Press lay into 'Sri-diculous' England
A year ago it seemed that all was well in England
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Mirror
A year ago it seemed that all was well in England. But after yesterday’s public humiliation the newspaper headlines were full of pictures of angst-ridden spectators and “is this the end” articles. Yes, Tim Henman crashed out of Wimbledon in the second round. That, and the media obsession with England’s footballers … well, their wives more like … was all that kept yet another drubbing for the one-day side off the back pages. The simple truth is that, at the moment, few in England really care. They will, of course, if this dire form rolls on into the winter.
In The Daily Telegraph, Derek Pringle admitted that he was at a loss as to a way to turn things round:
“With a whitewash at home only one match away, a malaise has set in for which the only cure is a return to winning ways, though quite how that might be achieved is not immediately apparent.”
In The Guardian, Mike Selvey noted that England’s side was hardly packed with first-choice selections:
“This was a scratch England side, the sort of outfit that clubs around the country will be fielding on Saturday as they try to counter World Cup fever … only Marcus Trescothick and Steve Harmison of the team yesterday would be nailed down as certainties in a first-choice side.”
And he had this to say about the hapless Kabir Ali - 0 for 77 and a first-ball duck:
"If all the pace bowlers were culpable once more, then to Kabir Ali fell the dubious distinction of being the latest scapegoat. Brought into the squad as a replacement for Glen Chapple and then into the XI in place of the hapless Sajid Mahmood, his unexpected appearance and first international bowl in England will surely be his last."
The Times noted that there was a marked lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford where “the resigned mood among those in the stands could not have contrasted more tamely with the suspense of England’s previous visit”.
In the Daily Mail, Chris Foy warned that there is a growing mood of “public indifference”. He continued:
“The booing started just after 11.30am. Being forced to watch the nation’s finest available players being unable to master even the basics, and by the end of Sri Lanka’s innings fielders were jeered fro denying the visitors’ batsmen boundaries.”
In the Mirror, Mike Walters took up a similar theme:
“Ten months ago Lancashire turned away 30,000 for the final day of the Ashes thriller. But last night the queues snaking round Old Trafford were those trying to flee another bankrupt performance.”
Martin Williamson is executive editor of ESPNcricinfo and managing editor of ESPN Digital Media in Europe, the Middle East and Africa