Published: Feb 27, 2011, 10:45 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 03, 2014, 10:28 AM (IST)
By Joshua Green
Watching that performance against Holland was a painful experience for the average England fan with only a small handful of their players coming away with an even smaller handful of credit. So, hopefully, the next game will be less demanding… what’s that? Who’s the next opponent? Oh…India!
Yes, that’s the same India that racked up 370 for four against a very decent Bangladesh side, an innings built largely on Virender Sehwag‘s epic 175, ably assisted by a round 100 from the exceptionally-talented Virat Kohli. That Bangladesh got within 90 runs of India’s total shows what a formidable unit they have become (and also how poor a performance Sreesanth put in; his five overs accounted for 20% of Bangladesh’s runs). So what hope do England have?
As the old saying goes, it’s not over till its over. England, on their day (and the 22nd of February was emphatically NOT their day) are capable of beating anyone. James Anderson was woeful against the Dutch and if he survives for Sunday’s game you have to assume he’ll be improved. England’s fielding prowess deserted them on Tuesday – they had become one of the best fielding units in the world and I can’t see them turning in another shocker quite like that.
So that probably explains 30-40 runs in Holland’s innings, but even taking that into account, should England be conceding 250+ to what is essentially a team of (talented) part timers? If they aren’t right on their game on Sunday, India will tear them limb from limb.
I think Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss will be tempted to tinker, Michael Yardy may come in, either at the expense of Anderson or Ravi Bopara. Given his fireworks to see England over the line on Tuesday, it may be harsh to drop Bopara, so Anderson might have to make way for the second spin option.
What should concern England though is that India scored 370 without any substantial contributions from Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir or the explosive Yusuf Pathan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh weren’t even called upon. India’s batting line-up is so fearsomely strong that bowlers can’t afford to be fractionally out. Whatever happens on Sunday, it should be a great game between two of cricket’s heavyweights.
(Josh is a long-time lover of cricket of all creeds. He’ll just as happily sit and watch a game of village cricket as gather among the thousands at The Oval to watch England. A Surrey fan and member, he’s suffered enough humiliating losses but loves the county nonetheless, and England of course. His favourite cricket memory, much to the annoyance of friends who have heard the story many a time, was being witness to Test cricket’s slowest-ever 12, from 96 balls by Rahul Dravid at The Oval in 2007)
