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England Tour of South Africa Preview

It has been confirmed that the Three Lions will travel to South Africa for a white ball tour later in November, despite the ongoing global Pandemic.

England will face off against South Africa in three T20 internationals, followed up by a three match One Day International series. The tour was originally in doubt because of the South African Government’s view of the UK being a ‘high risk’ for Coronavirus. Thankfully, the England players and staff have been granted special exemptions to travel.

I am personally extremely excited for this series; South Africa have shown over the recent years to be one of the most competitive white ball sides in the world. They also boast a bowling attack which will bring great challenge to England, with Kagiso Rabada and the ever improving Anrich Nortje. The pair have been destroying opposition bowling attacks playing together in the IPL for the Delhi Capitals, so seeing these two come up against England’s top order is going to be very exciting.

South Africa’s batting line up is also full of hard hitting superstars, from the obvious names like Faf Du Plessis, Quinton De Kock, David Miller and Rassie Van De Dussen and an international newcomer with unlimited talent, Janneman Malan.

South Africa’s team is stacked with talent, and England are going to have a tough time against them. Having said that, England’s top order is arguably the best in the world in One Day Cricket, Roy and Bairstow are just ruthless against the new ball, and with finishers like Morgan, Stokes, Buttler and Billings it is going to be a fascinating battle with South Africa’s seamers.

I am glad to see Reece Topley, Olly Stone and Liam Livingstone given another chance. I believe all three of them can contribute to England, especially moving forward when players retire or lose form. For me, there have been some slightly odd choices, I think Jofra Archer needs a good rest, he has had a rejuvenation in white ball Cricket after slightly struggling during England’s test summer. His performances in the IPL have cemented his place as one of the best fast bowlers in the world. Also the Moeen Ali selection was a head scratcher for me, he really struggled with the bat against Australia and has continued to do so in the IPL, while only bowling one or two overs a game, I would have loved to see another youngster get selected, Will Jacks from Surrey would have been my choice. I understand why the selectors have given Lewis Gregory another opportunity, but he really needs to perform if he gets the chance, his England future is not certain at all.

I believe England will perform up to their high standards and come out with two series victories, however I know South Africa will put up a stubborn challenge. I predict both series will end 2-1 to England.

 

Player of the tour prediction: Jos Buttler

Player to watch: Reece Topley

Twenty20 squad: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Tom Curran (Surrey), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Dawid Malan (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Surrey), Mark Wood (Durham).

 

One-day squad: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Reece Topley (Surrey), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

 

Reserves across both formats: Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Tom Helm (Middlesex).

Hampshire Filming/Edits

 

England vs West Indies 1st Test Match Day 3 Breakdown

Day three breakdown

Another lacklustre day for England, after being bowled out for 204 and only taking one wicket on day 2, the West Indies resumed their innings on 57-1 with Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope at the crease. The former top scored with a scratchy but well made 65 which was the foundations for an innings the tourists will be very happy with. Batting conditions looked a lot easier than when the English side were batting on it. In hindsight, Stokes choosing to bat first was the wrong one, and Stuart Broad’s comments of not being able to tell what the weather will do, is slightly frustrating… it is literally people’s jobs to tell us what the weather will do. Anyway, the conditions were a lot less overcast and the pitch looked flat.

The West Indies got their bowling tactics right all of day 2, push the ball up and it would move. Unfortunately, the English pace attack, besides Jimmy, were more interested in bowling a shorter length. Archer and Wood lack the control that Broad would have bought to this bowling attack and it did seem like a Stuart Broad kind of day. Wickets did seem to fall at regular intervals but not before the tourists built a substantial lead of over 100.

Stokes, Bess and Anderson all stood out, but Dom Bess was the most surprising to me. The off spinner bowled with a lot of skill and trusted his captain to set good fields and worked to plans. Although a dropped catch later in the day was disappointing his two wickets were extremely helpful from a spinner in the first innings, I expect him to work some magic in the second innings if England score enough runs. Stokes led from the front with bat and ball as he took 4-49, Anderson with 3-62 and the final wicket went to Mark Wood, who toiled away but spent most of his time in the dirt after exerting a lot of energy in his delivery stride.

The English openers managed to bat through a tough 40-minute spell to start their second innings as openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley reached 15-0, a deficit of 99. This was a difficult spot and the two handled it well, Sibley looked to have tweaked his technique to allow him to leave the ball more freely outside the off stump which is good to see. Burns looked solid as always, a big partnership is needed tomorrow from these two if England have any chance of securing a draw, let alone a win.

