The problem that the selectors and ECB administrators have is that there is a lot that needs to be changed/fixed, not just one or two elements. The good news is that the one day side has improved. If we are very honest with ourselves England haven't been a great test side for a long time. At home we are in the top 3 or 4 sides in the world. Anderson, Broad, Woakes and Mo take plenty of wickets and we don't have to score 400+ to win test matches. Away from home we are pretty abysmal as our record clearly shows. We beat a very, very poor Sri Lankan side (who are being absolutely thrashed by Australia - a side that we think we are superior too) but have pretty much been well beaten whenever we travel. The problem has been there for years and hasn't been really addressed by the ECB. If we really want to focus on Test cricket or at least match our potential in ODI's we need to look at:
1. Split coaches for Test and ODI's/T20's (keep things fresh and give coaches some R&R)
2. Possibly split teams for Test and ODI's (different formats, different skills, give players some rest if they need it)
3. T20's internationals (firstly there are too many of them and it's at saturation point for the public) play a core group of younger players to give them international experience with a sprinkling of 2/3 older players and give players like Root/Stokes/Mo a break from international cricket. T20 internationals should be focused on world cups.
4. Reduce meaningless cricket at the county level. The Nat West blast and now 100 ball format is too much cricket with no chance to work on cricket skills as players are just playing/travelling. What we need are 10-12 quality red ball matches per season, no more than 15 one day matches and no more than 12-14 20/20 matches. I want to see Joe Root facing James Anderson or TKC facing Stuart Broad. I want to see quality matches with more international players who are England qualified playing against each other. Let's make these matches test match and ODI trials. Let's get them on free-to-air television. I'd love to see County matches on tele with a strong Yorkshire (Root, Bairstow etc) against a strong Lancashire side (Anderson, Butler etc.).
5. Get everyone to buy into the primary objective of making England the best test match and ODI side in the world. Counties may have to make sacrifices such as reduced T20 cricket.
6. Look at our skills shortages (Openers/Top order batsmen, Spin Bowlers, Fast Bowlers bowling over 85 mph) what resources do we need to develop, nurture and go these skills? How do we grow our internal talent?
Not to be pessimistic but our Team has only ever won a single ICC World Cup...ever. What have we changed? Have we ever dominated test cricket for 10 years both home and overseas? If we want to be truly successful then the whole cricketing community in England needs to be solely focused on the success of the England national team, to be honest that is how we are judged as a cricket nation. We are not judged on who has won the T20 blast within the last 5 years.
The good news is that there is no reason why we can't be more successful in all formats of international cricket but attitudes need to change from players, coaches and from ourselves as watchers of the game. Quality over quantity, skills over saturation. A mix of free to air and paid television rights. Let's win test match series home and away, let's win International competitions, sack off the 100 ball completion or just have that only and no blast. We are not India, we don't need a third rate IPL. Lets develop a structure that works for us and let's beat them in a test series over there or in a World Cup final.
Author
Topic: England tour of West Indies (Read 147768 times)