hypothetical but the team are back in the Caribbean, entering an Antiguan Test once more, as they had after the Jamaica defeat, with England cricket in turmoil. The consequences of Taylor humiliating them this time would be dire, for losing is not an option for Alastair Cook, his team or the head coach, Peter Moores. This is a series they must win convincingly, as beyond it they face a stretch of a further 14 Test matches in nine months, against New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa, as tough a schedule as they will ever encounter.
This will not be a pushover for England. The comment from Colin Graves, the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman-elect, that West Indies are “mediocre” is indiscreet, disrespectful and simply inaccurate. Any side who contain the pace of Kemar Roach, the height of Jason Holder and the snappy swing of Taylor, backed up by Sulieman Benn’s left-arm spin, will always challenge batsmen. Marlon Samuels has a batting pedigree and Shivnarine Chanderpaul has getting on for 12,000 Test runs. Even at the age of 40 he has lost little of his desire to set up camp at the crease. It places extra pressure on Cook and the team where there was already pressure enough, even given their success in the last Test series they played, at home against India.This will not be a pushover for England. The comment from Colin Graves, the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman-elect, that West Indies are “mediocre” is indiscreet, disrespectful and simply inaccurate. Any side who contain the pace of Kemar Roach, the height of Jason Holder and the snappy swing of Taylor, backed up by Sulieman Benn’s left-arm spin, will always challenge batsmen. Marlon Samuels has a batting pedigree and Shivnarine Chanderpaul has getting on for 12,000 Test runs. Even at the age of 40 he has lost little of his desire to set up camp at the crease. It places extra pressure on Cook and the team where there was already pressure enough, even given their success in the last Test series they played, at home against India.
If England have gone beyond the embryonic stage of redevelopment after the Ashes defeat in Australia, then they are still a side in their formative period. Cook is feeling his way back into long-form cricket after a torrid time with the white ball and he looks certain to have another new opening partner in Jonathan Trott, whose own return to international cricket this would be following his return home early from Australia after the first Test in Brisbane.If England have gone beyond the embryonic stage of redevelopment after the Ashes defeat in Australia, then they are still a side in their formative period. Cook is feeling his way back into long-form cricket after a torrid time with the white ball and he looks certain to have another new opening partner in Jonathan Trott, whose own return to international cricket this would be following his return home early from Australia after the first Test in Brisbane.
There is a challenge here for Trott and those who select him, for they are taking a gamble the demons that drove him away before will not return when he is confronted with the things that perhaps triggered them. Cook is confident we shall see the Trott we had become used to watching, scratching out his mark, unfussed, simply building an innings unobtrusively. “He has answered pretty much every question that has been thrown at him since then for Warwickshire and the Lions and hopefully for England,” said Cook before final practice. There will still be fingers crossed, though, for Trott will be challenged with the short ball like never before in his life. There is a challenge here for Trott and those who select him, for they are taking a gamble that the demons that drove him away before will not return when he is confronted with the things that perhaps triggered them. Cook is confident that Trott will be his old self – scratching out his mark, unfussed, simply building an innings unobtrusively. “He has answered pretty much every question that has been thrown at him since then for Warwickshire and the Lions and hopefully for England,” said Cook before final practice. There will still be fingers crossed, though, for Trott will be challenged with the short ball as never before in his life.
For Cook there is a challenge too. He had made it clear he was affronted by the decision to drop him from the World Cup squad at the 11th hour, correct as that may have been. He has had three months to calm down, clear his mind and focus on his Test match batting. He has returned to Graham Gooch for help, and as a result has opened up his stance a little in a move designed to stop him from playing around his front pad. As he says, sometimes small habits become ingrained, compound themselves and you do not recognise them until you have time to sit back. He is also said to have reacquainted himself with the location of his off stump, with judgment of what to play and what to leave a fulcrum of his game. For Cook there is a challenge too. He had made it clear he was affronted by the decision to drop him from the World Cup squad at the 11th hour, correct as that may have been. He has had three months to calm down, clear his mind and focus on his Test match batting. He has returned to Graham Gooch for help and as a result has opened up his stance a little in a move designed to stop him from playing round his front pad. As he says, sometimes small habits become ingrained, compound themselves and a player does not recognise them until he has time to sit back. Cook is also said to have reacquainted himself with the location of his off stump, with judgment of what to play and what to leave a fulcrum of his game.
Above all the game should be a celebration for Jimmy Anderson, who will be playing his 100th Test and needs four wickets to overtake Ian Botham’s England record of 383 Test wickets.Above all the game should be a celebration for Jimmy Anderson, who will be playing his 100th Test and needs four wickets to overtake Ian Botham’s England record of 383 Test wickets.
“Incredible,” Cook said. “For anyone to play 100 Tests is a great achievement but to do so leading the attack as he has done over the last four or five years is fantastic. He is probably the most skilful bowler I have played with or against, and he is a great friend, so to be out there sharing it with him will be special.”“Incredible,” Cook said. “For anyone to play 100 Tests is a great achievement but to do so leading the attack as he has done over the last four or five years is fantastic. He is probably the most skilful bowler I have played with or against, and he is a great friend, so to be out there sharing it with him will be special.”
Whether the pitch is conducive to Anderson remains to be seen. It is largely grassless and looks hard. The West Indies captain, Denesh Ramdin, says there can be some good bounce here now and he has tall bowlers to exploit it if should that be the case.Whether the pitch is conducive to Anderson remains to be seen. It is largely grassless and looks hard. The West Indies captain, Denesh Ramdin, says there can be some good bounce here now and he has tall bowlers to exploit it if should that be the case.
Anderson may be helped by the stiff Trade Wind blowing across the ground from the east, slightly “hurting”, as they say in golf, from the southern end, so ideal for away swing. Batting first and use of the new ball will be key. It would be fitting if this superb bowler were to win the match for England.Anderson may be helped by the stiff Trade Wind blowing across the ground from the east, slightly “hurting”, as they say in golf, from the southern end, so ideal for away swing. Batting first and use of the new ball will be key. It would be fitting if this superb bowler were to win the match for England.