Six and Out - Some Serious Cricket

Scapegoating can’t save England now

by SixandOut on August 11th, 2007

Day 2, 3rd Test, India vs England, The Oval

England got pounded in to the ground by a rampaging Indian batting attack, that kept going all the way down to number 11. The highlight of the day was the maiden test century, after 118 matches, for Anil Kumble, scoring a delightful 110* to give India a massive 664. Any hopes that England might have had of levelling the series with a win here have been totally dashed and sadly it’s now a case of doing their best to avoid 2-0. That means England must bat for 3 days, a feat that seems well beyond the grip of the current England batsmen.

Matt Prior came in for yet more abuse from all and sundry. After dropping Tendulkar yesterday with a diving attempt to his right and, as a result, having the outcome of the match, not to mention his fledgling career, called in to question, he unfortunately did himself no favours by repeating the mistake, early on day 2. This time it was VVS Laxman and a diving attempt, away to his right, to which he went one-handed. What’s worse than dropping a catch like that is when it was destined to plop neatly in to first slip’s hand. Instead, it dribbled away to the boundary for four and Sidebottom was deprived another wicket.

In this instance, Prior was in the wrong but it’s not surprising that he was looking to assert himself after the amount of shtick he got the previous day. The commentators and journalists collectively remarked that the debate over the England wicket-keeper was likely to be reignited, failing to realise that they themselves were the catalyst. Derek Pringle in particular, seems to have forgotten what happens on a cricket field in suggesting that Prior would be having difficulty absolving himself of the guilt. Guilt? I’m sorry? Guilt should never have a place on a cricket field and anyone who has played the game knows what it is like to drop a catch - and it is the duty of everyone else to bring your head up, to help them you move passed it and give you the courage to take the next chance. If Prior was indeed struggling on day 2, it was only as a result of people like Pringle getting the claws in at the very first available opportunity. Prior was also lambasted for letting through 33 byes. Judging by some of the mush that England’s “bowlers” were chucking down, it should have been considerably more. Did anyone not see Kevin Pietersen’s first delivery? A ball which pitched around middle, turned and Prior took it a good couple of foot outside leg stump. Commentators were silent.

And where is Andrew Strauss’ abuse? So he has just fielded for a day (but his night watchman replacement James Anderson, who had also fielded for a day, not to mention bowling 40 overs managed it), but he is a specialist batsmen and his only job was to bat for 8 overs and set up day 3. But he couldn’t even manage that, holing out to another hook-gone-wrong. Strauss is a considerably more senior player than Prior, who is still on the back of a run of bad form, scoring few runs. Yet Ian Botham dismissed it as “bad form” and all he needs is some time in the middle. Why was Prior not afforded a similar reprieve? Arguably Strauss’ lack of concentration will be more expensive than Prior’s indiscretions.

England’s bowlers toiled as best they could, but with Sidebottom suffering a sidestrain, Vaughan turned to the likes of KP. I have always felt that if you have to turn to a “part-time” bowler for any significant number of overs, then there has been an error in selection. KP had 6 overs for 40 odd, although did somehow manage to displace a combusting Dhoni. But it was Kumble’s (and not Tendulkar, or Laxman or Dhoni) day. On a final note on the Prior saga - if a batting card reads like the Indian’s does - that is, everyone scoring runs all the way down to number 11 (Sree Santh scored 32), then you can’t pin that on any one person.

As it stands, England need to bat for 3 days. They have 19 wickets. Now would be a great time for Cook to find some form and a maiden test century for Jimmy Anderson. But on a deteoriating wicket, with a swinging and turning ball, with the likes of Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble to do the bowling, 2-0 is looking a likely outcome. I just hope Prior isn’t hung out to dry for it.

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