P.Juriansz: England - a force to reckon with (16 Aug 1996)

16 August 1996

England - a force to reckon with

By Pelham Juriansz

The present English side has become a force to reckon with after their improved performance against the Indians and in the second Test versus the Pakistanis.

Their batting has clicked, and their bowling looks sound, though they lack a genuine quick bowler in the calibre of Devon Malcolm and the added variety that a finger or wrist spinner could provide. The batting looks solid with Mike Atherton and Alec Stewart opening the innings. Both are capable of long innings and Stewart is capable of quick scoring on occasions. With the elegant Nasser Hussain and the dogged Graham Thrope at no 3 and 4 respectively they have got the left hand right hand combination in the early middle order. The left hander is capable of handling the leg spinner as well.

John Crawley looks very compact at no 5 and Nick Knight, well, what accolades could you shower on him. He started off rather shakily, but blossomed to really bludgeon the Pakistanis in only his fifth Test. His cuts square of the wicket on the off side were a treat to watch and he even picked up deliveries off his toes on the leg side and thumped them to the boundary. He looks the part, and apart from Steve Waugh could turn out to be the best no. 6 in the World. Knight has got the added advantage of being an opener who is no stranger to the new ball. Thus if the first five batsman should survive the 80 overs and the opposition take the new ball when it is due England have a batsman capable of handling it. It was a shrewd move to play Knight at 6 for which the captain, coach, and selectors should be complimented.

A side should play their best wicket - keeper which in England`s case is Jack Russell who does a mighty good job with the bat as well, but should Stewart keep wickets then England could play the extra bowler probably Phil Tuffnell or Ian Salisbury.

The big question is of the four seam bowlers or `quicks` who played in Headingly only Chris Lewis disappointed with the ball in the first innings. Lewis however is an excellent fielder with his panther-like strides. Mullaly is a good left-armer, but a poor fielder. His missed catch off Moin Khan cost the Englishmen dearly when Moin went on to score a brilliant century. So do England play five fast bowlers? Dropping either Mullaly or Lewis and playing a spinner instead should prove fruitful. Come August 22 we should encounter a very interesting Third Test at the Foster`s Oval in Surrey.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)