Hurrah! After what seems like an age of consistent failure and under achievement, England’s cricketers finally win a test series away from home! The swagger of Pietersen, the boyish charm and enthusiasm of Panesar, the youth of Broad and the northern burr and caveman styling’s of Sidebottom, won through, eventually.
Sidebottom deservedly got all the plaudits, his 24 wickets were the difference between the sides, but a special mention should go to Andrew Strauss. I like many, thought we were about to witness his last appearance for England, before a permanent return to the relative obscurity of county cricket, but no! One of the grittiest innings I have ever seen has almost certainly put his name on the team sheet for the first test at Lord’s on 15 May. Well played!
On the other hand, Steve Harmison, who let’s be honest, hasn’t really made the wickets column sag too much of late, has almost certainly played for his country for the last time. Following his golden year in 2004, (the sun was really shining on English cricket that year, the King of Spain was the leading wicket taker in 1 if not 2 series!) I can only think of a handful of truly world-class performances by the Durham man; the first morning of the Ashes ’05, Pakistan at Old Trafford in ’06 and that’s about it really. It’s a shame because if he’d had the belief in his abilities, his position as number one bowler in the world could have been more than a blip. Perhaps it is because I haven’t travelled much, but I can’t understand how being paid vast sums of money to travel the world, to play sport for your country, can be anything other than a dream come true. It is said he loves being at home and being close to the things he likes and loves (his family, Newcastle United etc etc...). Now can some explain to me what is so fucking good about the north east, as to make the thought of going to the Caribbean, Australia or Sri Lanka such a nightmare? I’m sure he will go back to Durham and plunder wickets and on blogs and articles around England there will be calls for his re-instatement in the England team (rather like there foolishly is for Ramprakash), until he retires from the game. For Harmison, there will be two moments that he will be remembered for, 7 – 12 against the Windies, but the one that will stick most prominently in the mind will be that unforgivable wide at Brisbane.
Eager as one is to celebrate this victory, I can’t help but feel a little tinge of disappointment. New Zealand, are a truly shocking outfit at the moment, England should have won this series 3 – 0, not 2 - 1 and not making quite so much of meal of it either. Thank God Shane Bond took ICL's thirty pieces of silver...
The talent lurking in the team, should be talked about, as the Saffers and Indians are, as being ready to steal Australia’s crown. Maybe with a settled side, England might be in with a chance of the Ashes in ’09, but before we get anywhere near that discussion, England have a rampant South Africa – who let us not forget, gave New Zealand, in a test series less than 3 months ago, what could only be fairly described as an absolute kicking - to deal with at the back end of the approaching summer. It could be painful.
Sidebottom deservedly got all the plaudits, his 24 wickets were the difference between the sides, but a special mention should go to Andrew Strauss. I like many, thought we were about to witness his last appearance for England, before a permanent return to the relative obscurity of county cricket, but no! One of the grittiest innings I have ever seen has almost certainly put his name on the team sheet for the first test at Lord’s on 15 May. Well played!
On the other hand, Steve Harmison, who let’s be honest, hasn’t really made the wickets column sag too much of late, has almost certainly played for his country for the last time. Following his golden year in 2004, (the sun was really shining on English cricket that year, the King of Spain was the leading wicket taker in 1 if not 2 series!) I can only think of a handful of truly world-class performances by the Durham man; the first morning of the Ashes ’05, Pakistan at Old Trafford in ’06 and that’s about it really. It’s a shame because if he’d had the belief in his abilities, his position as number one bowler in the world could have been more than a blip. Perhaps it is because I haven’t travelled much, but I can’t understand how being paid vast sums of money to travel the world, to play sport for your country, can be anything other than a dream come true. It is said he loves being at home and being close to the things he likes and loves (his family, Newcastle United etc etc...). Now can some explain to me what is so fucking good about the north east, as to make the thought of going to the Caribbean, Australia or Sri Lanka such a nightmare? I’m sure he will go back to Durham and plunder wickets and on blogs and articles around England there will be calls for his re-instatement in the England team (rather like there foolishly is for Ramprakash), until he retires from the game. For Harmison, there will be two moments that he will be remembered for, 7 – 12 against the Windies, but the one that will stick most prominently in the mind will be that unforgivable wide at Brisbane.
Eager as one is to celebrate this victory, I can’t help but feel a little tinge of disappointment. New Zealand, are a truly shocking outfit at the moment, England should have won this series 3 – 0, not 2 - 1 and not making quite so much of meal of it either. Thank God Shane Bond took ICL's thirty pieces of silver...
The talent lurking in the team, should be talked about, as the Saffers and Indians are, as being ready to steal Australia’s crown. Maybe with a settled side, England might be in with a chance of the Ashes in ’09, but before we get anywhere near that discussion, England have a rampant South Africa – who let us not forget, gave New Zealand, in a test series less than 3 months ago, what could only be fairly described as an absolute kicking - to deal with at the back end of the approaching summer. It could be painful.
