AFTER the First Test in Hamilton, during which Stephen Harmison and Matthew Hoggard bowled appallingly, sackcloth and ashes were sent for and, after a lengthy selection meeting, they were dropped from the side.
It was considered drastic in some quarters, desperate in others and, much like history is written by the victor, it emerged as genius after the Second Test, which England won handsomely with the young tyro bowlers to the fore.
"It keeps every
one competing for places," was head coach Peter Moores' opinion and he is right. Sportsmen need security in selection so they can play with freedom but too much becomes indulgent and undermines the natural laws of competition. So why do the same selectors not adopt a similar policy with the batsmen? This summer they may have to.
England's recent woes have not all been because of some misfiring bowlers. The top six in the batting order have rarely dominated a match from the beginning and Kevin Pietersen's timely first-innings century was the first by one of the top order since Paul Collingwood against the West Indies last June. That is a pitiful fact and yet hardly any new players have been drafted in. Indeed, one of the old guard returned rather briskly, Andrew Strauss, and that has hardly proved a triumph.
Nor is the persistent support for Ian Bell. In his last 18 Test matches he has scored one century and averaged 37. His career average is 42 but without the easy runs of Bangladesh it is reduced to 38. It is not as if he contributes any more than runs. He is a decent fielder, does not bowl, is not a dynamic character and even when batting never threatens the opposition. Ian Chappell, the former Australian captain, was scathing of his presence at the crease during last winter's Ashes and dismissed him as a player an opposition would not mind bowling to because he does not apply pressure with aggressive intent or by pinching singles.
Yet seemingly he is an untouchable in the England order. This is his 36th Test match and there are few signs of improvement. This is not meant to isolate Bell because Michael Vaughan or Collingwood would have been equally good examples but it does highlight the problems with the England batting. A few weeks ago there were some nasty comments bandied around regarding the high wages received by the players, as if it was their choice. However, with so many other excellent batsman like Owais Shah and Rob Key desperate for a game it would not harm the whole set-up if one or two batsmen were returned to the relative financial distress of about £100,000 a season that county cricket offers the best.
Vaughan is currently inviolate as captain, although the time is fast approaching where he should go. Alastair Cook, secure as he is the youngest, has done well and is developing into a future leader and stalwart and, of course, Pietersen is the one class act as he proved with his 11th Test century.
But if England are to win this match, or at least go someways to avoiding defeat, it will be because of the efforts of the bowlers. Already Stuart Broad has contributed, joining Pietersen for a 61-run partnership that should have had some of the more noted willow-wielders hanging heads in shame, but it will be exploiting the movement available that will prevent New Zealand dominating, something Daniel Vettori must have envisaged as England slumped to 4-3.
And who was the architect of such misfortune? Nineteen-year-old debutant Tim Southee who bowled a good line and length throughout and showed a discipline and tenacity that belied his youth, claiming 5-55 as England were dismissed for 253 in their first innings. Southee recently excelled in the Under-19 World Cup but his selection was forced by the injuries to Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram.
The recurring theme throughout this series of young bowlers performing well has been one of its more interesting points. If James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom and Broad can replicate the work of Southee then this game could yet be salvaged and won, but if New Zealand amass a worthy first-innings lead and assume control of the match, then it will be time for a few heads to roll. Sidebottom began well last night, trapping Matthew Bell lbw on the third ball of the Kiwis' innings.
There should be no excuses. New Zealand are an average Test side at best and have none of the population or financial advantages that should benefit England. Failure to win this series would pitch England just above Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the West Indies on any sensible measure of major nations and considering they were recently rated second-best in the world and the most likely challengers to Australian supremacy, it would necessitate a substantial rethink on personnel. How wonderfully ironic that the careers of coach, captain and senior batsmen are in the hands of young, often derided, bowlers.
The full article contains 846 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
