I was busy yesterday so didn't watch or follow the T20 match, but a pretty disappointing looking scorecard. Bangladesh winning with 2 overs to spare is a very comfortable win in this format.
It was a performance that smacked of an attitude of "not another game" and going through the motions against a side that is ranked 9 of 10 in World T20 cricket that had two players making their debut. This attitude is reflected in the balance of the side and size of squad. By that, I mean, when was the last time that we:
(1) Had a squad for a series of just 13 players for an overseas series with no ability to call anyone else in?
(2) Had just 4 front line batsman in the squad with the two other non members of the team both being bowlers? At the drop of the 5th wicket, Woakes walked in and he has scored 36 runs in his last 19 T20Is. Jordan was next in and in 85 matches he has a top score of 36
(3) Played 5 seamers in a side in the sub continent with just 2, full or part time, spinners?
The issue is franchise cricket and too much cricket in total. We've gone from refusing KP's request to play in the IPL to allowing any player, whether they are centrally contracted or not, to go off and play T20 domestic cricket around the world whenever they want to. A number of England players turned down this opportunity and we couldn't get a replacement for the loss of Jacks and Abel who had pulled out. Billings was one of those - in the last 12 weeks he has played 29 matches in 4 different countries - the Australian Big Bash (8), Dubai T20 (13), Bangladesh Premier League (1) and Pakistan Super League (7 to date).
I am not knocking Billings for trying to make a living especially as he is someone who has carried the drinks for England for years and wants to play but money now dictates and we have to find a way to better distribute that. Central contracts do not work. And we are putting out sides for England that are fatigued from playing game after game - this was centrally contracted Adil Rashid's 70th game in the last 9 months. He is going to be playing in the IPL too. Is it any wonder that he and others might, even sub-consciously, not have the physical or mental strength to give their all for England?
I don't think the issue this time is franchise cricket tbh.
It's England play too much. Since the end of the summer we have had tours to Pakistan twice, Australia, the t20 world cup, South Africa, New Zeland and now Bangladesh. I have probably forgotten some as well.
The CC season starts in two weeks. The first test is 82 days away and the last ODI of the summer is in the last week of September. Then the world cup starts 2 weeks later.
I was busy yesterday so didn't watch or follow the T20 match, but a pretty disappointing looking scorecard. Bangladesh winning with 2 overs to spare is a very comfortable win in this format.
It was a performance that smacked of an attitude of "not another game" and going through the motions against a side that is ranked 9 of 10 in World T20 cricket that had two players making their debut. This attitude is reflected in the balance of the side and size of squad. By that, I mean, when was the last time that we:
(1) Had a squad for a series of just 13 players for an overseas series with no ability to call anyone else in?
(2) Had just 4 front line batsman in the squad with the two other non members of the team both being bowlers? At the drop of the 5th wicket, Woakes walked in and he has scored 36 runs in his last 19 T20Is. Jordan was next in and in 85 matches he has a top score of 36
(3) Played 5 seamers in a side in the sub continent with just 2, full or part time, spinners?
The issue is franchise cricket and too much cricket in total. We've gone from refusing KP's request to play in the IPL to allowing any player, whether they are centrally contracted or not, to go off and play T20 domestic cricket around the world whenever they want to. A number of England players turned down this opportunity and we couldn't get a replacement for the loss of Jacks and Abel who had pulled out. Billings was one of those - in the last 12 weeks he has played 29 matches in 4 different countries - the Australian Big Bash (8), Dubai T20 (13), Bangladesh Premier League (1) and Pakistan Super League (7 to date).
I am not knocking Billings for trying to make a living especially as he is someone who has carried the drinks for England for years and wants to play but money now dictates and we have to find a way to better distribute that. Central contracts do not work. And we are putting out sides for England that are fatigued from playing game after game - this was centrally contracted Adil Rashid's 70th game in the last 9 months. He is going to be playing in the IPL too. Is it any wonder that he and others might, even sub-consciously, not have the physical or mental strength to give their all for England?
The only thing we did do and could and have done to change the side for today's game was to bring in Rehan Ahmed for Wood giving Ahmed the honour of becoming the youngest ever cricketer to play all three forms of the game. Another lacklustre batting performance, however, littered with poor decision making and execution on a wicket that calls for sensible construction rather than reckless hitting and blind charging of the bowler.
