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Craig HillTid-bits from the Test
November 24th 2006 01:11
England are a much improved bowling line up today compared to yesterday’s feeble effort that allowed Australia to make a dominant start, largely unchallenged. Anderson and to a lesser degree Hoggard this morning have looked like they might actually be able to generate some pressure on the batsmen. Australia have accrued enough runs so far that this innings is a bit of a face saving mission for the English bowlers.
Steve Harmison already has his own face saving challenges to deal with and looks nothing like a Durham 2nd XI player, let alone a test player. His propensity to spray the ball every which way without the slightest appearance of being in control and his well documented homesickness will be making this tour a tough experience at an early stage. Don’t be surprised if a niggly injury combined with a lack of form generates a weak ECB excuse for his early departure from the tour.
Kevin Pieterson bowled nine overs of moderate off spin during yesterday’s play. This is not a good sign for Monty Panesar. A spell of two or three overs in the lead up to drinks might suggest a Steve Waugh like ploy of bringing on a bits and pieces bowler to ‘buy’ a wicket but a spell of nine overs is different. Duncan Fletcher may be attempting to cover the bowling limitations of Ashley Giles with some extra variation and overs from Pieterson. The signs for Panesar that England will play two specialist spinners during the summer are not good. Whether it is right or wrong Fletcher in previous series has made it abundantly clear that Monty’s lack of allround cricketing ability is a limitation. KP’s spell here yesterday has shown Fletcher’s early preference on using Panesar for the remainder of the summer.
Speaking of alround cricketers Brett Lee has made his way to number eight on Channel 9’s batting list for Australia, ahead of Shanw Warne. He has batted magnificently in the last two or three years for Australia and deserves his chance. Whether the selectors are planning for the future in terms of turning Lee into a true allrounder rather than a bowler who can bat a bit remains to be seen. Lee probably has the skills to bat at seven for Australia when Gilchrist retires but there is plenty of talent to emerge for this longer term positioning to become apparent.
In terms of strategies and positioning let’s be quite sure that there is not enough room in the Channel 9 commentary box for three imposing figures of the game to be present at the same time. Three commentators at once is one voice too many and lets hope that the ample lunches provided in the media box bring about the necessary bloated girths in terms of making in blatantly obvious that two is company and three is a crowd in the Channel 9 commentary box.
Steve Harmison already has his own face saving challenges to deal with and looks nothing like a Durham 2nd XI player, let alone a test player. His propensity to spray the ball every which way without the slightest appearance of being in control and his well documented homesickness will be making this tour a tough experience at an early stage. Don’t be surprised if a niggly injury combined with a lack of form generates a weak ECB excuse for his early departure from the tour.
Kevin Pieterson bowled nine overs of moderate off spin during yesterday’s play. This is not a good sign for Monty Panesar. A spell of two or three overs in the lead up to drinks might suggest a Steve Waugh like ploy of bringing on a bits and pieces bowler to ‘buy’ a wicket but a spell of nine overs is different. Duncan Fletcher may be attempting to cover the bowling limitations of Ashley Giles with some extra variation and overs from Pieterson. The signs for Panesar that England will play two specialist spinners during the summer are not good. Whether it is right or wrong Fletcher in previous series has made it abundantly clear that Monty’s lack of allround cricketing ability is a limitation. KP’s spell here yesterday has shown Fletcher’s early preference on using Panesar for the remainder of the summer.
Speaking of alround cricketers Brett Lee has made his way to number eight on Channel 9’s batting list for Australia, ahead of Shanw Warne. He has batted magnificently in the last two or three years for Australia and deserves his chance. Whether the selectors are planning for the future in terms of turning Lee into a true allrounder rather than a bowler who can bat a bit remains to be seen. Lee probably has the skills to bat at seven for Australia when Gilchrist retires but there is plenty of talent to emerge for this longer term positioning to become apparent.
In terms of strategies and positioning let’s be quite sure that there is not enough room in the Channel 9 commentary box for three imposing figures of the game to be present at the same time. Three commentators at once is one voice too many and lets hope that the ample lunches provided in the media box bring about the necessary bloated girths in terms of making in blatantly obvious that two is company and three is a crowd in the Channel 9 commentary box.
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