(posted 7905 days ago)The Times
September 01, 2002
England bank on champagne performance from Cork
Defeat for Nasser Hussain’s men at The Oval could seal the fate of the Ashes series before a ball has been bowled, writes Simon WildeIT seems traditional for the approach of an Ashes series to be greeted by an English firework display of snapping tendons, cracking digits and choking fits. England do not just tend to play badly against Australia, they tend to play badly simply at the prospect of playing them.
There is a case for saying that the past two Ashes campaigns were lost before they began, confidence fatally undermined by defeats to Sri Lanka at The Oval in 1998 and Pakistan at Old Trafford last year.
The importance of this week's deciding Test against India cannot be overstated. In three years together, the Nasser Hussain-Duncan Fletcher partnership has never lost successive Tests in the same series (injury kept Hussain out of two of last year's defeats to Australia), and back-to-back defeats would rock morale at the worst possible time.
Already tired, the England camp would find it hard to repair the damage in the eight weeks left before the Ashes opener in Brisbane on November 7. Channel 4’s highlights package for the tour might then have to be screened after the watershed to prevent shocking the under-aged.
India are on a roll and will be hard to beat in conditions that may suit them, and in front of capacity crowds largely populated by their own supporters.
The prospect of a first Test series win outside the subcontinent in 16 years will be less significant to the Indians, who will turn Kennington into a little Calcutta, than Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th Test appearance at the record age of 29.
It is going to be like an away game for England, which is why, with Craig White unfit to bowl, they will probably name Dominic Cork as replacement for the injured Andrew Flintoff in their squad this morning. He loves a scrap and will be unfazed by the atmosphere, as would Ronnie Irani, his chief rival for the position. Cork is likely to get the nod because as a bowler who bats, his presence will not fatally weaken an attack still licking its wounds after the mauling it received in Leeds. Even when England won at Lord’s, it took them 192 overs to dismiss India twice, and that is too much work for four men.
Much will depend on the pitch. England know better than to ask Paul Brind, The Oval's fiercely independent groundsman, to do them a favour, so they are keeping their fingers crossed that he does not prepare a pitch so dry that it takes early turn. In 1997 it turned from day one, and the main reason England lost to Sri Lanka the following year was because it favoured Muttiah Muralitharan. Last year Shane Warne walked off with 11 wickets. Anything similar would play straight into the hands of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
Doubts about how the pitch might play may lead England to name a second spinner in a 14-man squad, in which case Richard Dawson, the Yorkshire off-spinner who performed creditably in India last winter, is favourite to play second string to Ashley Giles. This would be a remarkable revival for a man who, before claiming five-wicket hauls in his past two matches, was enduring a frustrating season.
England are more likely, though, to cast Giles as sole spinner in support of a pace attack that may also enjoy Brind’s bounty. Indeed, Steve Harmison could replace Alex Tudor, whose stamina remains in doubt, to exploit the pitch's pace and carry.
If England opt for a seventh batsman (counting wicketkeeper Alec Stewart among these) rather than a fifth bowler, then we will know that Hussain and Fletcher, who attends a meeting at Lord’s tomorrow to discuss an extension of his coaching contract beyond September 2003, have lost their nerve ahead of the bigger battle.
Although Cork at seven would be batting a place too high, England must rely on the top six making sufficient runs, as they have all summer. Even at Leeds, England’s totals of 273 and 309 were par scores; it was India’s 628 that was not.
Though the paint is starting to chip on John Crawley’s makeover, the hoped-for return of Marcus Trescothick in place of Robert Key should add power to the batting’s engine-room. England need to win the toss, bat first and get a good total. Batting last at The Oval is not for the faint- hearted.
Given the conditions, a draw is unlikely; given their injuries, a win for England improbable. But the consequences of failure are almost unthinkable.
With the Ashes squad expected to be announced on September 10, Hussain said yesterday that Graham Thorpe must convince the selectors he is mentally ready to tour Australia. Thorpe decided five weeks ago to take a break from cricket to sort out his domestic problems. It seemed unlikely he would go on tour, but he seems to have changed his mind.
Hussain said: “He is still going through a difficult time. He has said to me that he would like to go to Australia, but there are still problems he needs sorting out. Graham has to convince the selectors, and himself, he can get through a hard Ashes tour. It’s such a difficult thing for him when it’s been his career all of his life, and there’s no greater tour than the Ashes.”
Thorpe confirmed that he had spoken to Fletcher: “I told him that I want to be considered for Australia. He took on board what I had to say and, although he made no commitment to me, it was important for me to let him know where I stand. There would be no point in making myself available if I wasn't utterly convinced I would be able to cope with the situation.”
Additional reporting by John Stern