England vs West Indies 1st Test Day 2 review

After a weather delayed the first Day of crickets return in England, Day two started off as another shoddy batting performance from the Three Lions. A mix of both poor batting and excellent bowling contributed to England’s Lunch time position, sitting at 106-5. Rory Burns and Joe Denly returned to the crease on the second morning looking to build a platform but that partnership was short lived, Shannon Gabriel exploiting Joe Denly’s technical issue with the in swinging delivery as Denly was bowled by a brilliant 90mph delivery. Denly started off slightly erratic playing and missing at a few deliveries before his inevitable downfall, its got to be time to move on from the 34 year old, he’s got one more chance in the second innings he really needs some runs then.

Before any wicket fell, Rory Burns managed to score his 1000^th run for England, the first opener to do so since Alistair Cook at the Oval all the way back in 2007. His jubilation was short lived as the left hander’s promising innings was ended on 30 when he was yorked by Gabriel, the big fast bowler causing havoc for the England top order.

The next in was Zak Crawley, the young man who is likely to miss out in the second test when Root returns. Crawley looked decent when leaving the ball and playing straight but this didn’t last too long as playing round a straight one he was LBW to the ever impressive Jason Holder, the number one test match all-rounder in the world and this morning really did show why, Holder was slightly short yesterday and at the start of the morning but adjusted his line and caused a lot of problems to both Stokes, Crawley and Pope. Crawley gone for ten, the latter of the three I just mentioned, Pope, came out and looked to be in fine form as he clipped a four off his legs and played an Ian Bell esq cover drive. However, the young man then gave away his good start when he tickled at a shortish length delivery from Holder and Pope was then also out for 13. Stokes was beaten a few times by Roach but the stand in captain and Wicket-keeper Jos Buttler consolidated to lunch.

The afternoon session started of extremely well for England considering the position that the three lions were in before the Lunch break. Stokes and Buttler looked extremely positive against Gabriel and Joseph while Holder steadied the flow of runs from one end. Stokes was dropped twice once by Roach with a difficult catch down at fine leg but also an easier chance at short extra cover which was a dolly. This was a big innings for Jos Buttler who looked positive from the start, playing his natural aggression seemed to work wonders for his confidence. Their blossoming partnership was then ended when Stokes was caught behind playing across the line to Jason Holder, who was simply outstanding. Holder’s magical day continued when he got Buttler caught behind with a beauty, Buttler looked slightly stuck on the crease but give all credit to the bowler.

The last wickets fell swiftly, Archer and Wood both dismissed by Holder to complete his best bowling figures, 6-42. A short cameo from Dom Bess of 31 from 44 balls was short lived as Gabriel returned to clean up Jimmy Anderson and the meagre England innings was all out for 204.

It was then the West Indies turn to bat and it was interesting to see that the pitch did not seem like too much of a minefield at the start of the innings. Anderson was doing Anderson things and got Campbell LBW for 12, or so he thought, the left-handed opener reviewed and like the reviews all day, it went in the West Indies favour. The same thing happened again after the players returned to the field after a bad light break, Jimmy pinned Campbell for 24 before the decision was once again overturned thanks to the review system. England’s luck finally turned as Anderson finally got his man LBW for 28, this time Campbell’s review failed him. Shai Hope and Kraigg Brathwaite then saw out the rest of the overs to leave the 2^nd day firmly in West Indies hands, they are perfectly set up for a big score tomorrow as the weather looks great for batting.   

'Keeping' The Selectors up at night.

Like the top three conundrum, the enigma of who should keep wicket for england is a tricky decision. There are too many options for just one spot in the start XI.

In England’s thirty-man training squad there are four wicket keeping options, three of which have experience in the Test match arena. Yorkshire’s Johnny Bairstow, Lancashire’s Jos Buttler, Surrey’s Ben Foakes and the newcomer, James Bracey of Gloucestershire.

I believe in two of the three options England already know what they are getting in the selection. Bairstow and Buttler have been consistent performers for England at Test match level. Both have been through rough patches being in and out of the side. Bairstow is seemingly still in that rough patch, having developed a bad habit of getting bowled through the gate playing extremely expansive drives to full balls. This is something the Yorkshire man can get away with in ODI cricket as the ball does not move around as much, but in a Test match facing the dukes ball, which seems and swings this is practically a death wish. Johnny is a devastating white ball player at the top of the order, England do not need to mix teams so much, leaving Bairstow to focus on white ball cricket will help him to become one of the worlds best. Bairstow is adamant he wants to play Test Cricket again, but he shouldn’t warrant instant re selection just because he has come out and said that, he needs to go back to Yorkshire and prove he can bat against the red ball and score lots of runs.

Buttler is wildly frustrating for me to watch in the Test arena. Jos has all the talent in the world, but he is not quite able to convert scores into big hundreds. So far, the devastating batsman has played 40 Test matches but only scored on century at an average of 32, which is not bad but England need someone who can average around 40 coming in at number seven as Matt Prior once did. The three lions need someone who will contribute more on a consistent level. Also, the Taunton born Buttler has 15 half centuries but only one conversion and this needs to be better for England. I think leaving Jos for a specialist one Day keeper would also be for the best.

