Simon Jones that is very good!

Simon Jones was good and I mean really good, but just how good could he of been if injury had not prematurely ended his career?

His Test career spanned only 18 matches, yielding 59 wickets at an average of 28.23 but those stats don't do his ability justice. The answer to the question is of course tragically we will never know, but for my mind had his career not been cut short he would of ended with more wickets than the likes of Darren Gough, Andy Caddick and Matthew Hoggard, possibly even more than the late Bob Willis.

I had not seen Jones bowl before his Test debut against India at Lords in July 2002, I had heard though that he was seriously quick and had a reputation for hitting batsman with the short ball. Jones with his shaved head and enviable physique had an appearance once described as akin to a man who had just come out of prison who had spent his time in his cell doing 300 press ups and sit ups a day. He bowled off a relatively short run up but his strong shoulders and whippy action produced ferocious pace. Not only was he quick but he could swing the ball too.

As James Anderson has shown throughout his career if you can swing the ball at good pace it's very difficult to face, and as Dale Steyn showed if you can do this at 90mph plus only the very best in the business will be able to cope. 

We did not have to wait too long to see what Jones was capable off. In India's second innings Virender Sehwag had seen off England's new ball pairing of Hoggard and Freddie Flintoff. Captain Nasser Hussain turned to the debutant and he didn't disappoint as a beautiful inswinger defeated a lazy drive from the Indian opener to send his off stump cartwheeling. Jones would also pick up the scalp of another of India's batting legends later in the innings as he dismissed VVS Laxman.

Jones 2nd Test cap game in the opening Test of The 2002/3 Ashes Series in Australia at The Gabba. coming on first change Jones would get Justin Langer caught behind for 32 to take the first wicket of the series. Tragically it would also be his last. With the score on 136-1 Ricky Ponting flicked a Caddick delivery wide of Jones at mid on and he set off in pursuit, Jones slid a few yards inside the boundary to stop the ball but his right knee caught in the turf rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. His recovery from the horror injury would take 18 long arduous months.

Following his rehab Jones was recalled to the England team for the first Test of the tour of the Caribbean in Spring 2004. Michael Vaughan had succeeded Hussain as England captain by this point. In a Channel 4 documentary following England's momentous Ashes victory in the summer of 2005, Vaughan commented that Jones was the type of bowler he needed an arm around the shoulder to reassure him of just how good he was. If Jones needed reassurance that he still had "it" on his return to the side, proof came when he dismissed West Indies legend Brian Lara in their first innings.

In the 2nd innings of the 2nd Test in Port of Spain, Jones blew away West Indies top order removing Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ridley Jacobs to leave the hosts effectively 50-4 in the match, before returning to castle Pedro Collins to claim a maiden five wicket haul, leaving England a target of just 99 which they duly chased to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Jones ended the tour taking 11 wickets across the 4 Tests as England won 3-0.

Jones would play only two home tests in that summer of 2004, one against New Zealand at Lords where he claimed four wickets, but only one against West Indies at the same venue.

Next up he played a pivotal role as England beat South Africa 2-1 away from home claiming a further 15 wickets in the four test series at an average of 26.66. As long as he stayed fit, a place in the Ashes squad for the summer series of 2005 would be assured.

Over the winter of 2004/5 Jones unbeknown to most had been working on adding a new skill to his armoury - reverse swing. Before the Australian's arrived that summer England demolished test newcomers Bangladesh in a two test series in which the home side wrapped up victory inside three days on both occasions.

Jones would have to wait a little longer still to get his revenge on Australia as the sides played out the white ball fixtures before the main event of the summer.

Jones would bowl well without too much reward in the first two tests but his tenth wicket partnership of 51 with Freddie Flintoff in the 2nd innings at Edgbaston played a huge roll in England's famous series levelling win by just 2 runs.

The series was set up perfectly as the sides moved to Old Trafford. Vaughan who had been desperately short of runs in series played a captains innings of 166 as England posted 444 in their first innings. It was at this point that Jones unleashed he new skills on the Australian batsman registering Test best figures of 6-53. Jones had developed a lovely knack of striking in the first over of a spell and a delivery that rose sharply from just back of a length took the shoulder of Ricky Ponting's bat looping to Ian Bell at gully to send the Australian skipper on his way first ball after tea. In the first over after drinks in the evening session Jones struck again as Adam Gilchrist edged through to keeper Geraint Jones to leave the tourists reeling at 182-6. Michael Clarke batting at 8 due to back problems was next to go as he was deceived by a Jones slower ball and could only drive tamely to Flintoff at mid off. Enter Shane Warne who would make a brilliant 90 to keep Australia in the game. Jones would ultimately end his stay as a Warne could only pull a good short ball into the safe hands of Ashley Giles at deep backward square. Brett Lee was Jones fifth victim edging a nice away swinger to Marcus Trescothick at first slip who took a fabulous diving catch. England took the new ball and having been swinging the old ball away from the right handers Jones got one to swing into the pads of Jason Gillespie ending Australia's innings. Rain, Ricky Ponting who scored a magnificent 156 and last wicket pair Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath would deny England victory with the tourist's hanging on 9 wickets down in their 2nd innings. Jones would however produce one of the iconic moments of the summer in Australia's 2nd innings as his reverse swing bamboozled Michael Clarke who offered no show to a delivery pitching well outside off only for it to swing back in and remove his off stump.

