I'm by no means a Trekkie - although I did enjoy Patrick Stewart in Extras - but it's clear that often resistance is futile. I didn't believe it was this morning, however, as I thought a bit of lusty counterpunch a la Broad/Swann at Headingly in 2009 might at least slow the Oz-boulder momentum a little before it rumbles joyously into the MCG in six days time. That obviously didn't happen, though, as the Aussies wrapped it all up in 50 minutes, getting a few intimidatory verbal and short-pitched barbs in at their attitudinal antagonist, Jimmy Anderson, in the process.
So what now? Axe Finn? Axe Collingwood? Swap Bell and Collingwood in the batting order? I'd only go for the latter of those three solutions being offered. Although I think Bresnan's character would thrive in what will now be an febrile Melbourne cauldron dominated by Aussie fans high on Schadenfreude, Finn is still our leading wicket taker in the series and Collingwood has shown in the past that he often has to hit deeper depths than Saffron Burrows in order for his survival instincts to kick in. Collygobbles aside, he is awfully low at the moment, though.
The Harris* line is that we're a team that can occasionally be undone on helpful wickets by spells of quality fast bowling. That's cricket. Look at what happened to India on Friday in the first innings at the hands of Steyn and Morkel. It doesn't make England a bad side, Strauss or Flower poor leaders or Gooch a bad batting coach. If you had the misfortune, as I did, to grow up watching England skittled more often than Jesus's tenpins (NSFW) all throughout the 90s, you are perhaps not quite so ready to ditch all hope towards a side that gives you Cardiff, Centurion and Newlands. Also, despite the brutally brief way we were turned over today, we've shown we can regroup after being ravaged and come back to win the next match (Headingley/Oval in the 2009 Ashes; Trent Bridge/Lord's this years against Pakistan). All is not lost.
Meanwhile, having rather bravely lumped us in with India, it's worth keeping an eye on the scoreboard over in South Africa. If there's one team that could pull things round......
*Of course, I mean bottom ho ho ho. See, we can still stay chipper even in these glum hours.
So what now? Axe Finn? Axe Collingwood? Swap Bell and Collingwood in the batting order? I'd only go for the latter of those three solutions being offered. Although I think Bresnan's character would thrive in what will now be an febrile Melbourne cauldron dominated by Aussie fans high on Schadenfreude, Finn is still our leading wicket taker in the series and Collingwood has shown in the past that he often has to hit deeper depths than Saffron Burrows in order for his survival instincts to kick in. Collygobbles aside, he is awfully low at the moment, though.
The Harris* line is that we're a team that can occasionally be undone on helpful wickets by spells of quality fast bowling. That's cricket. Look at what happened to India on Friday in the first innings at the hands of Steyn and Morkel. It doesn't make England a bad side, Strauss or Flower poor leaders or Gooch a bad batting coach. If you had the misfortune, as I did, to grow up watching England skittled more often than Jesus's tenpins (NSFW) all throughout the 90s, you are perhaps not quite so ready to ditch all hope towards a side that gives you Cardiff, Centurion and Newlands. Also, despite the brutally brief way we were turned over today, we've shown we can regroup after being ravaged and come back to win the next match (Headingley/Oval in the 2009 Ashes; Trent Bridge/Lord's this years against Pakistan). All is not lost.
Meanwhile, having rather bravely lumped us in with India, it's worth keeping an eye on the scoreboard over in South Africa. If there's one team that could pull things round......
*Of course, I mean bottom ho ho ho. See, we can still stay chipper even in these glum hours.
Mate, if Graham onions' batting is your best hope, you're up a certain waterway....
ReplyDelete20 wickets in 100 overs, right? Think we are still favourites for the series with the bookies - don't think I'll be lumping anything on that anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteLooks at bit punchy at the mo, but have faith, old plum...
ReplyDeleteFranco, you can back England on the exchanges at 3.2 pal - get your hat down - it won't be around for long once Strauss starts to dispatch them to all corners in Melbourne . . .
ReplyDeleteRH