Having just gone 2 – 0 up in the Test Series against India, one might be hard pressed to find any problems for England right now. However, they do seem to have run into a couple of possible injury issues. At least they seem like issues at first glance.
After a strong performance in the First Test at Lord’s, Chris Tremlett pulled up with an injury that ruled him out of England’s emphatic victory of India at Trent Bridge. To counter this, the selector’s went for the at times much maligned Tim Bresnan. Instead of becoming a weak-link in the squad, Bresnan went about scoring a superb 90 in England’s 2nd Innings before taking a 5 wicket-haul to kill the game off on day 4 with some great bowling.
This is the prime example of England’s newfound strength in depth and the exact opposite of the way things have gone in the past.
Even in the famous 2005 team, when Paul Collingwood was drafted in for the final Test at the Oval, he failed on both occasions to make runs. Four years later though, faced with the precise same conundrum, England turned to Jonathon Trott, who made a half-century and a century on debut after Ravi Bopara had been dropped.
Now after this performance from Bresnan, the selector’s will have a dilemma if Tremlett is fit again as to whether to drop Bresnan or not. It would be a tough call, and one I wouldn’t enjoy having to make. Personally, I would keep Bresnan for the traditional seamer-friendly wicket that Edgbaston is. This means not changing the bowling attack and allowing Tremlett to properly recover.
As it is, an injury to Graeme Swann’s hand may offer the selector’s the loophole of having their cake and eating it too by bringing in the extra seamer in Tremlett to give a four-pronged pace attack. That said however, why wouldn’t England try a straight swap? Spinner for spinner, they can look to the likes of Samit Patel, Monty Panesar, or James Tredwell. With Patel, you would keep things fairly balanced as he bats better than the other two.
The final headache is the number 3 spot. Jonathon Trott’s shoulder could well hold him back from playing at Edgbaston. Now this is probably the department where England have the least back-up. It was no problem at Trent Bridge, England simply moved Ian Bell up to the number 3 slot where he promptly scored 159. Now Ravi Bopara is fresh from having scored a hundred for Essex last week. I believe he is the only obvious choice to replace Trott. If this path is followed, Bell should be kept at 3, with Bopara taking over at 5, or even 6 if they want to elevate Morgan.
This isn’t a position I can ever remember England having been in, they can replace almost anyone in their team with a player of vast quality. Even Matt Prior is being kept on his toes by people like Craig Kieswetter. These are the kind of elements that get you to being World Number 1, which is where England are surely destined.
England are truly spoilt for choice and cover. I only hope they keep making positive selections as they have done for the past 2 years, that way they will keep winning as they have done for the past 2 years.
P.S. India have similar injury issues with Zaheer Khan still out but likely to be back for Edgbaston as is Virender Sehwag. Their replacements, Abhinav Mukund and Sree Sreesanth has been far less effectual than England’s. With those two back however, it could be a different Indian team completely.
P.P.S. The spirit of cricket prevailed on Day 3 when Ian Bell was given out. Despite the law clearly stating that he was out, it was superb and refreshing to see India reinstate him. Football could learn a thing or two.
No comments:
Post a Comment