Who Am I?

My photo
Daniel Lewis. Ordinary name, not such an ordinary bloke. I'm from Llanelli, and I've lived in Bath, Cardiff and have now settled in Devon and soon to be Somerset. I graduated with an honours degree in Accounting and Finance from Aberystwyth University. I played 3 years for Tarannau Aberystwyth American Football Team and now play for Somerset Wyverns (#57 and now #27). I am the defensive coordinator for Exeter Demons. I enjoy my life to the best of my ability, through family, friends and sport. I'm one of those cases of don't judge a book by its cover. I love to hit and do all the macho things you can dream of, but I'm also a domesticated professional, who loves to cook and read books. I'm a bit of a strange one, from my sense of humour to the title of this blog, as one of the rare few linebackers that can count.

Monday, 15 August 2011

It's Quite Simple When You Think About It


So England are now officially the number one test team in the world. It's been a long time coming and after two convincing wins it seemed a mere formality that they would wrap up the series in the 3rd test. I enjoy watching cricket, and for years didn't enjoy watching England play. I would love to see them getting a pasting from Australia every two years in the Ashes. Occasionally when players picked were home grown (Simon Jones started his career out at the same club that I play for, Dafen CC) I would hope for good personal performance but had never wished England well. This will not change until they recognise the fact that its the England and Wales cricket board. Now they are playing exceedingly good cricket, I still refuse to jump on the bandwagon, but credit when its due they do thouroughly deserve to be at the top of the test rankings. They have outclassed an Indian team that was previously dubbed the best in the world in the test format.

With the comprehensive series win that England have had, many people have been left wondering how India ever got to number 1 and how such a bad side could ever win test matches. The truth is quite simple when you actually think about it. Firstly they are an ageing side that seems to have a lot of players coming to the end of their wonderful careers. The great batsmen in their lineup (Dravid, Sehwag, Tendulkar, Laxman) have an average age of 36. Over the last few years they have led India to many victories and maintained their status as a top side. In those years since reaching the number one spot they have scarcely played in conditions that have not suited them. They have consistently played on batting pitches or complete dustbowls. Either way they massively suit the Indian batsmen and style of play. This year in England has been completely different. No other country in the world plays cricket in overcast, humid conditions that allows the ball to swing consistently for 80 overs a day. The english pitches are also like no other, bouncy, green and hard they provide an ideal surface to bowl and bat on if you know how to take advantage of them and can battle the conditions. This has been key as England have thrived where India have struggled.

India's bowlers have not been up to scratch as they are used to having teams be under pressure due to massive totals compiled by their own batsmen. The batting has made up for a mediocre bowling attack in the past. In England this hasn't happened and the bowlers couldn't pick up the slack. Kumar isn't a test match bowler when he barely struggles to make 80mph and is only effective when it swings a lot. Sharma and Sreesanth are young, inexperience and not actually that good. They pale in comparison to Englands superb bowling attack. India have had bad luck with Harbajhan and Zaheer being injured, had they both been fit some games could've been different, but its unlikely. India have been found out in England. To be the best team in the world you have to be able to win everywhere. That means mastering all conditions that this wonderful game is played under. England have managed to do that with a lot of strength in depth. Take Bresnan's impact on the series as a point for that. The bowlers are undoubtebly the best attack in the world. They are better than the fab four of Ashes 05 (Hoggard, Harmison, Jones and Giles) and are creeping up on the some of the best ever attacks. They are still a way off from the Aussie attack of McGrath, Lee, Gillespie and Warne from the early 2000's and even further away from the 80's West Indians but they are getting there.The batting is solid and is capable of piling on big scores wherever they play. The side have played well everywhere and completely deserve the title of the worlds best test team. Just a shame its with four South African's and an Irishman in the team. So much for home grown talent eh...

No comments:

Post a Comment