to a new level.
Just when they were thinking the last test match was just a blip they go and surpass it. I wonder if they’ll learn from this or just take the positives.
Funny thing is there was positives. Though one them you figure was more luck than judgement. Monty’s return. Six wickets in the second innings, in a match where he bowled 20 overs more than any other player for England, was great for his return after 2½ years. But you have to figure in true England obstinate way – we’ve got to number one with 3 seamers and a spinner – a second spinner wouldn’t have been picked if Tremlett hadn’t been injured.
Broad’s knock in the first innings along with his bowling was also a positive. But take those two out and it could have been worse.
All out for 72 chasing 145, fifth lowest total England have failed to get in a fourth innings run chase. Only the second time in the last 100 years they’ve failed to chase down a total less than 150. Extras third top scorer. Two batsmen contributed nearly 70% of the runs, out of 36.1 overs a whole 37 scoring shots – pretty much one an over.
Oh look when the pressure’s on and the chips are down and England are really relying on him to get them out of jail Ian Bell leads from the front and rescues them from a perilous situation. Yup, yet again it’s something you never heard being said.
The problem is Morgan is deflecting all the calls of dropping his way. Yes Morgan deserves the bullet but then shouldn’t the senior man who as over five times as many caps take more of the blame for his repeated failure. Remember after the last really humiliating defeat, Strauss and Flower’s first test in charge back in 2009 against the West Indies when skittled for 51, they needed to kick things up and so Bell was dropped. Things went on the up after that.
So that’s Morgan and Bell gone. To really shake them out of their we’re the best in the world
complacency – they ain’t, they reached number one mainly through home form, in the sub-continent they are useless – it needs a big noise. As I said last time Pietersen needs the hook. Nah not his useless attempts at the shot but hooked from the team. He’s a walking wicket, all the Pakistan captain has to do is bring on someone and tell them to bowl it slow with your left arm. They don’t even have to be a bowler or indeed left handed. And you’re guaranteed KP will plant his foot down the pitch, bat behind it, and plum LBW. That’s if he’s not trying some stupid shot. It’s the way I play
.
Remember when they talked about building on the success of the Ashes in Australia and beating India to gain that number one spot, not wasting it away as they did back in ’05…