Healing scars takes 18 months intensive treatment

Chris O'Keefe

The scars of an Ashes whitewash may still resonate with certain English fans and even players perhaps. However, those scars must be forgotten and fast with another Ashes battle starting to appear on the horizon.

Now before you respond with jokes about panicking or overreaction on my behalf. I leave you with this thought. Around 18 months before the 2005 Ashes, England’s side began to settle down at this point. The effect of a settled side was astounding as presided over their best run in test cricket as they went unbeaten through three series and won away in South Africa ahead of the vaunted Ashes summer.

A first win in the West Indies was emphatic, so much so that England were only prevented from a first Caribbean whitewash by a world record knock from some guy named Lara. It really was a devastating performance. England were blessed in Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff and a tidy spinner in Ashley Giles. Those were heady days and an attack to fear.

However, England can create their next attack to strike fear into any opponent and this winter’s tests in Sri Lanka and New Zealand provide a perfect platform. Stuart Broad, James Anderson, hopefully a resurgent Steve Harmison can give England some potency. Honestly though, England have missed the regular threat in line and length of Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones. Flintoff intimidates with bat and ball when he isn’t on the operating table.

Monty Panesar could have a tour to remember in Sri Lanka on pitches that are likely to spin. He already has a reputation as a spinner of great quality. If he can compete with Muttiah Muralitharan, himself with an eye on becoming the highest wicket taker of all time, will cement his reputation as a world-class spinner that has truly arrived.

Where England will arguably need to improve is in the batting. On paper, it looks like the garden is rosy but in losing to India, there was evidence of vulnerability in the batting order. Andrew Strauss appears to have already bitten the bullet. Others could follow if they are not careful.

However, if England’s batsmen do perform they have a chance (that sounds like an obvious answer) especially if they can negate the threat of Muralitharan (easier said than done). Sri Lanka’s pace attack has been chopped and changed as new coach Trevor Bayliss to find a formula that works. With that insecurity about choosing pace bowlers, Peter Moores may find an area of exploitation.

Overall, it is a mighty task that awaits England. However, this is a side that has experienced the hardest fought victories before and have the capabilities to repeat such feats. This is a vital 18 month period to come with clashes home and away against New Zealand, South Africa at home before touring India and the Caribbean. England and Peter Moores need to start the preparation now in order to have a settled side of quality once more. Then, and only then, perhaps can we dream of avenging scars of last winter!

English organisation not players dream come true

By Chris O'Keefe

In a week when Kevin Pietersen complained about the workload of international cricketers and an ex-captain calls for Andrew Strauss to have a rest in the middle of an English summer because he looks weary, one has to ask who mapped out the English summer that drives a cricketer to overload?

England will complete their fourth test of the English summer on Tuesday and have yet to play any One Day Cricket or Twenty20 cricket so far. Fear not, the calendar is jam packed with plenty of both, but the wisdom behind the itinerary is distinctly lacking.

For example, England will play seven one day internationals against India at the end of the summer. Why? The nearest one day 'major' tournament is the Champions Trophy, which is exactly 12 months away. What can England learn that couldn't be learned on a winter tour or in the middle of next summer?

That's not to say that ODI's aren't important to England. However, building up to the Champions Trophy is not exactly the biggest priority. Indeed is the Champions Trophy necessarily that important? Surely it is obvious supporters and indeed those involved on the field would rather sustain a challenge for the World Cup as opposed to the Champions Trophy?

In addition to the ODI deluge, the Twenty20 World Cup makes its debut on the world stage in September and England have just two practice efforts, both in the next month against the West Indies. Given the proximity, surely a couple of 20 over games against India would be suffice to warm up?

The key surely lies in the fact that India will attract big gates to ODI's, tried and tested, unlike the shortest form of the game. Money is the priority it seems, and that is a crying shame. The reason is because the fans are cheated of the highest quality cricket by the fact the players are more often nursing themselves through the season for fear of injury without hitting top power.

The irony as well is that the more cricket played, the more anti-climactic the event. Take the Champions Trophy and World Cup, both won by Australia at a canter without any notable drama (besides off the pitch) unless you were an Irish follower and that was a shame because on of cricket's greatest showcases was tarnished by lack of class in some respects.

The same can be said of the Ashes. No Simon Jones, no Vaughan to captain, no Trescothick, still nursing his mental vulnerabilities of a game he cherished playing every day. A limping McGrath, an undercooked Flintoff, an undercooked England, no clean break since before the 2005 Ashes, showing scars of fatigue.

The game and its need to keep the turnstiles rotating is damaging the game. Like Rugby, the spectacle suffers with the increased quantity available to the consumer, the character not giving the drama of a high quality proverbial thespian, but rather a journeyman soap star getting through a day shift and seeing another on the near horizon, hardly world-class!

The game needs to give players time to breathe and the game they do play need purpose, not seven ODI's that could very easily end as a contest by number four and the exercise is defeated and so will the players wills to continue.

