He has a point
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India away from home & SA at home. Plenty of challenges ahead for this English side.
**England’s challenge in 2012 is not only to stay at No 1 in the world Test rankings: it is to put clear water between themselves and their rivals and begin the sort of reign West Indies had from 1980 to 1995, and Australia, which ruled from then until 2007. *Not gonna happen Scyld. England are good but not that good!!!
*To this end England, for the first time in their history, have to start winning in Asia on a regular basis. Not just in Test cricket either.
In Sri Lanka in September they have to defend their crown as world champions of the 20-over game, while in 50-over cricket they must cease to be the push-overs they have always been in the sub-continent.
**It is going to be a long and arduous climb to these summits because the English style is so different from the Asian style. But the race is on worldwide to achieve excellence in all conditions: for English, Australian and South African teams to win in Asia, before India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka work out how to win outside Asia.
**English-born batsmen — and the various batsmen they have acquired from South Africa **— have all grown up facing far more pace than spin. They have two of the best coaches in Andy Flower and Graham Gooch; the record so far shows that it is rare, almost impossible, for a batsman in his twenties to be converted like a car from petrol to diesel and become a better player of spin than pace.
Ever-evolving, cricket has seen another new delivery emerge out of Asia to follow the 'doosra’. This is the carrom ball, which India’s Ravichandra Ashwin can bowl, and two Sri Lankans, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath - but, as with the doosra, no England spinner as yet. Both in bowling the latest varieties of spin, and in playing them, England have to catch up.
At least this year’s schedule will work in their favour. England have a relatively easy introduction to Asia in their tour of the UAE which starts this Saturday. Pakistan have just as skilful a pair of spinners as England have, but in almost deserted stadiums in Dubai and Abu Dhabi they are not going to be quite so formidable as they would have been in Karachi and Lahore.
**In any event, England are not going to win in Asia and become long-term world champions simply by aping Asian sides. They have to play to their own strengths and multiply them: specifically, to the point where their pace bowlers — of which England have a finer supply than any country — can move the ball around as much on grassless pitches as on grass.
So the first target is for two or three out of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, Steve Finn and Chris Tremlett to bowl Pakistan out twice with serious ingenuity. It will be fascinating to see how they blend it with the need to be patient and not press too hard.
**In March, after a short break, England have a two-Test series in Sri Lanka, which is unsatisfactory as it will not be a prolonged test of skill during which their players can expand their game. And the standard formula for Sri Lanka at home is to prepare a big-turning pitch for the first Test, go one-up, then shut up shop. England will be improving their Asian game, without question, if they return from Sri Lanka undefeated.
In the autumn comes England’s supreme test, even bigger than their three-Test summer series against South Africa. England have to play four Tests in India, where they have won only one since 1985, and that in the strangest of circumstances in Mumbai. A draw was within India’s reach on the last day — indeed many people would have put a bet on it — yet some of their batsmen preferred to slog and see if England could catch skiers.
**Considering how overwhelmed England were in India only a couple of months ago, when they did not look like winning any of their five one-day internationals, their new Asian style will have to be in full working order if England are going to win the Test series in India.
**And it is not only their batting and bowling that will have to kick on: so will Matt Prior’s wicket-keeping to spin and the close-catching, which again is a different game on low, turning, pitches.
The best feature, however, of the culture which the Andocracy of Strauss and Flower has introduced to the England team is that if they see any laurels, the last thing they do is rest on them.
When England tour India next autumn, England’s supporters will be able to see how their resources are being maximised — even if they cannot watch the replay because India have banned the Decision Review System.
Roll of honour
The England team, especially for their flawless fielding one morning in the Sydney Test which exemplified their new culture and spirit.
**Highlights
India absorbing the utmost pressure to win the World Cup in magnificent style.
****Lowlights
Mohammed Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammed Asif.
**Unsung hero
Peter Moores, for keeping quiet about his England disappointments then chivvying Lancashire to their first outright championship since 1934.
**Wasn’t expecting that…
The excellent delivery by Kumar Sangakkara at the MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture.
New Year’s resolution
That England should start performing consistently well in Asia.
**Watch out for
Steve Finn, who might combine height, speed, accuracy and combativeness as no England bowler has yet done.
Key date
July 19, the start of England’s three-Test series against South Africa.
What will happen
English domestic cricket will remain a complete dog’s dinner.
What won’t happen
The separation of the English domestic season into the championship in April and May, 20 overs in June, 50 overs in July, then the championship run-in.