Ian Baker - England have reason for optimism
02 Dec 2009 - 11:27:52
Inconsistent. That's the word of choice being banded around to describe the England one-day side at the moment. But are they really if you look beyond paper?
The competitive record in South Africa this winter reads won, lost, rained off, won, lost, won and that may suggest the tourists struggle to put together two decent results on the trot. But I think the performances in general have been pretty good – an unexpected plus.
England go into Friday's final ODI in Durban 2-1 up – they cannot lose the series. Their only 50-over defeat came on South Africa's favourite ground (and also mine, come to think of it) – Newlands in Cape Town in the third match.
In that encounter, South Africa were rewarded for their attacking game in fine, sunny conditions on an absolute belter. AB de Villiers was in particular outstanding taking apart all England's bowlers.
No particular bowler appeared to be worse than the other. Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann may well not have been at their best – but Graeme Smith and his fellow batsmen were at the very top of the game.
You give the Proteas credit but England were slated for their performance in the 112 run defeat – I disagree with the criticism.
Andrew Strauss's men showed a lot of good signs that they are starting to emerge as a decent one-day side – even in such a heavy defeat.
They went about a near impossible run chase of 355 in bold fashion, promoting Luke Wright to open with his skipper.
And until Kevin Pietersen got himself out frustratingly, England gave themselves a chance despite the difficult task of facing the South African attack and the floodlights.
England took that new-found confidence into last Sunday's clash at Port Elizabeth with Jimmy Anderson taking a career-best 5-23.
Maybe, just maybe England have worked out the formula to play the 50-over game.
They at last look strong as a batting unit while the bowlers are improving all the time.
It is South Africa who have all the problems. The 3rd best one-day side losing to the 6th best side on home soil?
Smith cannot get the right balance between bat and ball in their side with their highly-rated bowlers unable to deliver the goods.
South Africa may well be the inconsistent side instead.
Certainly England are taking positive steps to improve their own one-day game.
And if people wish to describe them as "inconsistent" it sure beats "consistently rubbish" which they were only three months ago.
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