England finished on 117 all out off our full 20 overs from being 50-1 after 6 overs. Duckett top scored with 28 (28) with Mehidy returning the incredible figures of 4-0-12-4. We are going to have to bowl very well but you never know whether the wicket is poor enough and Bangladesh bat badly enough to give us a sniff until we take the field.
Bangladesh win by 4 wickets with 7 balls to spare. Archer the best of our bowlers with figures of 4-0-13-3. Had we batted a bit more sensibly and aimed for the 135-140 mark we would have won.
So England have used 34 players since the end of our summer but have a squad of just 12 of them for an overseas series. Somewhat disrespectful to Bangladesh.
Meanwhile in India, we've bizarrely gone from low scoring games over within 3 days, to 480 plays 571-8
Sorry I forgot, that with the score at 2-1 in the series, and Australia already through to the Test Championship Final, India needed a draw in the final Test to join them
If any of you want to see Jofra Archer looking as fed up as any man has ever looked, tune in now
I know what you're referring to. It happens but not very often to that extent. However, I would really question how many of those England players bar, ironically, Rehan Ahmed, who actually want to be playing there. The lack of celebration when a wicket is taken says it all.
These games aren't even warm up matches for a major tournament. They are being put on because we feel duty bound to go to Bangladesh. The fact that we have a squad of 12 players with just 4 frontline batsmen says it all. When have we ever done that? At home let alone away? The Bangladesh players and fans appreciate us being there even if we don't.
I see Sky have lost the IPL as a result of which they have a void between the end of March and beginning of May in terms of covering cricket. The good news for Surrey and Lancs fans is that, as a result of that, they are televising their CC game in April. When was the last time they did that at the start of the season?
Bangladesh won by 16 runs and the series in the process sealed the series 3-0. First time they've comprehensively beaten a team ranked above them in years. Any number of isolated points where we lost that game but the fact is that one team put out a balanced side of players who were up for the challenge in the last week or so and the other plainly didn't.
It's weird. I basically haven't been to watch any pro cricket for...ten years? Feels impossible really. I wouldn't even know where to start. And I call myself a fan! I am as ever buzzing for the summer of my own cricket, though, haha
Comments
It's England play too much. Since the end of the summer we have had tours to Pakistan twice, Australia, the t20 world cup, South Africa, New Zeland and now Bangladesh. I have probably forgotten some as well.
The CC season starts in two weeks. The first test is 82 days away and the last ODI of the summer is in the last week of September. Then the world cup starts 2 weeks later.
It's absolutely ridiculous.
The only thing we did do and could and have done to change the side for today's game was to bring in Rehan Ahmed for Wood giving Ahmed the honour of becoming the youngest ever cricketer to play all three forms of the game. Another lacklustre batting performance, however, littered with poor decision making and execution on a wicket that calls for sensible construction rather than reckless hitting and blind charging of the bowler.
England finished on 117 all out off our full 20 overs from being 50-1 after 6 overs. Duckett top scored with 28 (28) with Mehidy returning the incredible figures of 4-0-12-4. We are going to have to bowl very well but you never know whether the wicket is poor enough and Bangladesh bat badly enough to give us a sniff until we take the field.
56-3 off 10.2
Edit: and they win, by the bearests of margins!
David Saker will coach our fast bowlers for the Ashes as well as the 50 over world cup. Amusing how he's swapped between the two countries
Edit: Troy Cooley was the 2005 bowling coach. Still a great appointment imo.
I noticed some seats when selected came up "Bharat Army" so I'm assuming that's the Indian supporter section.
These games aren't even warm up matches for a major tournament. They are being put on because we feel duty bound to go to Bangladesh. The fact that we have a squad of 12 players with just 4 frontline batsmen says it all. When have we ever done that? At home let alone away? The Bangladesh players and fans appreciate us being there even if we don't.
The TV companies were correct to show little interest, hence the ECB having to part pay for the rights
Day 1 Lords - England vs Ireland
Day 3 Lords - WTC Final
Day 4 Edgbaston - Ashes
Day 4 Headingley - Ashes
Days 1 & 2 Old Trafford - Ashes
Absolutely buzzing for this summer!
Day 2 Lords - England vs Ireland
Day 1 Oval - WTC Final
Day 3 Edgbaston - Ashes
Day 3 Lords - Ashes
Day 4 and 5 (ha ha) Oval - Ashes
Then back at Lord's in September for the ODI vs NZ