What if it doesn't swing for England?
‘If it doesn’t swing,’ Andy Flower said, ‘we can still win the series
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
‘If it doesn’t swing,’ Andy Flower said, ‘we can still win the series. We’ve got the attack to take 20 wickets.’ This is a bold statement for any England coach to make at the best of times. And, Ashes or no Ashes, it’s fair to say these are not the best of times, writes Lawrence Booth in the Daily Mail.
In their last 28 Tests overseas – beginning with the previous visit to South Africa five years ago – England have taken 20 wickets only seven times, including twice against a weak New Zealand side in seam-friendly conditions. One in four is not a ratio to set the pulse racing, let alone beat the best team in the world. There’s more. During that period England were able to field possibly their most incisive seam attack ever. Now they arrive in South Africa without any of the Fab Four of Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones that delivered the 2005 Ashes. Flower possibly knows something we don’t.