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England in India 2008-09
Time for England to get serious
November 12, 2008
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One quick hop to the other side of the world, and on Tuesday in Mumbai, it was the press who were given their own rendition of Que sera sera: "I don't see this is a bad thing at all," Pietersen declared, after his team had gone one run worse than their Antigua showing by being rolled over for 98 in 25 overs. "At the end of the tour no-one really remembers what happened today … what counts is what happens on Friday."
Ah yes, Friday. For, after a fortnight of cricket that has redefined the concept of "meaningless", England get back to business in Rajkot, with the first of seven ODIs against an Indian outfit that has suddenly announced itself as the pacesetters in world cricket, after disposing of Ricky Ponting's Australia in last week's Test series. After a muddled, multi-faceted pre-amble, the mitigating circumstances are about to leave by the side-exit.
And yet, who'd have imagined that the disciplines of a one-day tour of India would be regarded as the catalyst for an England revival? Three years ago, the scenario couldn't have been more different. Under the leadership of Andrew Flintoff, and with a memorable Test win at the Wankhede under their belts, England staggered around the subcontinent as if still drunk from their post-match piss-up in Mumbai harbour. They lost 5-1 - a margin that flattered them - and flopped back into Heathrow in mid-April to the deafening sound of indifference.
That was then, this is now. In the coming weeks, the veterans of that ill-starred campaign will recognise many of the stadia and airport departure lounges - from the social hub of Delhi to the far-eastern outpost of Guwahati, where a washout on England's last tour led to full-scale rioting in the stands. But on this occasion, the context is subtly different.
Notwithstanding the woes that Pietersen's men have experienced in the past month, they are a squad who imagine themselves to be upwardly mobile. They are ranked, incredibly, No. 3 in the one-day world after demolishing South Africa 4-0 at the tail-end of last summer, and - with their captain showing the way - they are savvy enough to realise that, in this IPL-fuelled day and age, India is not the arena in which to coast through the motions. A match-seizing performance in the game's biggest marketplace could prove a far more reliable route to fame and fortune that Allen Stanford's high-stakes pitch-and-toss.
| It may well have been a relief to get that confusing week over and done with, but England's cricketers would not be human if they didn't feel a touch deflated by the paucity of their efforts on that big occasion | |||
All of which makes the events of the opening week a little bit tricky to quantify. Pietersen has a point when he says that the warm-ups don't matter. Even when they were in their pre-2005 pomp, England were habitually awful in the build-up to Test series - Michael Vaughan tended to describe their regular set-backs, such as their crushing defeat against South Africa A in 2004-05, as "kicks up the arse". But to roll over for less than 100 in consecutive weeks, and on separate continents, hints at a malaise that can't be dismissed with the usual platitudes.
How deeply scarred are the players after the chaos of the Stanford experience? "We are learning to make sure that we get ourselves right and take our lessons to get our heads back on and get them really, really tuned into what's going to be a tough tour starting this evening," said Pietersen, which was a long-winded way of saying that all has not been well in the camp since they departed for Antigua. It may well have been a relief to get that confusing week over and done with, but England's cricketers would not be human if they didn't feel a touch deflated by the paucity of their efforts on that big occasion.
And so the business of revival gets underway. At least Flintoff has started his trip with intent, driving Mumbai's spinners with confidence in the first warm-up to register his first century in England colours since the Trent Bridge Test of 2005. And James Anderson, piqued but still professional after being axed for the Stanford showdown, has realised the best way to respond to such a slight is through the weight of his performances. Three cheap wickets in the first game were backed up by face-saving runs in the second, and he is more than ready to resume his latter-day role as the leader of England's attack.
Even if he was bowling like a drain, however, England might have little choice but to call on Anderson's services. Ryan Sidebottom is still receiving treatment on the Achilles injury that restricted his role in Antigua, while Stuart Broad is doubtful after sustaining a swollen knee while bowling four overs in Tuesday's debacle. In fact, England's injury issues extend even to the tour manager, Phil Neale, whose own knee problem has been deemed serious enough for him to fly home for surgery.
