New Zealand 3, England 1. After rain brought an early end to proceedings, it took the Duckworth Lewis System to decree that New Zealand had won the fifth match of the series. But any method deployed would have judged that they were the better team almost throughout. It could have been 4-1, had they not thrown away a winning position in Napier. England were as awful in patches as the Kiwis were efficient. Overall, what was disappointing was not that the tourists lost but the manner in which they did so and the last match again typified that. They failed to assess the pitch properly quickly enough and then bowled with naivety (to put it kindly) as New Zealand's openers, especially Brendon McCullum, went wild. Perhaps Angus will agree that England have been disappointing in many aspects of the game in the past fortnight.
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As is always the case England, in the form of Paul Collingwood, were trying to draw positives from the series, but all in all there were not many. We kept hearing that NZ were the third best side in the world but that was with the players they had, not this lot.
The batting, bar the Napier match, was unconvincing and the bowling often awful. McCullum is a dangerous player but bowlers can't just shrug their shoulders and say 'what can I do'. They have to find a way of coping with him and they did not looke like it.
England's team was unbalanced again, with no spinner. Vettori and Patel went for 61 in 18 overs and but for Vettori having a shocket at the end, and bowling Jesse Ryder, the margin of defeat would have been even more emphatic. Where do I stop.
Posted by: Angus Fraser | 23 February 2008 at 10:07 AM
It is also disappointing is it not that this heavy defeat has followed two extremely heartening wins, against India at home and Sri Lanka, away. Not only that, but England started off the New Zealand tour with two crushing Twenty20 wins. It is difficult to see how they could perform thereafter with such a lack of proficiency. They have chopped and changed too much in the past, they almost have to stick with this side but are they good enough to win, as the England and Wales Cricket Board has stipulated they must, a major one-day trophy by 2011?
Posted by: Stephen Brenkley | 23 February 2008 at 10:13 AM
We are often guilty of demanding change when there are few replacements who deserve a go. Who else is there to pick. The counties are not full of players knocking on the door. Indeed, in last years C&G Trophy most of the big performances for the successful sides were put in by overseas players.
Essentially this group needs to be stuck with but there are a couple of players who are on thin ice. James Anderson has been in the one-day team for six years now but where is he going. He should be leading the attack. Owais Shah has had a pretty ordinary tour too, and I am not convinced with Cook.
Cook and Bell together when the fielding restrictions are in place do not look quite as threatening as McCullum and Ryder.
Posted by: Angus Fraser | 23 February 2008 at 10:20 AM
Yet England have to do something, I would suggest. It was interesting that the Kiwis went in with two out and out blasters at the top of the order, presumably in the hope that one of them would come off. If two do well, then that's a bonus. One wonders if Bell, technically the best equipped batsman in the side, might be considered as an opener which would perhaps bring Kevin Pietersen in at three. I find it bizarre that they have gone into the last three matches without a spinner. Is it possible to be optimistic about either of these sides on the wider scale? I just get the impression that for both sides and England, in particular considering their status in the game, things aren't that rosy despite the bullish pronouncements. Is it that these things take time?
Incidentally, I know it's hard to keep pace but before the sponsors come charging to our door, it should be pointed out that it was not the C ang G last season but the Friends Provident.
Posted by: Stephen Brenkley | 23 February 2008 at 10:31 AM
Thanks for correcting me Stephen, Anderson has been around five years and not six too. Tournaments, like cricket grounds change more often than Henry VIII wives these days.
Anyway. The problem for England with Pietersen, is that he is our best and most destructive player, and the thought of losing him in the opening 15 overs of a match having a hack to make the most of fielding restrictions is unappealing. But having two blasters at the top means that the hitting can continue if one gets out. In Cook and Bell England have two batsmen who want to play the anchor role.
Perhaps Luke Wright is the man. He is fearless, strikes the ball well and seems to love a challenge. Get him in and ease Cook out?
Overall though, it is hard to judge where England are. I suppose the only time you really find out is at a World Cup. Sri Lanka are looking pretty ordinary in Australia but India are competing quite well. It is all confusing but England have not been good enough here.
Posted by: Angus Fraser | 23 February 2008 at 10:41 AM
Peculiar when they had all that momentum with them. On Pietersen by the way (of whom there is no bigger fan than me) he has had two indifferent one-day series. Wright and Mustard. Well, they'd have to give it a long go and England don't have a good track record in that regard. The trouble with the Cook-Mustard combo is that it doesn't really allow a plan B as we saw again today. Thinking caps back on.
Now looking forward briefly, they will soon be in Test match mode again. England should and must win, one would have thought. But there are a few playing for their places.
Posted by: Stephen Brenkley | 23 February 2008 at 10:48 AM
Indeed there are. Owais Shah has made it easy for Andrew Strauss to return by not scoring enough runs but who keeps wicket?
I don't quite think Phil Mustard has done enough and Tim Ambrose could well play. All will revealed in Dunedin on Monday (Sunday night UK).
As for the bowling. Stephen Harmison has already picked up a niggle and Chris Tremlett, who is staying on to act as cover, had a scan on a side strain this morning.
Posted by: Angus Fraser | 23 February 2008 at 11:10 AM
Mustard should play. Strauss will on the back on no form whatever. Broad may have to play as one of the four-man attack if Harmison isn't fit. And Bell, it seems, will move down to six. There isn't exactly a feelgood factor about it all.
Posted by: Stephen Brenkley | 23 February 2008 at 11:14 AM
Strauss did score a hundred last week. I agree Broad must play ahead of Anderson. What about Tremlett if he is fit. I thought he did pretty well last summer.
Yes, Bell will drop to six and I feel sorry for him. He deserves a longer chance at three.
Posted by: Angus Fraser | 23 February 2008 at 11:21 AM
Yes, it was grand for Strauss than whom there is no player more diligent. But it was in a 50-over state match at the end of a long period of indifference - and his side lost. But maybe it's a turning point. Tremlett extracts bounce, doesn't he? Maybe they will give him a bash ahead of Broad. If memory serves, he and Sidebottonm helped to restore some credence to England's Test attack last summer after they had been spraying it all around. No doubt we'll preview the series in a few days but England should win.
You'll be delighted to know Angus that I'm having a jolly time watching a match on the telly in the Stanford 20:20 in Antigua. Barbados v Trinidad, the cricket's awful, the crowd love it.
Posted by: Stephen Brenkley | 23 February 2008 at 11:31 AM
Sorry if it spoils your fun but Trinidad win a close game by about two runs. See ya.
Posted by: Angus Fraser | 23 February 2008 at 11:56 AM