LETTER_TO_ED_05APR94

Letter to the Editor: Flying in the face of reason

England's dismissal by an inspired West Indian fast bowler for 46, is not the end of civilisation as we know it (report, March 31). I recall the great Australian, Lindwall, bowling out an England Team including Hutton and Compton at their peak for 52. Five years later, on the same ground, we regained the Ashes with the majority of that team. What depresses the ordinary cricket lover is the total inability of the supposed experts to put out the best England Team, or select horses for courses. It is immaterial if Gower flies a Tiger Moth, Lamb flies into print, or Gatting flies too close to the wind. Their abilities on the field are what count. Gower would have nullified Warne, as he did Qadir; Lamb has never been overawed by the West Indies or anyone else, and Gatting was a successful and gutsy captain. Wiser counsels should have prevailed when the gifted Atherton (right) chose his team - some proven middle order batsmen should have been selected. The bowling, I'm afraid, was symptomatic of modern English cricket, based on containment not attack, a philosophy that is now affecting even the grass roots of the game. Atherton has stated his wish to build up a young squad for the future. What future? A possible result against Sri Lanka or Zimbabwe?

James W. Mitchell, Blackpool

(Thanks : The Daily Telegraph)