The next two options are my preferred choices for the test match glove men. Foakes would be my number one choice by a long way, he has shown signs of pure class in his career so far in terms of his batting. His wicket-keeping is the best of anyone on this list. The Surrey man dominated in the Subcontinent in his first series, scoring a century in his first innings. Centuries are so tough to come by in Sri Lanka because of the conditions and the bowling, however that innings proved he has the talent and temperament to succeed at the level. The 27-year-old is unquestionably the best wicketkeeper in England, his batting is just a bonus and another string to his bow. I believe with a long stretch of time in the team, Foakes can prove himself as the right man for the job.

James Bracey is the most intriguing out of the four possible options because he has little experience at the England level. The 23-year-old did tour Australia with the England Lions this winter and had quite an impressive tour both as batsman and keeping wicket. Bracey must have really impressed the England coaching staff and selectors because selection to this 30-man squad is tough. In red ball cricket he normally bats at the top of the order for Gloucestershire but spent time with the Lions at number 6. This really does show a lot of versatility in Bracey which could come in handy with England. Being only 23 I see the fluent left hander as more of a developmental prospect who could learn from being in and around the England set up. However, I think blooding him at International level sooner rather than later will increase his development and make him a better player. The Bristolian also has an incredible record in One Day Cricket, averaging 60, but I see him more as a future test match wicket keeper.

Verdict: Start Foakes

Bracey backup

Bairstow and Buttler keep as one day specialists

Photoshop

England's Top Three, Spoilt for Choice

England's Test match selectors have a major decision to make in the coming weeks. A decision which they are not quite accustomed too. However, the fact this conversation must even come up is a massive positive for English Cricket.

English Cricket fans do not have to look too far back, as early as last summer, when the top order was a huge question mark for the side. One Day specialist Jason Roy was a potential saviour, but this test did not pay off. A top score of 72 against Ireland his only half century in five test matches. The Surrey man was subsequently dropped for the fifth and final Ashes test match at the Oval.

For another Surrey man, and Roy’s opening partner for much of that Ashes series, the ashes series of 2019 was really the breakout series for the left-handed Rory Burns. His slightly unusual technique was question before the series but Burns silenced the critics with a magical 133 in the first test match at Edgbaston. The left handers solid summer set him up as England’s long-term option at the top of the order, this is still the case even after missing the tour to South Africa due to injury. For me, Burns is a must at the top of the order, he is vastly experienced and knows his game inside and out, he must play.

Another of England’s options to take one of the top three spots is Warwickshire’s Dominic Sibley. Sibley, still only 24 years old, broke onto the scene as an 18-year-old schoolboy scoring a magnificent double century in the middle of his exams. Although his rise to an England international has not been smooth and included a move to Warwickshire, now he is in the Right hander looks set to stay for a long time. After a slightly shaky start in his first series against New Zealand, Sibley hit a superb 133 not out against South Africa against a strong and aggressive bowling attack. That herculean effort was the first hundred scored by and English opener at Newlands since the great Jack Hobbs in 1910. His technique is slightly promiscuous, but it works, and he has an incredible temperament to not attack loose balls, excellent off his legs he has the talent to open for years to come. For me, Sibley must be Burns’ opening partner on July 8^th against the West Indies. This leaves only one spot left in the top three, it is a battle between two Kent batsmen, Zak Crawley and Joe Denly.

The most obvious different between the pair is that of their age and experience. Crawley is only 22 years old and has only played in a handful of Test matches, where as Denly is 12 years his senior and been in the Test side for over a year.

England selectors do like to play it safe and will in the end go for the older statesmen in Joe Denly. However, for me this would be the wrong choice. Denly might be the safe pick but he is not the best pick to help develop the team and help England to win test matches. 14 test matches and Denly is yet to hit a century. Personally, picking Crawley and putting him at number three could prove to be a masterstroke, it gives the 6ft 5 Crawley more time to develop his game in the long form, especially in a summer of not being able to play an county championship cricket. The London born Crawley already has a strong technique and during his short Test career has only improved over time. Crawley plays in my XI, leaving Denly as a good backup. Denly might end up playing in the first test anyway because of captain Root wanting to be at the birth of his first child.

The selectors have an incredibly tough job on their hands but the positives to look at is that England have a conundrum in who to select and do not have a frantic search for an opening batsman.

My XI for the first Test:

1.       Burns

2.       Sibley

3.       Crawley

4.       Root

5.       Stokes

6.       Pope

7.       Foakes

8.       Bess

9.       Archer

10.   Broad

11.   Anderson

12.   Curran (s)