The series moved onto Trent Bridge for the fourth Test and England won the match to take a 2-1 lead in the series with just one more test to play. It was during Australia's first innings reply to England's score of 477 that Jones produced arguably the best spell of his career. He removed Ponting lbw for 1 with the new ball to leave them 21-2. He returned later in the day to have Simon Katich caught at point by Andrew Strauss with a wide half volley and Australia were now 157-6 and facing the possibility of having to follow on. Next ball things got worse as Warne departed first ball seeing the ball angle towards leg stump, it swung away caught a leading edge and ballooned to Ian Bell at cover. A few overs later Michael Kasprowicz was next, done by a beauty from Jones, a full length delivery that was heading towards leg swung away at pace and knocked back the off stump. Brett Lee would be last man out as he steered a lifting delivery to from Jones to Ian Bell on the third man boundary as he completed a third 5 wicket haul in tests. He ended with 5-44 and Australia were forced to follow on for the first time in 198 Tests.

Jones' body would however let him down again, an ankle issue had been getting gradually worse over the summer and come Australia's 2nd innings Jones could only muster 4 overs such was the discomfort he was suffering. England tried desperately to get him fit for the final Test of the series but despite their and his best efforts it was not to be and the last time Jones was seen in England colours was in his England blazer on the open top bus tour which followed the drawn Oval Test and England's famous 2-1 series win. Jones' performances in the series saw him named as one of Wisden's cricketers of the Year in 2006 and he was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honours List.

Jones had spells in county cricket with Glamorgan, Worcestershire, Hampshire and finally Glamorgan again but persistent injuries limited his appearances and in September of 2013 he announced his retirement from the game, the injuries it seems had finally removed the fire from the welsh dragon.

In the summer of 2005 we saw the very best of Simon Jones and it is an eternal shame we never got to see him perform again on the International stage. As Michael Vaughan said some of the spells he produced in his short England career were some of the very best he had seen, and I can't argue with that sentiment. The art of reverse swing bowling is one that few can fully master but Jones had that ability and coupled with a bowing speed in excess of 90mph facing him must of been a daunting prospect for any batsman. 

Talents like Jones don't come along very often and it is cruel how fate can conspire to take that talent out of the spotlight in the way it did to Jones and us as adoring fans. However we will always be able to treasure the few years he did have at the top level where there can be no doubt he truly belonged.

Greg Griffiths
31 Jan 2021

Simon Jones Career Record

 

My Day in the Sun

 

It's Friday night and I am at home in the flat pondering tomorrow's fixture against Havering 3's. The phone is close by and I am praying I don't get a text or a call from the 2nd team Captain Dave Ambrose, as that means only one thing, someone from his 2's has dropped out and he is stealing one of my players from what is not our strongest XI of the season so far.

The weather forecast is good for bowling overcast and humid but we only really have 3 proper bowlers in our side, myself, brother Tim and Phil Turner. No Davey Nicholls, no George, no Lee Hayward, no Chips not even Ian McHattie's part time spin. What do I do if I win the toss tomorrow? I am half hoping I lose and the Havering Captain will be the one to make the decision to bat or bowl.

My flat mate is out and the other half is otherwise engaged this weekend, so I turn to one of my usual hobbies a good spot of YouTubeing. Cricket is on the brain and I flick through numerous video's before stumbling across a video about swing bowling. Matthew Hoggard goes off to University to unpack the science behind it all, and then Wasim Akram and Simon Jones pop up to discuss how they swung the ball. These two gents are two of the finest swing bowlers I have ever seen and as I am a left arm bowler like Wasim (nowhere near as good of course) I listen intently, you never know Greg you might just learn something! I re watch the video skipping the science bit I want to listen to Wasim again.

It's now the morning of Saturday 31st May 2014, matchday, we got through last night with no texts or calls from Dave Ambrose, and it looks like we still have our XI intact. I hope it stays that way Mum and Dad are busy this weekend and I can't even tell Dad to bring his kit with him just in case someone drops out.

It's lunchtime and all is well, I double check all my kit and make sure I have all the other necessary gear, scorebook, pens, match balls, team sheet, result card etc and I set off on the ten minute walk to Paul Webster's flat for my customary lift to the ground. Wickford Memorial Park is the venue for today's T-Rippon Division 10 encounter. Like most council owned pitches facilities are ok but not great but the dressing rooms have been upgraded over the winter and they are clean and modernish although not spacious. 

We arrive at the ground one or two of the other lads are already there waiting for us and I detail off jobs as people arrive so we are all ready for start time and we can get cracking. I am slightly apprehensive knowing we don't have our strongest XI available but in the back of my mind I am keen to see if I can put anything I picked up on YouTube into practice. I greet the Havering skipper and we make the walk to the middle to do the toss. I flip the coin and he calls tails, we wonder over to see what way it has come down and it's a head, and I now have to make the decision I was praying I didn't have to. I take a glance upwards, it's grey but warm and there is a breeze blowing from off to leg from my preferred end. Instinct kicks in all I announce we will have a bowl. For some reason I always take 4 brand new balls to a match and I rummage through the selection in my bag and pick one out for our bowling effort. It's 99.9% the same of the others but this is the one were using.