The omens for England do not look good, especially given how buoyant India are bound to be after their recent run of success. Nevertheless, the optimism that infused the side when Pietersen took over as captain in August cannot have entirely evaporated. They might not have been able to play like a million dollars when that sum was up for grabs this month, but in the course of the next three weeks, England's challenge will be to play with pride when pride is exactly what's at stake. Mentally, it's a prospect that probably sits much more easily with them.
Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo
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Andrew Miller
Andrew Miller was saved from a life of drudgery in the City when his car caught fire on the way to an interview. He took this as a sign and fled to Pakistan where he witnessed England's historic victory in the twilight at Karachi (or thought he did, at any rate - it was too dark to tell). He then joined Wisden Online in 2001, and soon graduated from put-upon photocopier to a writer with a penchant for comment and cricket on the subcontinent. In addition to Pakistan, he has covered England tours in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007
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Everyone keeps saying that beating South Africa was such a big deal but I don't know. They got bashed around in the test series (once by a rampant Graeme Smith). The South African team missed Smith in the 1-day games because he was injured. There was no Shaun Pollock for the first time in a South African series for quite a while. I am just not sure that this England side has anything to hoot about. As far as the rankings go, the teams change around every few weeks when someone beats Bangladesh or Zimbabwe. SA went to the top for a while after Smith completely crushed Bangladesh, remember!!! I am seriously unsure that this England team has anything in them other that Flintoff and a temporarily rejuvinated Harmison. If India's batsman get the chance to get on top then this is really a bit of a foregone conclusion.
Posted by Aswin_ganesh on (November 13 2008, 15:57 PM GMT)No need for predictions here! India and England are evenly matched at the moment. While India have Sehwag, Gambhir and Sachin in good form and a decent bowling attack, England have Flintoff, Harmison, and Pietersen to boast off. Let us not forget that the England seamers have the edge over India in the reverse swing department, Harmison and Flintoff can swing the ball at more than 145 kmph, which may be deadly for the Indians. On the other end, if Sehwag and Gambhir continue their good form, then it would be tough for England to bowl out India for low totals. So, right now, there is no favorite. As for the ODIs, there will be flat batting tracks where 300 will be the norm. So you people can expect the result of a match even before an innings is over.
Posted by Kiteflier on (November 13 2008, 13:49 PM GMT)I am not sure if Engand is going to be cannon fodder for the Indians, just because they have beaten Australia recently in the Tests. While their game would definitely have sharpened up as a result, this English team is pretty good. Anderson has always done well against India just as Flintoff has. Stuart Broad may just come to terms with his potential after the thrashing Yuvraj gave him in the 20 20 world cup. Samit Patel, him of dimunitive stature could well be the surprise package in the Mendis mould though I am not too sure how accurate he is. More than in terms of cricketing skills where England may be poorly off is in the Stanford humiliation aftermath. Not just on the field of play but in the parading of the wives of the English players cosying up to Sir Allen Stanford for the obvious reason of money. The poster effect in India, as elsewhere can be devastating as Symonds found out some time ago. This coud be the nightmare that the Englishmen shoud be prepared for.
