Cricket 2014
Twist or Stick for England?
July 27th 2014
There have been two, radically different points of view expressed about England’s team selection for the 3rd Test. The captain has suggested that Stuart Broad is fit to play and that the side is in no situation to try rotation. Newspapers, who tend to have some idea what is going on in the selectors’ minds, suggest that the attack will be shaken up for a must-win Test.
With the ICC’s recognition that there was an incident between Jimmy Anderson and Ravi Jadeja, it now seems almost certain that Anderson will also be found guilty of an offense. England are, apparently resigned to a two-match ban, meaning that Jimmy Anderson will get a rest, whether he wants it or not, for the last two Tests. If so, he can be asked to make one last effort on a pitch that may have pace and bounce.
Chris Jordan has made a huge case to return to the attack. If Stuart Broad is not deemed fit enough for another 5-day Test, it could be for him. If not, Ben Stokes is looking vulnerable and is also a fitness doubt. Since scoring 70 in the 3rd ODI v Australia in Perth, his run has been 0, 5, 5, 4, 0, 4, 0, 0, 0, 0: 18 runs in 10 innings across 2 Tests, 4 ODIs and 3 T20s. So far, in three Test innings since his recall against India, Ben Stokes has not troubled the scorer. Despite some impressive spells at Lords, he has also failed to take a wicket in 5 of his last 8 games for England. Ben Stokes has enormous promise, but probably is not good enough to play purely as a bowler and needs runs as much as Cook or Bell do, to justify his place.
If England win the toss and bat well, they could get away playing a tired attack. Batting well though means batting for a full five sessions, allowing the bowlers extra rest before a short stint late on Day 2. They should not be tempted to bowl first because tired bowlers could let India get away, as happened at Lords.
High on the wish list is a century for the captain and a century opening partnership. There has not been even a 50 partnership for the 1st wicket in the last 5 Tests. Too often have the #3 and #4 in the order come in against the new ball, with a rescue job to do. Last summer the team got away with it because Ian Bell and the tail rescued the situation time and again. In Australia the side actually got better starts than they have against Sri Lanka and India, but they came to naught because the tail was blown away. Now, if the side is to be infused with confidence, they need to see their top three making a really solid platform on which to build a winning position and then complete a victory.
Often just one win is needed to change a side’s fortunes. The problem is that it is India that have got it. The Indian side of 2011 had more stars, but India 2014 plays as a team and is strategically far more savvy, which makes them dangerous opponents.
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