We wait for the openers to get padded up and wander out to the middle to get things started. I will open from the bottom end and Tim will get first dibs from the top. I mark out my run and all feels well. My first over is a maiden and I am pleased with a decent line and length no swing yet but that's nothing unusual with the brand new ball, it can often take a few overs for the lacquer on the ball to wear off before it starts to swing. Steve King is dispatched to fine leg, he is looking a bit ropey like he might of had a few pints the night before but nothing unusual there, and I take up my usual spot at mid on. My reasoning for fielding there is that I like to be able to talk to the bowler as captain without having to run half way across the ground to do so. 

It's Tim's first year of cricket for about 15 years and my advice to him is "it's Division 10 mate, your not gonna get many nick off so just bowl straight on a good length and you should get rewards" His third ball is short and wide and put away for four, but I am not worried it's just a loose one early, all of us bowlers have been there and done that. 5th ball and bingo Tim is on his mark, Brown prods forward and is bowled all over the place and were off to a good start. In the celebration huddle he chirps up that it's my turn next over. Cheers Tim no pressure then! 

My next over is ok but Richardson gets me away for a two. Tim follows ups with a maiden. In my next Richardson gets another two before I get one on a good length and it swings in rips through a gaping chasm between bat and pad and the timbers are disturbed once more and we have Havering 8-2. 

2nd ball of Tim's third over it gets even better, Havering skipper Kevin Stanbridge is eager to get some runs on the board plays across the line to one and is bowled. It's 8-3 and I am chuffed, things have gone as well as could be expected. It's high fives all round and then Tim pipes up again telling me I will get the rest of them out. This I think is highly unlikely given I have one career 5-for and only a handful of wickets to my name so far this season. 

Not too longer later it's 10-4 I wrap Lambert on the pads and the appeal comes out automatically but I think it's a little high, I as turn back towards the umpire I am half trying to choke the appeal off but he has already made his mind up and puts his finger up and the batsman has to depart for two. Getting LBW decisions as a left arm bowler in club cricket is almost impossible, every week you hear the same rubbish about not being able to get decisions from opposition batsmen so I am thrilled with that one even though I am doubtful it was out, it makes up for one of the countless plumb appeals that have been turned down over they years.

Chinnery and Dent then put together something of a partnership but we are making them work for their runs and we are still well on top. Chinnery is a solid player a with a good defence and has made most of the runs and Dent seems to be a decent defensive player although he hasn't shown much instinct to play shots but then when you come in at 10-4 you probably wouldn't. The lacquer has now worn off the ball and with the assistance of the breeze I have got it swinging nicely, not too much but enough to keep the batsman honest. 

I want another breakthrough though and with the score on 25 I bowl Dent through the gate in similar style to the Richardson dismissal. It's 25-5 and were all over them! In my next over I make it 26-6 as Chinnery is yep you guessed it bowled through the gate by another nice in swinger for 9. Ticker follows suit and we have them 31-7 and I have got 5 my 2nd ever 5-for. Maybe I had learnt something from Wasim Akram and Simon Jones after all. I can just imagine the scenes in their dressing room with kit flying everywhere and there is an almost constant change of umpires as guys have to run off to pad up and those who have failed with the bat have to make their way out for their stint in the middle.  

Buckley and Brian Stanbridge follow for nought bowled by me through the gate and the score is 31-9 and nobody can really believe what is going on! Phil Turner then jokingly pipes up that I should save some for the rest of the team and stupidly as it turns out I agree. However it's 3rd XI cricket and you do want everyone to have a bit of a game.

I tell Phil and Steve King to get loose and give Tim and myself a rest. Chaos quickly ensues, Phil is bowling ok from my end but Steve bless him is getting tonked at the other end and Havering's total is growing by the ball. 

Cuddles then pipes up "Put yourself back on for Christ's sake Greg before we end up chasing 150". He is right and I tell Steve to take a rest and tell Phil he is switching to the top end. 

I bring myself back on and Summerville puts a rank long hop away through point for four, I am not pleased with myself. I hear Paul Webster chatting to the umpire at square leg who points out that's the first bad ball I have bowled all day, he is right but I want to get this innings over and done with. Thankfully with the last ball of my over I get Summerville out for 32, another bowled through the gate not playing for the swing. Southam is unbeaten at the other end with 22 and the innings is all over with the score on 86. We wander off and I take a stroll over to the scorers table to see what my figures are. Tim has finished with a very nice 2-35 from 9 overs and my figures are a scarcely believable 10-5-8-8. The brothers Griffiths have taken all ten wickets between us without a single fielder being involved in any of the dismissals. 

Between innings I ask Kevin if he wants to do tea now or shall we just get the game done and then have a leisurely tea after the match and he agrees to get the match done first.

Andy Jellett will open with Cuddles, and Jellett gets us up and running with a few early boundaries, but we lose Cuddles for 6 with the score on 26. I am not worried. Tom Donnellan goes in next and he and Jellet take the score to 50 when Tom departs LBW for 9. Paul Webster is in next but not for long as he is bowled for a duck, and at 51-3 I am starting to get a bit nervous and wondering why on earth I had listened to Phil and not just kept myself on and got them out for less than 40. Kelvin joins Jellett in the middle and the boundaries continue to flow but with two required for victory Kelvin is caught for 20. Fairview legend Dave Webster heads out to the crease and blocks out the last ball of the over. Jellett drives the first ball of the next over through the covers for four finishing 43 not out. We have won by 6 wickets and taken maximum bonus points, as Captain you can't ask for anything more.

