THE new-look England One Day side appears to have come to terms with the many fears and uncertainties that are part and parcel of any rebuilding process. This comes across not only through the results that the side has achieved in the last few months, but also, and perhaps more clearly, through the manner in which these results have been achieved. But the end result is often taken as the bottom line, and that also goes in favour of England after its victory over Pakistan, and then the recent triangular championship involving, other than England, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
While Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothik still carry the burden in the batting lineup, the introduction of Vikram Solanki at the top of the order has lessened the pressure to a great deal. But while the batting lineup still has the potential to cause jitters in the dressing room, it the English bowling attack that has basically done the trick for the team.
Ever since Bob Willis called it a day, and that was some years ago, England really struggled to keep things moving on the bowling front. Darren Gough made headlines, but struggled for support at the other end for most part of his career, as Andrew Caddick, though useful, was nothing sensational. When age started to catch up with Gough, and he was seen more often on the sidelines than in the limelight, England appeared to have hit the rock bottom.
Things have changed now, and England finds itself in an unexpected situation where it has an embarrassment of riches with Simon Jones, Steve Harmisson, James Anderson and a couple of more in the wings. Besides, they have effective bowling all-rounders in the shape of Andrew Flintoff and Anthony McGrath, and, on top of that, Gough has returned to the seen after a long layoff which has given him not just fitness, but also a new hunger for wickets.
From being a guaranteed name in the starting lineup, Gough now finds himself in competition with lads who were probably in their shorts when he first represented England. All this is bound to bring out the best in him, provided his body can keep up with the sustained pressure that is part of all international sporting activity in the modern world. If that happens, England stands to benefit even further from this healthy competition.
Even though Vaughan sat out a few games in the recent competition, I think he has it in him to captain England on a long-term basis. To start with, he has proved to be a reasonable leader of men, which is one of the basic essentials for any captain. His decision-making has not been bad either, and he has a touch of cool-headedness about him that augurs well for the future. If anything, his absence from a few games only gave the English selectors a chance to have a look at Trescothik, who is another potential captain in the side. This, again, is a healthy competition, which, if managed properly and professionally, can take the team a notch above.
With the Test series against South Africa round the corner, England will definitely take the field with confidence running high even though the Test side will have quite a few changes, with old guards like Nasser Hussain, Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart expected to return to the national fold.
The Test side under Nasser Hussain will have to keep the momentum going after the One Day side has drawn the first blood. Any laxity on the field or in terms of the scoreline will not go down well with the followers of English cricket. As such, with Vaughan breathing down his throat, Nasser Hussain will feel a bit of pressure during the series. Again, it will be a feeling of healthy competition within the side.
THE new-look England One Day side appears to have come to terms with the many fears and uncertainties that are part and parcel of any rebuilding process. This comes across not only through the results that the side has achieved in the last few months, but also, and perhaps more clearly, through the manner in which these results have been achieved. But the end result is often taken as the bottom line, and that also goes in favour of England after its victory over Pakistan, and then the recent triangular championship involving, other than England, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
