6 wins in 7 Tests. This is England’s record over the summer. An incredible summer by any means. More so because when compared to last year, 1 win in 6 Tests, this is a turnaround. Certainly after the debacle in Australia and defeated for the umpteenth time in West Indies. The New Zealand pair of Ben Stokes and Brendan McCullum have rejuvenated an England side that was desperately looking for direction. The resignation of Joe Root as captain definitely helped. Overall, it has been an excellent summer for England.
Bazball is the buzzword now
I will have to say that New Zealand were caught unawares. They would have toured England expecting the same old and traditional team but what transpired on the field was something beyond their wildest imagination. Perhaps, New Zealand expected something different from England because of their coach McCullum who had not so long ago, led New Zealand. Maybe they had an inkling but nothing would have prepared them for the force that hit them eventually. England chased down totals that would not have been in the vicinity of the team under Root. That they did so with utter contempt and new found vigour, it was clear that a new England is emerging under Stokes.
“It’s been a great series for us as a team,” Stokes said. “We’ve had no real individual standout performances, but different people throughout the whole series have put their hand up in crucial periods for us and, in a team sport, that’s what you want. You want to be able to turn to different people at different times and hope that they can break the game open for you with the ball and bat, and that’s definitely what we’ve managed to do this whole series.”
Stokes is correct, partially. There being no individual standout performances.
During the initial part of the summer, it was Root & Bairstow all the way. They were involved in 3 consecutive match winning partnerships. Those two, absolutely blew India away. Chasing a tall score of 378, they managed that with more than half a day to spare. It was a walk in the park. Both of them were amongst the runs throughout the 4 games against New Zealand and India. All of them were standout performances.
Collective victory against South Africa
I believe that Stokes is referring to the South African series alone when he said that there weren’t any standout performances. Against the South Africans, Root was strangely missing. He couldn’t score a single hundred and ended the series with less than 50 runs whereas Bairstow was injured just before the final test. Under such circumstances, the bowlers, particularly, Robinson rose to the occasion and his spell on the 3rd morning at The Oval, turned the series on its head. Stokes himself restrained himself from mindless hitting to play a beautifully crafted hundred.
Yes, there were contributions from many during the series against South Africa. There was the much embattled Zak Crawley with a 50s in the last innings. It was not at all expected but he just breezed through a tricky chase on a lively wicket with ease. There was also the spectacular hundred from Foakes. Foakes is a good keeper and a decent batsman. More than Stokes, it was Foakes hundred that swung the series in favour of England. Without his support at the other end, Stokes would have gone back to his swash buckling ways and as a result would have well lost the initiative.
Credit to the players
Credit must be given to all the English players who adjusted to the new approach. If they had any doubt in the method, things would not have panned out as it did. Credit must be given to Stokes and McCullum for making the players understand. They liberated a group of players who were not known to play the sport as just that, a sport. English cricket is steeped in tradition. The mild applause that goes around the ground at Lord’s and not the whistles and hoots that happens elsewhere in the world being a case in point. The English cricket team is no different. That it took a couple of New Zealand born and a Irish born to change the way they played both red-ball and white-ball cricket, signifies the reluctance of the England players to mend their ways.
“I don’t really do a lot, to be honest,” McCullum said. “Just let the guys do what they’re born to do – to play cricket in the style and manner they want, and try to bring the group together and make sure they’re enjoying themselves.”
Anderson and Broad
They ended the series with 27 and 29 wickets. Both of them were left out following the disastrous Ashes but it was known to everyone that they will be back for the English summer. They are now regarded as specialists in English conditions. Once Archer, Wood & Stone are back, I do not see a spot for either Broad or Anderson unless the conditions are in favour of swing bowling. Stokes did not hold himself while praising them.
“They leave everything out there. They are just phenomenal. They’re a huge credit to themselves. They’re a huge credit to this game. And I’m sure a lot of young cricketers around the world who want to be fast bowlers will look up to them.”
It has been awhile since they were effective in Australia or in the sub-continent. Anderson had that one spell in India but was largely rendered ineffective.
Wrapping up an excellent summer for England
“No, I’ve never had more fun playing professional cricket,” Root said. The neutral observers did not have more fun watching English cricket over the summer. Vaughan is adamant that England will give Australia a run for their money in next year’s Ashes. The Ashes could well be England’s to lose but that is for another day. For now, England’s schedule is a bit tricky. They have series lined up in Pakistan and New Zealand. They have never won a Test in Pakistan for more than 20 years. If the pitches against Australia are anything to go by, England can expect to continue with their new approach but their bowling will also be stretched.
New Zealand is far worse. They have not had a good time in that country for awhile.
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