Tea and paperwork follow and everything is packed away and I call the man from the council to tell him he can come over and lock everything up. He sounds surprised that I have called so early and I laugh and explain it has been a quick match and there is nothing to worry about. We hop into the cars and make the five minute drive back to the sports & social club in Rayleigh for what is going to turn out to be quite a few beers. On arrival the club is empty and it dawns on me that the 1's and 2's are still playing, its only 4.30 in the afternoon and it might be a while before anyone joins us. 

As the evening draws on the other lads arrive and it is quickly apparent word of my achievement has spread, everyone wants to talk to me this evening and congratulate me on my figures. To begin with I am not overly comfortable with this, I don't really like talking about myself but as the effects of the beer start to kick in I am more than happy to milk the limelight this once and hey why not it's not every week you take eight wickets!! Next week it will be someone else's turn but today and tonight are mine.

Our club motto is win or lose get on the booze and that night like many others plenty of money disappears behind the bar!

In the following days I check in on the Havering website to see they have described me as a useful but by no means devastating left arm bowler. Cheers Lads!

Scorecard

Greg Griffiths
31 Jan 2021

 

Oh Jimmy Jimmy

 

James Michael Anderson, OBE was born in Burnley, Lancashire July 30 1982. Nearly 39 years later "Jimmy" has taken more wickets than any fast bowler in the history of Test cricket.

A veteran of 157 Tests Anderson's International career began in the ODI side aged just 19, he had made only three one day appearances for Lancashire however those few performances where enough to earn him a place on England's academy tour to Australia that winter. When Andy Caddick went down injured the Senior side came calling. His debut would come at The MCG and he returned figures of 6-0-46-1 dismissing Adam Gilchrist for 124, not a bad first international wicket. It was in his 7th ODI that Jimmy made an eye opening performance with figures of 1-12 from 10 overs and 6 maidens as England nearly made a defence of a score of just 152. A place in the squad for the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa was confirmed.

It was during England's match against Pakistan in Cape Town that Anderson would showcase his talents to a global audience. Anderson ripped through Pakistan's top order removing Inzamam-ul-Haq & Mohammad Yousef for golden ducks before trapping Saeed Anwar LBW and then having keeper Rashid Latif caught behind also for a duck, ending with figures of 4-29 as England won by 112 runs. 

Anderson blows away Pakistan's top order.

(C) Sky Sports 2003.

A Test debut followed later that summer and Anderson soon showed he was equally at home with the red ball as he took a five wicket haul in his first Test innings. Andy Blignaut was the only Zimbabwe batsman who could lay bat on the ball that dismissed them as Anderson blew away the tail having earlier removed opener Mark Vermeulen. An ODI hat-trick against Pakistan followed at the The Oval later in the summer.

Elite sport can be a cruel game and Anderson lost his way as coaches tried to adjust his action with disastrous outcomes as he lost both pace and rhythm and for the next few years he was very much one of those some days he does some days he doesn't types of bowlers. 

His second coming came on the 2007-8 tour of New Zealand, Michael Vaughan's fabled Ashes winning team of 2005 had disintegrated in no time at all, in Wellington England made the masterstroke of pairing Anderson with Stuart Broad. Between them they now have 1123 Test wickets and that decision has been fully vindicated. Anderson took 7 wickets in the match and has never really looked back from that point onwards.

Career best figures of 7-43 to date followed in 2008 as New Zealand again came unstuck against Anderson at Trent Bridge as he established himself as England's premier fast bowler. Test wicket 100 arrived later in the summer as South Africa great Jacques Kallis was trapped leg before by a viscous in swinger.

Anderson's next 100 wickets came in just 14 months, Peter Siddle was his 200th victim at Perth during a brilliant Ashes campaign for England, who won down under for the first time in 24 years, and it was Anderson who lead the England attack with 24 wickets at 26.04, helping Andrew Strauss become just the third England captain to win home and away Ashes contests. Andersons great mate Alastair Cook lead the way with the bat amassing 766 runs at an average of 127.66 including three centuries.

I was lucky enough to witness no 300 on an overcast afternoon at Lords in May 2013 as New Zealand opener Peter Fulton edged to Graeme Swann at 2nd slip as Anderson recorded figures of 5-47. Anderson would surpass Sir Ian Botham as England's all time leading wicket taker in Test cricket in The Caribbean in April 2015 with wicket keeper Dinesh Ramdin becoming victim 384.

Sir Ian Botham Congratulates Anderson after
he beat his England record for Test Wickets.

No 400 followed a few weeks later at Headingley as New Zealand opener Martin Guptill edged to Ian Bell in the slips. As with no 300, no 500 fell at Lords. West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite had his furniture rearranged by a beauty from Anderson that nipped back sharply off the seam. That was just the start of proceedings, by the time West Indies 2nd innings had come to and end for 177, Anderson had claimed Test best figures of 7-42.

