If England don’t start the crucial third Test with some fire in their belly then something is wrong.
In the build-up to the historic 100th Test match to be played at the Oval, Ben Stokes’ cage was clearly rattled when the team’s motivation was called into question.
“To get questioned about your desire and commitment and fight for England was a bit far but we have to take criticism of performances, which we are understanding of but anything to do with desire is too much,” the vice-captain said, walloping one back at the media.
The truth is, while England have played an entertaining and unpredictable brand of cricket in all formats since the summer of 2015, victories haven’t backed up what has been a large amount of hype.
Forgetting progression in limited-overs competitions, England have failed to win seven out of their past 10 Tests and under coach Trevor Bayliss, have registered just three series victories out of the eight in which he has been in charge, dating back to May 2015.
All set for tomorrow, great to be back at the Oval for the third test as it's 100th. #engvsa… https://t.co/BxyX63W0hj
— Jonny Bairstow (@jbairstow21) July 26, 2017
The thumping opening win against South Africa at Lord’s seemed to cure a Champions Trophy hangover and banish some memories of a disappointing winter in India, but it only served to exaggerate the impression of the team’s current form.
Indeed, Joe Root’s superb debut as captain glossed over pretty much everything else – and let’s not forget how poor a weakened Proteas line-up were too.
It was nothing more than a smokescreen, covering up the great problems that have been lingering around English cricket for a while now.
The ‘shocker’ (apt word choice by Bayliss) of England’s 340-run second Test defeat at Trent Bridge was much for than a wake-up call.
With the Ashes looming later this year, England seem no closer to finding the right answers with personnel.
The over-reliance on Alastair Cook and captain Root to score the bulk of the runs has been evident for a number of years now. Slotting Root at three should be an easy call for the team hierarchy to make, but yet it hasn’t been made.
But what for the rest of the top order? Opener Keaton Jennings is horribly out of nick and doesn’t look to be the right man to open with Cook. Gary Ballance misses this one through injury but the chop may have come anyway given his third-coming to Test cricket hasn’t set the world alight.
Selectors have taken credit for giving players a run in the team but their recent picks, with many starting well and then fading, has to beg the question of whether they are actually studying little more than a player’s county stats – and if they are developing them for the better.
The picks of the Zafar Ansari, Ben Duckett, David Batty and Liam Dawson are proof in the pudding.
Good county cricketers but not of international quality, you would think were the words most scouts would write against their names.
Let’s not forget the young talent Haseeb Hameed. Though he has had injury problems, you wonder whether his poor form is a result of too much tinkering by England.
Bowling-wise, they have looked a bit one-dimensional and of course rely heavily on the ageing powers of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Toby Roland-Jones gets a go for the first time in south-west London and there’s surely a shirt up for grabs in an attack that lacks great pace, variety and seems to be continually injury-ridden.
But now it is time for answers rather than the same old questions.
.@root66 has confirmed that @tobyrj21 will make his Test debut tomorrow coming in for @MAWood33, who is not 100% fit #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/M5kKwfFsNG
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 26, 2017
