Duncan Fletcher - Simon Jones 'looked pretty effective out there'
Duncan Fletcher revealed that the strategy was more on gaining match practice and not winning
George Binoy in Mumbai
20-Feb-2006
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Jones chugged in and bowled just seven overs at half pace across two spells in the first innings. He took the new ball instead of Stephen Harmison in the second, bowled faster off a longer run-up and took 2 for 9 in five overs. Fletcher said that they had to handle Jones with care and
see how he came through after this match. "All these bowlers, anyone who comes back from injury, they are a little bit tender here and there," Fletcher told reporters after the game. "You just got to be careful and we wanted to make sure, especially with Simon, he is an individual that's
either flat out or nothing. It's very, very hard with him, that's the way he is, whether he throws, runs around in the outfield or bowls. And we just wanted him upfront, not to tear in there, straightway in a game, his first competitive game.
"We'd liked him to have bowled a little bit quicker, but we know with him,
if you say that then he will bowl flat out. We had to treat him with kid
gloves, just say half-pace and today he looked pretty effective out
there."
England had an uncompetitive attitude about them for most of the match and
Fletcher confirmed that they were not looking to force a win until the
final session. "Well from my point of view we used the game. We wanted the
game as a practice game and it was very satisfactory. We didn't really go
in for a win, honestly. We went in there to use those three days as
effectively as we can, to give all the batters a bat, and give all the
bowlers a bowl. It was very pleasing to see the way we finished it off. It
looked pretty clinical in the end."
Ian Blackwell picked up six wickets in the match and scored 59 while Monty
Panesar bowled a tight line and length and finished with three, giving
England a difficult choice ahead of their next tour game in Baroda. "As
far as the spinners are concerned, it is still a very, very difficult
decision," said Fletcher. "I've discussed this through the game with
Michael and we are going to have to out our heads together over the next
two days and it is going to be a very difficult decision. We still haven't
finalized who will go in or whether we will go in with two spinners. If it
is a green top do we risk going in with two spinners to have a look at them
or do we go in with the best attack for this three-day game?"
George Binoy is editorial assistant of Cricinfo