It was with the final delivery of the Test summer of 2018 that Anderson wrote his name into the history books taking his 564th Test wicket as Indian tail ender Mohammed Shami was bowled to make our man the most successful fast bowler in the history of the game overtaking Australia legend Glenn McGrath. That ball also signalled the end of the Test Career of former England Captain Sir Alastair Cook who having scored a century in his first test innings against India in Nagpur ended his career with his 33rd Test century against the same opponents in his final innings at The Oval as England completed a 4-1 series victory. It was a highly emotional day for Anderson who struggled to hold back the tears during the post match interviews as he contemplated life in the England side without his great mate.

Anderson & Cook embrace at the Oval after Anderson
takes his 564th Test Wicket

During the COVID hit bio secure summer of 2020 Anderson would put himself into the history books once more as he became the first fast bowler and only 4th man ever to hit the landmark of 600 Test wickets, Pakistan Captain Azhar Ali edging to Joe Root at first slip at an empty Rose Bowl as fans had to make do with gathering around the TV or Radio set to witness the historic moment.

Anderson however doesn't just hold a place in the record books for his bowling. In July of 2014 Anderson and Joe Root shared a World Record 10th Wicket Partnership of 198, during which Anderson made his test best score and only Test match 50 with a contribution of 81. England had looked like they might have to follow on when made his way to the crease with the score on 298-9 but Joe and Jimmy had other idea's and eventually lead England to a first innings lead. The test match has also become infamous for another reason, Ishant Sharma became the only man ever to be dismissed by Alastair Cook in Test cricket as he tickled one down the leg side to Matt Prior as the match meandered towards a draw. It would be amiss also not to mention the heroic rear guard action Anderson and Monty Panesar shared during the first Ashes Test of 2009 in Cardiff as the pair batted for over an hour to secure England a draw, in a series they would go on to win 2-1. He also holds an England record of 54 innings without being dismissed for a duck, a fantastic achievement for man who has spent most of his Test career at 11.

Anderson is also a fantastic fielder and is closing in on a century of catches in Test cricket, not bad at all for a fast bowler who is equally adept in the catching positions close to the wicket as he is in the outfield.

Jimmy is now a full master of his art. He has always been good bowler of the away swinger but that has never been enough for him. A student of the game he has always been and still is looking to get better. He now possesses the full arsenal of swing seam cutters coupled with almost relentless accuracy. He said last year that he didn't know if he had yet peaked as a bowler, this at the tender age of 37 and remarkable figures of 6-40 in England's recent Test victory in Sri Lanka proved his point.

In 2017 Lancashire bestowed a great honour upon Anderson as they renamed one end of The Emirates Old Trafford ground after him. It takes a great player or person to have an end or stand named after them and such honours normally arrive well into retirement or posthumously, however Anderson has managed it while still playing the game, although in a slight quirk he has admitted he doesn't particularly enjoy bowling from the end which takes his name.

Anderson currently has 606 Test wickets good enough for 4th on the all time list, Indian spinner Anil Kumble's haul of 619 is next in his sights, although Anderson will insist he just wants to take wickets and help England win cricket matches and series and for now personal milestones are not something he thinks about too much.

England will play 17 possibly 18 Tests by the time the Ashes series in Australia comes to a close next January, Anderson & Broad will doubtless be rotated throughout the year but The Burnley Express still has a way to go before it reaches it's final destination. 

Greg Griffiths

Jan 30 2021

James Anderson - Career Records. 

England's Greatest Yorkshireman

 

As the sun dipped low in the Sky in Galle this evening England Captain Joe Root surpassed Sir Geoffrey Boycott as Yorkshire's highest run scorer for England. and moved into 6rh place in England's all time list.

Root like former Captain Sir Alastair Cook, Root debuted in Nagpur in December 2012 and immediately showed he could handle life on the big stage scoring 73 from 229 balls in his maiden Test match innings. A maiden Test century, 104 vs New Zealand followed in May 2013 at his home ground of Headingley. 

Two months later Root would showcase his talent to the world in the 2nd Ashes Test of the summer at Lords. With England 233 ahead on first innings they needed someone to take the game beyond the reach of the tourists. Opening the innings as he done for most of his career to that point Root made a brilliant 180 and England's baby faced assassin had truly arrived on the world stage.

Root celebrates his maiden Ashes Century
(Lords July 2013)

England it seemed had found a long term partner Cook at the top of the order following the retirement of Sir Andrew Strauss but it transpired fate had other idea's. That winter The Ashes were contested again and as has often happened in the past it was a chastening experience for England. Root began the series at No 6 with Michael Carberry opening with Cook. Following the match Jonathan Trott's battles with his mental health had unfortunately got the better of him and he returned home prompting the selectors to push Root up to 3. He would score 87 in the 2nd innings of the 2nd Test at Adelaide but as Australia tightened their grip on the little urn things would get worse and worse for England and Root and come the final Test of the series at Sydney Root found himself out of the side.

His exile from the side would not last for long and Root was determined to make the most of his second coming. The summer of 2014 saw Sri Lanka & India touring England. Batting at 5, Root ended the first day of the Test summer 102 not out and by the time England declared on 575/9 Root had made is first double century. Scores of 154 & 149 against India would follow and on each occasion Root finished unbeaten.

2015 was a golden year for Root as he finished the calendar year with 1385 Test runs, two more ashes 100's (134 at Cardiff & 130 at Trent Bridge) and a second Ashes winners medal and his place in the team well and truly secured.