Time away from the game is every bit as important to how a Strauss or Trescothick apply themselves at the game itself, an often forgot matter in a world dominated by profit margins.

Cook shines in bad light of Lord's afternoon

First Test, Lord's (Day 1)

England 200-3 v West Indies

By Chris O'Keefe

Alistair Cook scored his fifth century of his still relatively short test career and showed a maturity at the crease that exceeds his 22 years of age as England clung to control of the opening test of the series.

It was an innings of good balls left well and bad balls belted to the fence and there was many of the latter early on as Cook and stand in captain Andrew Strauss put on 88 for the first wicket at an overcast Lord's already held back by the morning shower. The West Indies pace attack were wayward and spurned Ramnaresh Sarwan's decision to put England into bat. When they did strike England, and specifically Cook were settled and looking ominous as England only looked to defeat themselves.

Strauss gave away his wicket, playing off balance off the bowling of Daren Powell and providing a dolly for Devon Smith to take the first of three catches in the afternoon and evening sessions. Owais Shah, given a chance to stake his claim was squared up by Powell and left for only 6 and a saw head after taking a blow from a West Indies throw.

Suddenly England were being tested and needed to respond. Enter Kevin Pietersen, who with Cook (still plodding away) put on 59 to take England through tea and gloomy light according to the umpires, but not some of the fans.

Pietersen fell to Corey Collymore, who pitched up seemed to wait for the mistake. Pietersen obliged and chipped an innocuous looking ball to Smith in covers, 162-3 was giving England something to think about on Peter Moores first day in the coach's seat. Should he have picked Shah to bat three? Why was Bell batting six despite his relative experience?

Cook was still steaming towards his century, waiting for bad balls to come and they continued. His century came off a full toss from Daren Powell and it was complete. Cook briefly mentioned the possibility getting a double-century tomorrow, but with this ability and the attitude of a man that will take some stopping, he may get it.

The beauty for English fans is that he is still learning the game and yet his conversion rate equates to one century in every three tests. A stunning knock that could even be overshadowed by the light meters of the umpires that so infuriated the spectators who were only treated to 56 of the scheduled 90 overs. Those who are fortunate enough to have a ticket tomorrow (and by all accounts they may still be available) may be treated to far more, including a major England lead.

Picture: Keiran Galvin (Getty Images)

English limp into Lord's expecting to win

First npower Test, Lord's
England v West Indies

Chris O'Keefe

The winter was certainly one of discontent, carnage and little reward for an England side needing to remember what they are capable of. However, a new coach, new players and a new season could help change that.

Whatever the faults England could find in Australia and the Caribbean, they are still favourites against a West Indies side, minus a the legend and often the catalyst in Brian Lara and minus a decent preparation coming up to this game. In many ways the undercooked nature of the England side before the start of the Ashes is mirrored here. A shaky start against Somerset, which eventually succumbed to the heavens is all Ramnaresh Sarwan's team have to build on since the World Cup.

In addition to that, West Indian players are subject to curfew which haven't been so universally received by the players. Chris Gayle certainly believes he would do things differently, however it could be suggested that it is for players like Gayle, who are sometimes criticised for not focusing entirely on the cricketing task in hand. This is far from a side to rank with the great touring West Indian side of the past.

Simon Hughes may well be right when he implied that this series may be over by the beginning of June, such being the stresses of modern international cricket were teams patch up and move on to the next game. The game's powers that be have sacrificed the sanctity of quality top level competition, to profit from the frequency of such events which rarely touch the heights they actually should.

Simon Jones, Michael Vaughan, Ashley Giles and Flintoff to name just four have fell to the physical pressure the relentless calandar comes with. Marcus Trescothick is still trying make a comeback from frequent stress related problems exacerbated by the game in the current state. It doesn't read like a clash of the titans so far!

Come Thursday morning, England will start favourites to win and win comfortably if they hit the straps. That such a side with it's own psychological doubts, and physical ones with Flintoff as an example limping towards selection rather than bullishly may reflect in the attendances at Lord's. England v West Indies was once a ticket resembling golddust will be readily available on the day.

It's a sad reflection of the opposition's fall from grace, but more so the overdone occasion that once had it's place at the same time of the year as Wimbledon as a tradition, now dragged into a grey May week for the benefit of the accounts.

Picture: Getty Images (via Cricinfo.com)

All to do for throwaway England

Australia 248-3 beat England 247 by seven wickets

By Chris O'Keefe

Australia beat England by seven wickets and barely a bead of sweat in the end as they all but confirmed their place in the semi-finals. England will however rue the chance they had to put the game beyond Australia's reach before they could chase down the total.

At 164-2 with Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen on their way to big scores and with Flintoff, Collingwood, Nixon and Ravi Bopara, fresh from his valiant 50 against Sri Lanka on Wednesday, still to bat, 300 looked well within reach.

