This time of year is always a tough one when it comes with trying to find inspiration for this blog. Not a lot has been happening.
Last night in search of watching something on TV, I found that BT Sport were covering the 50 over competition from the Caribbean. As I said to Mrs. Don, at least we should see some sunshine. I select the channel and the first thing I see is torrential rain and the groundstaff failing miserably in trying to get the covers on the wicket quickly.
There has been some cricket though. The number 1 ranked T20 team, Pakistan, have been well and truly beaten by Australia in their three match series. England have got their tour to New Zealand off to a successful start with victory in the 5 match T20 series albeit with a rain delay and super over thrown in. A really good way to start the tour and another one finger salute from me towards The Hundred competition set up in their infinite wisdom by the ECB. I don’t like the idea of this format as it completely detracts from the other white ball cricket that we currently play. I have already voiced my opinion of downgrading the 50 over format to being a competition for development sides. On this, I am not happy.
Aside from the current tour being undertaken, what’s happening in 2020? Internationally, we have tours to South Africa (4 Test, 3 ODI and 3 T20 matches) and Sri Lanka (2 Tests). June and July sees Australia come here for 3 ODIs and 3 T20 matches. The Windies will be playing 3 Tests in June. Pakistan are here between July and September and will play 3 Tests and 3 T20 matches. Also in September we will be playing Ireland in 3 T20s. That’s 12 T20s in preparation for the T20 World Cup during October and November. We could do well with this especially while Eoin Morgan has the appetite for the dramas ahead.
I was hoping to have come up with something regarding the domestic schedule but I could not find anything with regards to the County Championship. What we do know is that following the restructuring of the two divisions, there will be ten counties in Division 1 with 18 matches each. How many of these will be played in April and September? How many County players will break through to the Test team?
Back to the goings on in New Zealand. How can two, two-day games be classed as adequate preparation for the Test matches ahead? Our batting has been our Achilles Heel for too long. Whereas it’s great to see Dominic Sibley and Zac Crawley scoring tons, as well as Ollie Pope getting 31, I can’t help feel that stronger opposition and three day games as a minimum has to be the order of the day. On paper, this should be an evenly contested tour as conditions down under are not that dissimilar to those we face in a typical summer.
At least we have the delights of TMS to get us through the dark mornings this winter.
S.N. Don