The main criticism that has been thrown in Root's direction is his conversion of 50's into 100's and it was late in 2015 as England lost to Pakistan in UAE and into 2016 when this pattern became most noticeable. Following is 130 at Trent Bridge Root would pass 50 on five occasions before registering another century in the 2nd Test against South Africa at Johannesburg. His next visit to the honours board came in the home series against Pakistan as Root made a career best 254 at Old Trafford.

Root leaves the field having made 254 vs Pakistan
(Old Trafford July 2016)

The Sumer of 2017 saw Root appointed as England captain, and he got off to the perfect start with a match winning 190 against South Africa at Lords. The conversion issue would rear it's ugly head once again though as only 2 of the next 16 50+ scores for Root would end up as 100's. Root was at least not short of runs. in 2017 he ended just 5 runs behind Michael Vaughan's England record for Test runs in a calendar year which his fellow Sheffield Collegiate attendee had set back in 2002.

In 2018 Root would make two further centuries and another in 2019 (226 v New Zealand) but non were to follow in the COVID hit summer of 2020 although England did beat both West Indies and Pakistan.

A further 5 50's would come before Root scored his 18th Test Century, a magnificent 228 against Sri Lanka in Galle. Root admitted after the match he had spent a lot of his time in COVID isolation studying his game and as much analysis as possible in an effort to be able to go big more often and that his 4th double century was just a start in that particular story.

Root celebrates reaching 200 in Galle (Jan 2021)

One area where Root has no such conversion issues is 100's into daddy hundreds. He has passed 150 on 8 of 18 occasions, with four of those turned into scores of 200+. A place in England's top 5 Test Run scorers is now just 63 runs away for England's captain and by the time you read this he may be above Kevin Pietersen in that list and Test 100 no 19 may well be in the bag too.

Root is still relatively young at 30 and whenever retirement beckons it is certain Root will be at either 1 or 2 in England's all time list. Only he will know if he has the inner drive to surpass Sir Alastair Cook (12472) at the top of that list, but whatever the final outcome Root is one of the finest batsman of his era and one of England's very best.

There are no obvious flaws in Root's game, he is equally prolific against the quicks and spinners and scores freely on both the off and leg sides off front or back foot, and it's almost impossible to stop him scoring due to his nimble footwork and ability to score in all area's.

Root will lead his nation in his 100th Test in Chennai in February and he will want to lead from the front with plenty of runs, and the current series in Sri Lanka is perfect preparation for that tour. However Root will want a series win in Sri Lanka first and with England 1-0 up and himself well set on 69* the prospects of that look good as do the prospects of many more runs to come.

*Update - Root finished with 186 his 19th Test century, overtaking not only Sir Geoffrey Boycott but also Kevin Pietersen and David Gower to go 4th on England's all time Test runs scorers list.

Greg Griffiths

Jan 24 2021

Joe Root Career Records

 

  

India's Embarrassment of Riches

 

When India left home for their tour of Australia  even Nostradamus wouldn't of been able to predict the chain of events that were to eventually lead to India claiming a 2-1 win in The Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

What we did know was that the two teams were pretty evenly matched but Australia would be favourites due to being at home, and that India Captain Virat Kohli would return home for the birth of his first child following the opening day-night Test in Adelaide. Ishant Sharma who had suffered an abdominal tear during The Dream IPL would not make the tour.

In my previous article I wrote about two of India's up and coming's stars Rishabh Pant & Shubman Gill and their performances in the last Test of the series. However in Adelaide things went less well for another of their protégées, Prithvi Shaw. Before the opening Test Shaw had played 4 Tests, registering two 50's and a maiden Test 100. Things didn't go according to plan for Shaw or India in Adelaide as he bagged a pair, bowled in both in innings, by Starc & Cummins. India were humiliated as Australia bowled them out for just 36 in their 2nd Innings with not a single batsman making double figures. The last ball of the match saw Mohammed Shami take a thunderous blow to the arm from a Pat Cummins delivery and retire hurt. Like Kohli and Shami, Shaw would not play again in the series, but he is just 19 years old and his time will undoubtedly come again.

India pulled off one of the great bounce back wins in the 2nd Test at the MCG. Lead brilliantly by stand in Captain Ajinkya Rahane, who scored a magnificent 112 in their 1st Innings. The win came at a cost for India though as Umesh Yadav limped off with a calf problem, three balls into his fourth over of Australia's 2nd innings. Shubman Gill however was starting to make a name for himself to those who don't follow the IPL with scores of 45 & 35* on Test debut as India took the match by 8 wickets and levelled the series.

Worse was to follow before the 3rd Test had even begun as India lost opening batsman KL Rahul when he suffered a broken hand whilst batting in the nets. Rahul had not featured in the opening two Tests and would now not feature in the last two either. 

India went on to produce one of the great rear-guard actions at the SCG, batting out 131 overs to secure a draw. An unlikely win had been on the cards until Hanuma Vihari pulled a hamstring whilst on 12, but unable to run he blocked like his life depended on it finishing 23* from 161 balls as he and Ravi Ashwin put on 62 to defy the Aussies. Ravi Jadeja suffered a broken and dislocated thumb in India's 1st Innings after being hit bit a short ball from Mitchell Starc and would only of batted 2nd time around if the match depended on it. Rishabh Pant had also taken a nasty blow to the forearm batting in the 1st Innings and although he carried on and made a fine 97 he was unable to keep wicket 2nd time around with Wriddhiman Saha taking the gloves.

