RE: England's Tour of Australia - Ashes, ODIs and T20s 13/14
If you look at the age of our players.most are 30+.So in the next 2 - 3 years the make-up of the side will have to change.England have a system,a performance program,Lions Tours etc. that identifies the future players.We had Root & Bairstow in the last Ashes series in England both in their early 20's,Bairstow didn't take his chance & will come again hopefully,this & Roots inability to nail down the openers spot gave Carberry a chance who is turned 30 as was Comptom,so it isn't a closed shop as they have picked on county form as well.Stokes has benefited from England playing 2 spinners in this match,they could stick with him or Ballance could well get a chance.Prior will come under pressure from Butler in the next year or 2,his move to Lancashire as their NO.1 keeper will help.
On the bowling front the spinners are a problem,not many get to learn their trade a County level with unconducive pitches & captains reluctant to give them long spells & set the right fields.It took Swann time to develop,Kerrigan will need the same time.Most of our spinners are learning in one day cricket such as Briggs were spinning the ball isn't top priority.It was suggested that Monty needs to play more one day stuff as he needs a game-plan for when the batsmen attack him,the move to Essex could give him that chance.Swann has a plan -B but he's had injuries & wont go on for ever.
Fast bowling is a problem,Finn is in a real mess but is young enough to sort it out,he's tall & has the ability to bowl 90 mph.Rankin is still raw & approaching 30 not sure we will get much production out of him.
A left-arm quick should be a priority Sidebottom did a great job for a few years & wasn't rapid,Tymal Mills has the ability to hit batsmen but has struggled to get into the Essex side,fast bowling takes it out on the body & staying fit throughout a full county season isn't easy.Traditionally Australia & South Africa have & will produce more fast bowlers that England owing to the climate & pitches,but if you can find 1 or 2 it can make all the difference as in the case of Johnson,who incidentally is 32,will he be fit & bowling 90+ in 2 years time.
Rebuilding is an evolving process,as has been stated above.A good example would be India Sehwag,Dravid,Ganguly,Tendulkar,Laxman were all in their mid 30's but they now have a young side with Dhoni the only 30+.
Australia have had a similar issue,but they have had to replace with some older experienced players such as Rogers & Bailey as their younger stars didn't impress enough ie. Khawaja & Hughes.
This is not a time to panic,nor is it a time to do nothing & pretend all is well.
FORUM AWARDS POSTER OF THE YEAR 2022 & 2023
Muchi-wa shifuku dearu
...And Justice For All - Metallica
|