However, as Ian Bell held out to Mike Hussey at cover off the bowling of Glenn McGrath, it all began to fall apart. Suddenly England were 179-5 and struggling as wickets tumbled. Although Bopara and the centurion Pietersen put on another half-century the rest of the batting order crumbled (five wickets for 17 runs) to 247 all out.

Pietersen's knock was imperious and despite the chances squandered by Ponting's flying catch or Matthew Hayden far less athletic effort, he was looking in the kind of shape where he wasn't going to touched. It was a reaffirmation of his position as the best in the world. His talent will be paramount to England now weak chances of progression. If he scores big? England have a chance. If not? The lack of form showing through the rest of England batting will the defining point.

Australia would have felt confident to chase down around 250 on a fairly flat, if slow pitch in Antigua. But as Pietersen put McGrath and company to the sword, it may have challenged even the deep batting order of the favourites.

They owed much to tight bowling from Brad Hogg and three wickets from Glenn McGrath the pick of the bowlers putting them in a position of strength. The batting, led by captain Ricky Ponting, chased with relative ease.

Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden raced to 57 before Flintoff continued his hex over Gilchrist by dismissing the free-flowing left-hander around the wicket. Although Hayden went to Collingwood with the score on 89, wickets were not falling with the regularity Michael Vaughan's men required.

Ponting and Michael Clarke had to endure a squeeze by England bowlers, primarily Flintoff, making the task a little harder. However, they continued to chip away at the score, Ponting looking fairly unflappable as per usual against the auld enemy, and by the time he was out to a brilliant piece of fielding by Paul Collingwood (run out 85) the game was almost finished as a spectacle with Australia only requiring another 47 runs to win.

Andrew Symonds, came in to bludgeon the attack. Despite being fortunate to survive an early catch by Pietersen, who failed to stay inside the rope before throwing the ball back into the field to save six. Otherwise, England never looked like taking ten wickets and not like bowling tight enough to panic their illustrious opposition.

England now need to win each of their last three games to qualify for the semi-finals, including beating the world number one side South Africa and the hosts, the West Indies. It is a long shot, highly unlikely considering the current form, but not impossible. However, it will require the kind of performance displayed by Pakistan in 1992, led by Imran Khan. It remains to be seen whether England have the flair to repeat that.

Australia closing fast on faint English hopes

Fifth Test, Sydney (Day 2 - Stumps)
England 291 v Australia 188-4

Chris O'Keefe

Australia's new ball attack disposed of any English desire for a strong first innings total as they lost their final six wickets for just 57 runs and then set about the depleted bowling attack at Andrew Flintoff's disposal.

It was Flintoff that provided the only true resistance as he added another 47 to his overnight 42 before being dismissed by the ever impressive Stuart Clark. Clark took three wickets along with McGrath and Brett Lee. It's hard to believe that Stuart Clark was seen as the safe option going into the start of the series, he is a certain fixture for years to come.

England might think they are seeing the back of the best players after this match but they would do well not to underestimate Clark, Hussey and Symonds leading the new breed of Australian firebrand cricketers ready to take on the Poms.

It was Hussey and Symonds who saw Australia to the close with six wickets in hand. The difference is that with Gilchrist and a stronger tail than England's to come, it looks unlikely that Flintoff's men will preserve a first innings lead. They have just 103 runs to spare and no wicket taking bowlers in that kind of form worthy of beating the best side in the world.

The importance of England showing some fight will have consequences for any future aspirations to try and conquer the best sides in the world. That word fight hasn't looked particularly prominent in any display since England touched down in November, taking that home is something (if the only present to take home) to build on.

England need century to avoid inevitable

Fifth Test - Sydney (Day 1 - Stumps)
England 234-4 v Australia

Chris O'Keefe

England needed to banish the memory of a diabolical performance at Melbourne by scoring runs and whilst they gave themselves the starts they wanted, the tourists failed to capitalise.

Strauss 29, Cook 20, Pietersen 41 and even Ian Bell's knock of 71 was a chance missed to score a century and put Australia on the back foot. However, despite a century partnership between Bell and Pietersen, Australia will fancy bowling over England remaining batsmen cheaply if they can get Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood early on.

Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Justin Langer were finally bidding their farewells in the baggy green of Australia and it was McGrath who gave the best showing on a rain delayed opening day. He took the wickets of Bell and Pietersen in the space of three balls. However, his first wicket was a gift.

Pietersen, again playing at four, was being targeting by bouncers and fell for the three card trick. His shot was wild and irresponsible at a time when England had finally seemed to get on top of the the hosts as they seek to deny the first whitewash for 85 years.

Hussey was grateful to receive the catch and England allowed the advantage to slip. Bell was given a great ball that squared him up and suddenly the tail was within reach.

However a partnership of 67 denied the Australians the joy of chewing on the rump of England's batting carcass. Collingwood, typically restrained was able to anchor the partnership whilst Flintoff tried to regain some form by attacking, what he should have done from the start of the series but didn't.

He needs to continue, if England are to get in anywhere near a competitive position in this test, otherwise the torment continues.