Before the deciding Test at Australia's fortress The Gabba, Jasprit Bumrah the spearhead of India's pace attack was ruled out with an abdominal strain, and Ravi Ashwin also went down with a back problem. You now started to wonder in India had taken enough players on tour to field a side for the last test given their injury problems.

They had, just. Mohammed Siraj would lead the fast bowling attack in the just his 3rd Test, and his new ball partner would be Thangarusu Natajaran who had been taken on tour as a net bowler. They would be backed up by Navdeep Saini who had debuted in the 3rd Test at Sydney & Shardul Thakur who had one previous test to his name back in 2018. Washington Sundar would lead the spin attack on debut whilst Mayank Agarwal normally an opening batsman would bat at 5, although Pant would move up to 5 in their 2nd Innings.

Siraj would end the match with a maiden 5 wicket haul, Thakur picked up 4 in the 2nd innings to go with 3 in the first. Sundar took 3 in the first innings including Steve Smith for his maiden Test match wicket. With India 186-6 in their 1st innings in reply to Australia's 369, the tourists were in trouble. However Sundar and Thakur picked of course for their bowling went on the attack scoring 62 & 67 respectively and leading India to a score of 336 just 33 behind. Australia made 294 second time around to set India an improbable 328 to win on a pitch offering plenty of variable bounce.

Shubman Gill who had made a maiden test 50 at the SCG went on the attack despite the early loss of Rohit Sharma, making a Test best 91. Che Pujara did his thing making 56 from 211 deliveries before the other young star Rishabh Pant finished the game and the series with 89* to add to the 97 he made at the SCG. Sundar chipped in with a handy 22 as well.

The whole point of this is of course that India boast an embarrassment of riches when it comes to cricketing talent. Whilst India have always had great Batsman I grew up watching the likes of Mohammed Azhararuddin, Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and of course Sachin Tendulkar and latterly Virat Kohli. 

In the spin department it was Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh and now Ravi Ashwin & Ravi Jadeja. Washington Sundar has now firmly thrown his hat into the ring too. India now also have a successor to the great MS Dhoni in Rishabh Pant.

Where this Indian Team differs with teams of the past is with the fast bowlers, as a young man I watched Indian touring teams turn up in England with Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad and would call for another seamer if one of those went down injured and Ganguly would back them up with some medium pace you would be more accustomed to facing in club cricket. Nowadays they seem to have a conveyer belt of fast bowlers, and these guys are genuinely quick compared to the likes of Srinath and Prasad.

Credit must go to the BCCI for the creation of the IPL. When India's young stars are pushed into the Test or ODI arena there is no fear of facing or bowling to the best in the world. These young men have already smacked the best in the world to all corners or knocked over the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner.

Whilst the Australian selector's face some tricky selection dilemma's ahead of their tour to South Africa, India's selectors have the the more enviable task of picking from the plethora of riches at their disposal, and for every Shubman Gill or Rishabh Pant there is a Sanju Samson or a Ishan Kishan waiting in the wings. Prithvi Shaw may count himself unlucky to have been left out of India's 18 man squad for the first 2 Tests against England, but his time will come and he won't be the only one. The future of Indian cricket has in my opinion never looked brighter.

India like most cricketing nations have tried the foreign coach idea, John Wright, Greg Chappell, Gary Kirsten & Duncan Fletcher all had spells in charge with varying degrees of success. Come 2015 they decided to look closer to home and Ravi Shastri took charge although he only stayed in charge for around a year. They then turned to legendary former leg spinner Anil Kumble but like Shastri before him he came and went in around 12 months. In July 2017 they re-appointed Shastri as Coach, not only is he getting performances from the established senior players in the squad, the young guns are now firing too. And as this series down under has shown you right off this Indian team at your peril. This lot do not just give in and fold when the chips are down, Shastri has instilled a real fighting spirit into his charges. His contract is due to finish after the 2021 T20 World Cup but I wouldn't bet against it being extended again.

India is of course a cricket mad country with a population of around 1.5BN that they should have so much talent should be of little surprise. However they also now seem to have a system that produces and will keep producing real talent, I believe they are destined to dominate the rankings for some time to come and it will need some team to knock them from their perch!

The Victorious Indian Squad

Greg Griffiths
Jan 24 2021

Big Trouble Down Under

 

As an Englishman who grew up in the 1980's there is only one thing better than seeing Australia lose a game of cricket, and that is seeing Australia lose a test series especially on home soil.

Overnight India became the first away side to win a test match at The Gabba since 1988 and in doing so won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1. 

India chased down a target of 328 with 3 wickets in hand and 3 overs to spare, with young wicket keeper batsman and rising superstar of Indian Cricket Rishabh Pant finishing unbeaten on 89. Earlier in the day their other rising star Shubman Gill scored 91 opening the innings to lay the platform for Pant's heroics, and it would be unfair not to mention Che Pujara doing what Che Pujara does, as he soaked up 211 deliveries as he made a typically obdurate 56.

It would also be massively unfair not to mention that India achieved this without the services of Captain and Talisman Virat Kohli who returned to India for the birth of his child after India had been bowled out for just 36 in the day-night test at Adelaide. They were also without the services of front line spin duo Ravi Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin, along with fast bowlers, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Buveneshwar Kumar. Also missing were batsman Hanuma Vihari and KL Rahul. 