Posted by liarspoker on (November 13 2008, 13:31 PM GMT)In response to STJohns post (9.05) he makes some truly absurd observations which are wrong for the following reasons: 1. Hoggard doesn't even get in the Yorkshire one day side - so would be a ridiculous selection 2. Simon Jones has just had another operation and has conceded he may never play cricket again 3. Monty isn't even in the squad 4. Saqlain is playing in the ICL and the Indians would be more likely to allow England to pick Tendulkar than Saqlain
Posted by StJohn on (November 13 2008, 09:05 AM GMT)Sidebottom has been plagued by injuries for several months now. Hoggard should be brought back as cover for him. Hoggard was great on the last tour of India and is (still) to England what Gillespie was to Australia when they won in India in 2004-05. Simon Jones should also be on standby - his mastery of reverse swing could win the Test series for England. If they're both fit, willing and able, Hoggard and Simon Jones should pack their bags. As for the spin department - Monty's gone off the boil a bit since his first 2 years. It'll be interesting to see how he fares. But as shown in Australia's last Test, and by Shaun Udal in England's last Indian tour, the Indians seem to have a slight vulnerability to off-spin for some reason. So maybe Swann or Patel should play instead of Monty? Perhaps the selectors should have gone for even higher stakes in the spin department for the Tests in India, and rubbed the Indians up a bit, by taking a gamble by picking Saqlain Mushtaq as off-spinner?
Posted by Champ2000 on (November 13 2008, 03:21 AM GMT)This would be really interesting series to watch. India plays hell lot of cricket against Australia and hence know how to go against them, they have broken code of aussies. Right from calling them deffencive, showing them eye, figuring there batsment out, hitting spinner (if you call them so) around. India Have almost no (almost no) expirience of current English squad. Same goes to English, fun would be who learns fast and tricks other. I will wait for first game to bet mmy money on. May best team succeed. I see few comments about point system being meaningless. I would say its rather best than ever before, more like ELO rating in Chess. English are at 3 because they did beat better team than most. And if India sweeps English this time around they will jump the ladders too.
Posted by Tony4SA on (November 13 2008, 03:01 AM GMT)Hey Valvolux Couldn't resist showing you some stats seeing as you were so quick to condemn the SA team. So we are and have always been a long way behind # 1 is it? Lets see, according to Cricinfo, here is the overall ODI record between the 2 teams: Team Span Mat Won Lost Tied NR Win% India 1991-2007 57 20 35 0 2 36.36 South Africa 1991-2007 57 35 20 0 2 63.63 Here are the overall ODI records of both teams and Australia (the acknowledged world beaters) for all ODIs played - keep an eye on the win percentages: Australia 1971-2008 687 425 233 8 21 64.41 India 1974-2008 696 332 331 3 30 50.07 South Africa 1991-2008 413 256 140 5 12 64.46 Enough said methinks :)
Posted by rck5054 on (November 12 2008, 22:23 PM GMT)Beating SA in home 4-0 is a big deal. But beating an indian team in indian soil is a tougher deal for any team. Even when Dravid was captain england was trashed for 5-1, one game got washed off. This time its a better ODI team especially with more fire. I think england will miss a good opener like Trescothick. But bowling has improved especially they played well in Srilanka. The man to watch out is anderson and flintoff. Petersien has a great series last time he toured india. Eng should not leave india off the hook. If the does then the serious will be over after the 4th match. Anyway good luck to both the teams
Posted by rv770 on (November 12 2008, 22:14 PM GMT)it is difficult to predict as this england side is more balanced ODI team than the Aussies. It started with a good article from Andy, but should see how the editorials change once eng. start loosing. Hopefully not a wolf cry from their press incl. ecb influenced websites.
Posted by shivaji28 on (November 12 2008, 20:07 PM GMT)I am a supporter of the Indian cricket team. Yet, I take these comments by Andrew Miller with a pinch of salt. My reasons are as follows: 1. The Indian team has just completed a grueling four TEST MATCH series with Australia. Even though they won, history has shown that they are slow to change their game from test cricket to one-day, and vice versa. If the Sri Lankan tour and the Australian tours are given as counter arguments where India bounced back to win the one-day championships after losses in the test series, one can argue that the same will happen here; i.e., this time they will LOSE after having won the test series against Australia. 2. I saw the way the England team defeated South Africa last summer. The England team has played mainly one-dayers while India hasn't for about four months! This is bound to affect India's performance. 3. On a more positive note (from India's point of view), players like Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Viratt Kohli, Munaf Patel will not have played