Two games left, series lost
Another ODI gets underway between Pakistan and England today - this time at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge. This series feels like it’s been going forever. And with the result already pretty much decided (at best England can now only draw the series, or “save” it, as described by England captain Andrew Strauss) even though Pakistan will be looking for a 4-0 whitewash.
The biggest controversy seems to be over the selection of Marcus Trescothick who recently ruled himself out of the ICC Champions Trophy. The team won’t be announced until shortly before the start of play but it poses an interesting conundrum for the selectors - on the one hand, he’s still one of the best players in the country and any team would be lucky to have him in, on the other if he’s said he’s not fit for India, then how can he be fit now? As far as I was aware it is a medical impossibility to predict that you will be ill at a specified time in the future. Maybe not. Either way, not selecting him would allow the selection of and practice for someone else - possibly Alastair Cook (already established in the Test side) or someone like Ed Joyce, who’s looked in good one day form all season.
Irrespective, the biggest concern will be the bowlers whose lack of firepower have lost the series. Ideally, Strauss will win the toss and elect to bowl, since Pakistan are very strong when chasing a target.
UPDATE:
I am psychic. Absomalutely. Trescothick has been duly dropped, the first time since 2000, and has been replaced by Ed Joyce. And indeed England are bowling first, and in the 6th over, Pakistan are 29-2.
Tags: England, marcus-trescothick, One-Day-cricket, pakistanRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Cricket
1 opinion for Two games left, series lost
harrowdrive
Sep 8, 2006 at 1:47 pm
I think the Tresco thing isn’t the same as a hamstring pull. It is certainly something psychological - but what that is reamins a mystery.
However, whatever it is, there is a massive difference between playing 2 ODIs in the UK compared to heading across the planet.
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