Going into a test match at Australia's fortress you could easily be forgiven for thinking that an Australia side only missing Will Puckovski (yes he with 1 test cap to his name) would simply be far too good for an Indian team whose bowling attack was led by Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini & Shardul Thakur who had 4 test caps between them along with debutants Washington Sundar & Thangarusu Natarajan but somehow India pulled off the seemingly impossible and for that they deserve all the plaudits coming their way and more.

However I want to look at Australia, a few weeks ago they were top of the ICC Test Rankings and seemingly sleep walking into The World Test Championship Final at Lords later this year. On the back of their defeat overnight not only have New Zealand gone above Australia, India have now leapfrogged them as well in both the ICC Test Rankings and the standings for The World Test Championship.

Trouble at the top

Starting at the top of the batting order Australia have problems. David Warner is out of form however he is head and shoulders above anyone else Australia have and his place is not under any threat. Warner now reminds me of Sir Alastair Cook such is the number of opening partners he has had. His latest new partner Will Puckovski who debuted in Sydney made 50 in his first innings and should be on the plane to South Africa if he overcomes the shoulder injury that kept him out of the Gabba test. He was replaced by Marcus Harris who has now played 10 Tests but passed 50 only twice and averages just 23. Joe Burns who replaced Warner when he was injured at the start of the series averages a touch under 37 but scores of 8, 51*, 0 & 4 saw him lose his place once Warner returned despite obviously not being fully fit.

Middle order solidity

Numbers 3 & 4 are set in concrete with both Marnus Labuschagne & Steve Smith averaging in excess of 60.

Big Problems @5

Travis head started the series but was discarded after Melbourne having made scores of  7, 38 & 17 in the opening two tests and Matthew Wade who was demoted from opener to number 5 but he has an even worse record than Head who at least averages nearly 40. Wade has had a shocking series failing to pass 50 in 8 innings and gave his wicket away several times. He ended the series with a duck, strangled down the leg side and now averages less than 30 in test cricket. As reserve wicket keeper Wade will probably make the squad for South Africa but a place in the starting XI is less assured.

Can Cameron Green become a genuine allrounder?

Cameron Green debuted at Adelaide and there is much to like about him. He has a solid defensive technique and seems to be growing in confidence with each match with the bat at least. The Australian commentators have made much of his meteoric rise through Grade and Shield cricket into the Test Team. His bowling is economical (2.68 rpo) to do date but after 4 tests he is yet to take a wicket so there are going to be those who question whether or not he can genuinely fulfil to the role of all rounder. Green is still only 21 so is one worth sticking with for now.

All is well that spins well

Nathan Lyon had a poor series statistically claiming just 9 wickets in 4 tests at a little over 55 a piece although 5 dropped catches off his bowling didn't help his cause, but "Garry" is undoubtedly Australia's no 1 spinner and one of the worlds best with 399 test wickets and 100 caps to his name.

The should be opening bowlers!

Pat Cummins cemented his spot as the worlds no1 bowler with 21 wickets at 20 and Josh Hazlewood did his thing with 17 wickets at 19.35.

The Big Left Armer

Mitch Starc continues to be a slight headache for me, 11 wickets at 42 a piece is not a great return and he seems to have lost the ability to swing the ball new or old, and being a left arm bowler myself I know that if you are not moving the ball you are going to struggle to get good players out, and if I was Tim Paine I would not be giving him the new ball any longer.

The Captain

And just then I mentioned a huge problem for Australia, Tim Paine, his batting is ok nothing better than that. An average of just 32 would see him struggle to keep his place in most sides. Add to that the three dropped catches in the Sydney test that could well of swung the series Australia's way. However the biggest problem for me is his captaincy. The great Richie Benaud once said captaincy is 90% luck and 10% skill but don't try it without that 10%. There is nothing inspirational about Paine's leadership and nor is he the Allan Border type who would make you perform for fear of him tearing you off a strip. There have been several times Australia have been well ahead of the game in the last two tests but Paine doesn't seem to be able to get his troops to hammer home the advantage, He also seems unwilling or unable to come up with something a bit different in order to try and get a wicket, his field placings all feel a bit standard. And lets not forget Headingly 2019 where England needed 70 to win with Ben Stokes and last man Jack Leach at the crease, he completely lost the plot allowing Stokes far too much of the strike, the wasted review against Leach which obviously pitched a foot outside leg, which an over later cost Australia the match when Stokes was given not out by Umpire Joel you can overturn your decision now Wilson, with ball tracker showing the ball to be clattering into leg stump. 

Should Australia replace Paine as skipper the alternatives are not glaringly obvious. Steve Smith still has a way to go on that front according the those inside the Australian camp, David Warner is not in the running and never will be for obvious reasons and bowlers never seem to be given the job by any side. As I mentioned earlier the 2nd opening spot is up for grabs and Wade may well be out of the side come South Africa. Cameron Green has only 4 tests caps which only leaves Marnus Labuschagne who is still relatively inexperienced at Test Level.

So in summary although Australia are far from a poor side, they are facing some difficult questions and for many of them there appears to be no obvious answer. 

Greg Griffiths
Jan 19 2021