Team England excited by the battles ahead (14 May 1999)

14 May 1999

Team England excited by the battles ahead

David Lloyd

We are back on the road again, a team together. Our time has had to be managed well because of our practice schedules, our wider obligations to the game by way of our signing sessions with the young 'kwik' cricketers of Folkestone, Maidstone and Canterbury, receptions in London and Kent, interviews and photocalls and our own team meetings. A demanding time for all concerned.

Our first practice match against Kent sharpened us up well. Practice it wasn't. This was a full-on game with Matthew Fleming's team up for it. We were put in to bat on a pitch with some movement and lost both openers cheaply. It hasn't happened for us at the top of the innings and this causes concern. How to deal with it is for the individual to keep working, keep doing the right things, keep it simple, and for the coaching and management staff to show support and encouragement.

Graham Thorpe and Neil Fairbrother got a partnership going after a rain interruption and lousy play down the order took our score to 197 for seven in our 38 overs. We, too, made early in-roads into the Kent batting. The Australian, Andrew Symonds, and our own Mark Ealham threatened to win the game for Kent, but I was pleased that whilst that partnership was developing, the scoring rate was increasing. We kept our discipline well and took some outstanding catches. Plenty of good points, a number of things to work on but overall a satisfactory performance.

Our next port of call was Chelmsford where Nasser Hussain led the opposition, Essex, who are a very talented one-day team. We won the toss and batted first. Again there was early movement which accounted for our openers and at one stage we were 59 for four. Thorpe and Ealham came together for the all-important partnership and we finished on 229 for seven, a working total. The dressing-rooms are adjacent to each other and it would be an understatement to say that Essex were quietly confident. They got the start that they required with Hussain opening the batting and going well with Paul Prichard. Prichard was beaten by Andrew Flintoff's arm from the boundary and this brought Stuart Law to the crease. He and Hussain took us to the cleaners for a time . . . but we stuck at it. Law went for the big shot, failed and Alec Stewart pulled off a sensational catch to dismiss the dangerous Ronnie Irani. It is that sort of magic that can turn a game and so it did. Hussain's gamble did not come off and although we came under the cosh in the closing stages, Vince Wells, entrusted with the final over, just got us home. Another backs-to-the-wall performance.

Hampshire at Southampton was an easier game. We won the toss and bowled, which was significant. Ian Austin took the new ball with Alan Mullally coming on first change. We got into the top order and dismissed Hampshire for 91. Although we lost Nick Knight early on, Stewart did spend some time at the crease which will do him the power of good. The innings of the day, however, came from Graeme Hick. He looked commanding and played some awesome shots.

So what of our opposition today, Sri Lanka. In my experience, champions do not relinquish their grip easily. They are a very dangerous team. They are as tough as old boots and can play accordingly. Past encounters have been brought up but the game that matters is today's and no baggage needs to be brought into it. They are a strong unit with oceans of experience and it is a superb fixture to open the competition.

Sachin Tendulkar has said that the key to success will be the amount of runs scored down the order and I would agree with that. Also, teams will have to pay attention to the number of extras that they give away in the shape of wides and no-balls. They become big players in low-scoring encounters.

PS: England's chances? What I can say is that we have prepared well, worked hard, and are looking forward to the challenge. We are not among the first three favourites but all the coaches are saying the same thing: "It is on the day that counts." Add to that, that flash of magic, that run of the ball, that bit of luck - come June 20 we will know who the best one-day team in the world is ...

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