Opening game provides no clues for England selectors

While for most cricket fans across the world the start of the season is associated with freshly cut grass, clear blue skies and warm dry pitches, for an English cricket fan cold, damp drizzle is the image most linked with the season’s opening round of games.

It was in front of this soggy backdrop that the traditional season curtain-raiser between the MCC and the county champions, in this case Durham, took place last week, at the home of English cricket – Lords.

To some players the occasion wasn’t just a friendly warm-up, it was a chance to impress the England selectors with a busy international summer ahead of us.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan, opener Rob Key, Ian Bell and keeper James Foster all went into the game hoping to get runs under their belts.

Vaughan, who hasn’t played for England since last summer, knows his experience in the field and the dressing room will be invaluable (he has won the Ashes before after all) but with only the number three position vacant in the international side he needs to show he can make runs with the bat before he can add to his 82 test caps.

Bell is under pressure after underperforming throughout the winter. He needs a good start to the domestic season more than anyone if he is to keep his place. Rob Key meanwhile hasn’t won an England cap for four years. Despite that prolonged international exile the Kent skipper, who has previously led the England Lions side, is many people’s tip to captain England in the upcoming 20/20 World Cup.

James Foster is the latest contender to try and replace Alec Stewart behind the stumps (bearing in mind Stewart – our last established wicket-keeper – retired six years ago!), even though Foster last played for England in 2002.

So, now for the cricket review. Amid the gloom and damp of Lord’s how did the players perform?
Well, a combined runs total of 32 isn’t going to leave the Aussies quaking in their boots, and hardly gives the England selectors a headache either.

Vaughan (12), Bell (12), Key (5) and Foster (4) all failed with the bat as the game petered out to a soggy draw.

There was enough time, however, for former Somerset skipper Ian Blackwell to complete his century as Durham posted 311-4.

Blackwell lost 10kg during the winter in an attempt to rekindle England ambitions – the left-hander played the last of 34 one-day internationals on the tour of India in 2006. Speaking after the innings on Friday, Blackwell said he wanted to get his name “back in lights” and push for an England recall.

Well he certainly did that, leaving some more illustrious opponents in the shade.

5 Comments

  1. I was totally disappointed by Bell’s response to a question asked about him being dropped from the test side…

    “Someone had to go and it was me…”

    It was as if the teams were looking for a scapegoat and he emerged as the only one…

    What this shows is that he thinks that he was playing fairly well but was just a scapegoat..

    His attitude needs to change…he should realise that he is performing badly!

    April 16, 2009
    Reply
  2. Personally, I don’t think Ian Bell should be anywhere near the England team this summer. No amount of classy looking runs for Warwickshire will solve the fact that he does not have the mentality for international cricket.

    Another recent comment that was hard to fathom was after the 51 all out debacle, particularly as it was Bell’s idiocy that sparked the collapse. He said “it was one of those days”. Or, as I read it, “nothing we could do, get over it and carry on regardless”.

    April 16, 2009
    Reply
  3. damiths said:

    crickettragic> it also shows the lack of confidence he has in himself. he’s made his career on the back of a couple of good looking cover drives and its expiry date has been reached.

    goodcricketwicket- agreed, this guy needs to be send back to county cricket for a good old while, bring in someone who deserves the spot, maybe owais or bopara and see how it goes.

    bells been given too many chances and not converted enough of them.

    April 16, 2009
    Reply
  4. ceci said:

    Hmmm – don’t think all this calling of Bell is the answer – he’s better at no 5 and fathead KP ought to be moved up to no 3 – he’s been underperforming too and it’s about time he dug in

    April 16, 2009
    Reply
  5. Burton said:

    I admit, I have not been on this website in a long time… all the same it was another joy to see It is such crucial subject and ignored by so many, even adept. I thank you to help making people more alert of possible problems.

    December 7, 2009
    Reply

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