Tag: Alastair Cook

Pakistan vs England Test series: A preview from an English perspective

October 13, 2015

England embark on a three Test series against Pakistan starting Tuesday. The odds are very much stacked against England and it will take something special; a collective team performance if England are to be victorious. England warmed up for this series with two, two-day warm-up games against Pakistan A, who fielded a decent side. The … More Pakistan vs England Test series: A preview from an English perspective

The Rise and Fall of Nick Compton: The England Years (Part 2)

September 2, 2015

August 29, 2012 Andrew Strauss sits at home. England have just lost to South Africa, 2-0. Hashim Amla made 311 at The Oval. Kevin Pietersen’s text messages stole all the headlines. And for Strauss, bat in hand, the runs have dried up. 100 Tests, 50 as England captain. 15 years a professional. Over 7000 Test … More The Rise and Fall of Nick Compton: The England Years (Part 2)

Let’s Talk About Adam

August 27, 2015

3-2 sounds unconvincing; but the scoreline deceives. Apart from the day one at Lord’s, England have been at worst solid, and at their peak brilliant. A 405 run defeat was, incongruously, but a blip on the radar: they out-gutsed the Aussies at Cardiff, and then watched self-capitulations at both Edgbaston and Trent Bridge. At the … More Let’s Talk About Adam

The Rise and Fall of Nick Compton: Becoming an Underdog (Part 1)

August 19, 2015

November 16, 2012 Nick Compton sits in the English dressing room, deep in the bowels of Sardar Patel Stadium. Strapping on his pads, preparing his gloves. He is about to realise his dream, though undoubtedly it does not quite match up with the way he envisioned it as a child. With Alastair Cook by his … More The Rise and Fall of Nick Compton: Becoming an Underdog (Part 1)

The English Cowan

August 13, 2015

Recently, I wrote a piece entitled ‘The Cowan’, about the opening batsmen since 2010 most capable of facing up to ball after ball. It was simply an account of their ability to face balls, not score runs, and measured Kaushal Silva and Alastair Cook as the numbers one-and-two. Given England’s inability to find a replacement … More The English Cowan

England’s Test batting: the future is bright

April 18, 2015

Following the debacle in the last Ashes series, England needed changes in the Test side, particularly in the batting department. They certainly made some changes, both in bringing youth in and also altering the batting order to find the right balance. Despite certain amounts of criticism levelled at the selectors regarding one man in particular, … More England’s Test batting: the future is bright