Over It, Moonwise
August 22nd, 2009 by Gideon Haigh in The Ashes 2009
Jonathan Trott today became the eighteenth batsman for England – it is still a little difficult to call him an ‘Englishman’ – to score a hundred on Test debut, and the fourth in his own team, Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Matt Prior having come the same way. At the press conference tonight, Trott also suggested he would be a snug fit with the culture: ‘It’s quite hard to describe now to be honest. I’ll probably have to sit down and think about it and reflect on it…Hopefully there will be a successful result for us and it will be even more special….Obviously the selectors showed huge faith in me and I’m pleased to be able to reward them.’ A ‘to be honest’, a ‘sit down and think about it’, a ‘hopefully’ and an ‘obviously’: why, the man’s a prodigy, already a master of the most mind-deadening maxims in cricket’s lexicon. Fortunately, it was his bat that had earlier done the talking, and most eloquently. If he continues exuding such aplomb at the crease, he is welcome to as many clichés as he likes afterwards.
Posted in The Ashes 2009 | 8 Comments »
August 23rd, 2009 at 8:55 am
Suddenly England look to have a promising batting line up:
Cook (after a break)
Strauss
Bell (with head right)
Pietersen
Trott
Bopara/fifth bowler
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Onions/Harmy/whoever
…looks good to me. Sorry Colly…
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:29 am
There’s still a lot for Cook and Bell to prove before I’d get too excited about the future.
And we need to unearth a genuine allrounder at number six (arguments as to whether Flintoff was such a player or a quality bowler who could occasionally bat a bit notwithstanding). I suppose it’s too late to give Glen Chapple the call.
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 am
Not sure about Cook, Bell and Bopara. Surely there are more South Africans out there angry at their country’s attempts to promote racial integration and happy to play for England???
August 23rd, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I’ve found it’s unwise to describe anyone as “English” unless they do first. A person may think of themselves as something else – Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish nationalist etc.
If someone is eligible for the England cricket team – and good enough – they should play for the England team. BUT – I would get a bit concerned if too many players in the squad did not come through the English/Welsh cricketing system; it would suggest that it was not all that it could be.
August 24th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I think the South African heritage thing is being overplayed. The very nature of England (or the UK) has always meant that its peoples have travelled overseas… the fact that their offspring should want to play for the ‘homeland’ shouldn’t really be questioned. If people are eligble for citizenship and a passport then they should be equally entitled to represent that country at sport. Such is the modern world.
The potential irony of Australians whingeing about it may well come 15-20 years further down the line. Given the laudable trait of young Australians to travel the world and occasionally settle for extended periods of time I would imagine that there is most likely more than one future wearer of the baggy green who has been born in London (or wherever) and is currently being raised there.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Two days since an update from Gideon.
We may have to wait for the book.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Paddy Briggs, how about adding the leg spin bowler Adil Rashid to your line up? Only 21, no one else has ever scored a century and taken 5 wickets in consecutive games for Yorkshire. He could perhaps bat at 7 until Broad is ready to assume that role.
1. Cook (i know …)
2. Strauss
3. Bell (with head right)
4. Pietersen
5. Trott
6. Bopara/fifth bowler
7. Prior
8. Rashid
9. Broad
10.Swann
11.Anderson/Onions/whoever
Flintoff? Who’s he?
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I’ve never been a fan of separate Test, ODI and Twenty20 teams – but the sheer quantum of international cricket these days makes me think that it is now a good idea. So here’s my SA tour squad long list with T (for test) O (for ODI) and 20 (For T20) alongside their names:
Cook T
Strauss T O
Bell T
Pietersen T O 20
Collingwood T(?) O 20
Trott T O 20
Bopara T(?) O 20
Shah T(?) O 20
Wright O 20
Rashid T(?) O 20
Panesar T(?)
Prior T O 20
Broad T O(?)20(?)
Swann T O 20
Anderson T O(?)
Onions T (?) O 20
Harmison T
Sidebottom T(?) O
Bresnan O 20
Jones G (reserve keeper)