| Tweet |
England v India
In the test arena, England have found the perfect set up and balance that has made them the finest test team in the world, but the same thing cannot be said of a one day side that appears lop sided and uneven.
The presence of Alistair Cook as captain and opener and Jonathan Trott at three gives England a headache at the top of the order.
Both aren’t the cumbersome blockers they are portrayed as (Trott ended the World Cup earlier this year with a strike rate of over 70) but the balance is wrong, especially for the first ten overs when an innings needs to be established.
Tempo is often a word used when talking about the ODI game, and with the impact Twenty20 has had upon the 50 over format, the pace of an innings has grown ever more important. Against an Indian bowling attack that is likely to bowl tight lines to restrain rather than make batsmen hop about, a case could be made for someone like Eoin Morgan coming in at three and Trott being disposed of.
That appears somewhat harsh on the South African born batsman given his form over the last 12 months and is something that is unlikely to happen given England’s propensity to stick with players, but his overall ODI rate of 66 puts pressure on those around him to hit out if he beds in for a long innings which results in wickets falling. England need to find a harmony in their team, something that isn’t the case.
Cook wasn’t even included in the one day side that went to the World Cup in March, but as head coach Andy Flower admitted when naming the Essex batsman as ODI captain, necessity was the name of the game rather than choice, and his presence along with Cook gives England a real lopsided feel.
Craig Kieswetter has regained the gloves and will open with Cook for the series, but he far from established in this England side because of his own inconsistencies – another aspect that creates an element of pressure. Ravi Bopara and Samit Patel find themselves in similar circumstances, and when there is pressure to perform, more often that not failure follows.
England and Andy flower have looked vulnerable when it comes to the one day game, something that it is impossible to say when it comes to ODI games.
England can use the momentum gained from the test series to overhaul an Indian side low on confidence, but perhaps they must take a leaf from the book of the test side and find a set up that works for them rather than fitting square pegs in round holes, if they are to find long term success
Compare Cricket betting Odds