I'm ashamed of the headline but how could I avoid it.
The England pace trio of Broad, Anderson and Finn were too much for Pakistan on the opening day at Edgbaston. Broad and Finn took care of the top order and Anderson the tail in much the same way that the West Indies used run through Australia in the 1980's. Their line was so tight that when Salmon Butt played a lazy drive to Swann at second slip it was 2-9 in the 13th over. Be concerned Aussie cricket fans for this is a very good English pace attack and whether they get the ball to swing in Australia this coming summer or not, they will bowl with better control over line than Flintoff's men did on the Lion Taming Tour down under in 86-87. Finn will be the wild card and he is likely to be able to also bowl a length and pace the Australians will find uncomfortable. He is already hitting the 140's consistently. Add to that Swann, a bowler I believe will be a trump against Ponting's fixed front leg and any cacky handers and you have an English attack well and truly capable of not only retaining Ivo Ligh's little urn but shock, horror, this mob might even win the series here.
All good sides have three things: a batting line up that can dig in, a bowling line up that can bust through and brilliant slips cordon. They don't usually have them all at once, although that can happen ... Australia in 1948 or 74-75 or 1989 to name just three in a miopic view of the world so favoured by Australian cricket fans. This English side is close to having all three qualities with the only questions hovering over the batting. Certainly their bowling has been too good for Pakistan but their catching has been superb. On the first day, Prior held a screamer from Malik way across in front of a first slip who could have only half volleyed the chance. Umar Amin went to a diving Collingwood at third slip. These catches win matches as much through their inspiration as their epic timing. Cook, who continues to search for form with they bat took a brilliant running catch when Amir/Aamer went to the air over mid off and Cook ran with the ball and finished with a dive to hold it.
The Pakistani opening bowlers each got a wicket before Trott and Pietersen dug in, the latter very keen to spend some time in the middle in this series.
Agreed Lango, We are on the slide as is a normal evolutionary thing, and to make things worse we have a captain and selectors in denial. Very interesting summer ahead. The facts are we rely on ageing batters and yet to be proven quicks. The POMS have rebuilt quicker and smarter. Our environment remains one definite advantage as the poms have faltered running over our hard surfaces in the past.
ReplyDelete