EW Swanton: New English spirit will be hard to subdue (28 May 1997)

Wednesday 28 May 1997

New English spirit will be hard to subdue

Personally Speaking by E W Swanton

A WEEK in cricket can be a long time, as Harold Wilson declared it to be in the world of politics. Six days ago Michael Atherton`s England party faced a summer of conflict against reputably the strongest of the countries, no more than decently hopeful. Today, as a result of three victories over Australia, each more conclusive than the last, the picture is transformed.

Next week the start of the Ashes series will remind us that Test cricket is a sterner game. Yet, while the happenings so far have suggested fallibilities in the Australian bowling, a new English self-confidence will not easily be subdued.

It was, of course, personified in the attitude and performance of the brothers Hollioake, whose Anglo-Australian upbringing - Melbourne birth and English schooling - has produced a pair of refreshingly uninhibited young all-round sportsmen. Among the present generation of cricketers the captain, John Crawley and Darren Gough announced their promise as teenagers and it was a joy to see all three in such admirable form over the weekend.

Memory, however, fails to recall so startling an impact by a 19- year-old on such an occasion as Ben Hollioake`s hour at the crease. Sitting in the sun, watching his nerveless 63 runs while Alec Stewart sensibly subdued his own attacking instincts made for a happy memory that is certain to outlive the summer.

David Graveney and his co-selectors deserve applause for several of their choices so far and that of the younger Hollioake in particular. Altogether, one detects in the advent of the ECB both on and off the field a new spirit abroad which by the grace of Providence will colour the thinking of the authorities when they consider the future shape of our game later in the summer.

Without airing in detail personal preferences at this stage, I would suggest there is much to be adjusted, for instance, in the areas of leadership, of coaching, of prize-money and of the board`s clearer avenues of opportunity for the ambitious, as distinct from what would be a highly divisive restructuring of the County Championship.

NEW things are happening all the time at Lord`s these days; a new Grand Stand in building, a new Media Centre about to impose itself on the Nursery tree-line and a new Tavern now in business. Add the 1995 Indoor School and the ECB offices alongside.

If not everything of all this may perhaps be to the liking of the more conservative-minded, there can be no reservations about The Fine Art of Cricket, the exhibition of paintings in the MCC Museum, which was opened to the public on Sunday and will remain so until the end of the season.

There have been larger exhibitions but, I believe, nothing to touch this for quality. The artists range from Hayman and Wright in the 18th century to Andrew Festing and Bryan Organ in the 1990s. There is a superb portrait of W G Grace lent by Dr Michael Down, never before on public view. The most valuable on display is Francis Cotes`s The Young Cricketer, which was recently purchased by Paul Getty.

Those from the club`s own collection include the most fam- ous picture of all, the ragged boys Tossing for Innings and Festing`s two conversation pieces of famous post-war England players. The second of these shows John Snow, Basil D`Oliveira, Alan Knott, Derek Underwood, Fred Titmus, Ray Illingworth, Dennis Amiss, Mike Smith, John Edrich and Brian Close. It contains a vacant space, awaiting the convenience of Mr Boycott.

ON the first day of the County Championship season I saw Devon Malcolm take six wickets against Kent in a performance of real pace and control. He has since brought his bag, after only four matches, to 34 at 19 runs each, 12 wickets more than anyone else. On the face of it he must stand a good chance of playing in the first Test at Edgbaston.

At Lord`s the other day, awesomely fit after having bowled out Middlesex, he showed me with pride a charming letter from Nelson Mandela who has consented to be the patron of his benefit - a grim reminder it was of the pitiful exhibition of team-management which soured his tour in South Africa.

Amid excitement that was almost too much for your antediluvian correspondent, Kent won a grand victory by four wickets on the most handsome of county grounds against Worcestershire last evening with three balls remaining. One way and another, we followers of Kent are feeling, as they say, rather bullish at the moment following a highly successful start to our season.

John Wright, as coach, and Paul Strang, of Zimbabwe, as all-round replacement for Carl Hooper (and particularly as a leg spinner) are highly welcome additions to the Kent staff. The best cricketers are not always the best coaches, but Wright is an articulate upholder of the game`s traditional values, his credentials impeccable as a New Zealand captain with 12 Test hundreds and 5,000 runs to his name.

The successful side needs strength in depth. Hence the significance at Horsham of young Ben Phillips (aged 22 and 6ft 6in) deputising for Dean Headley, on parade with England. Two Kentish undergraduates, Ed Smith and Will House, are making big scores for Cambridge and will be available after the University Match. Min Patel being out for the season, the one department below requirements is spin bowling.

Another aspect of Kent cricket is the publication this week in two volumes by the club of the standard edition of their history. The first volume is an exact replica of the great work edited by Lord Harris, covering the game from its earliest days from 1729 to 1906: the second takes the story to 1984.

There is much fine writing, with the scores of every match being included as well as biographical sketches and career records of every Kentish player and nearly 300 illustrations. To add a topical touch, there is a colourful account by the Hon Ivo Bligh of his team`s Australian tour, wherein he recovered the Ashes in 1882-83.

The two-volume History of Kent Cricket may be purchased for 60 (plus 6.65 if posted) from the Secretary, KCCC, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury, CT1 3NZ.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)