The 50 Over World Cup has started after what has seemed to be a strange period at the end of English Summer.
The Ashes was gripping, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well The Hundred went in August, but the month of September was at best odd. The final rounds of the county championship were played out minus the World Cup squad and the shadow 50 over squad (let’s be honest the A Team) who played a series against Ireland.
The once premier format of red ball cricket drew to its conclusion in autumn weather, missing most of the marquee players (English and Overseas) and with more loans than any self respecting bank.
Debate ensued as to who should be in the 50 over squad (even though it was already picked), cases were made for several very good players not least Sam Hain, Will Jacks, Jamie Smith and Phil Salt but the reality is that they, like many of the main squad, don’t really play 50 over cricket so we have no idea if they are any good at it.
The World Cup is now under way, not what Jos would’ve wanted (one could argue the preparation was poor), but too soon to write them off. Wood and Woakes can only get better as neither have been seen since The Oval at the end of July.
Following Morgan was always going to be tough, and that task become more difficult for Jos when powerful men like Stokes and McCullum took over the Test team. As a test fan I am delighted that is getting prioritised, but make no mistake it will make defending this Word Cup more difficult.
There is too much cricket played with little or no context or consequence. Having formats overlap one another will always see the quality and integrity of the game diminished.
Once this World Cup is done attention will turn back to a huge 18 months for the test team; India Away, two series at home followed by an away Ashes series that will define Stokes, Root and McCullum.
I love the way they set up to play and largely agree with the way they set the side up. Some refinement is needed as they can become entrenched in a certain plan such as a short pitched spell. Improvement is still needed, as entertaining as the summer was it is another drawn home Ashes series.
The harsh reality is that Australia are getting closer to beating us in England having drawn the last 2 series. England are no where near winning in Australia. It is 14 years since England last won a test series in Australia and the truth is that the current team are no where near as good as the ones of the mid 1990’s and early 2000’s.
Sometimes you need a bit of luck, many Aussies still tell me that they’d have won in 2005 is McGrath had not trod on the ball and missed the match. It could be argued that England might have won in 1997 if McGrath had trod on a ball as he levelled the series at Lords. The 1998/9 Ashes in Australia would’ve and should’ve been drawn had Micheal Slater been given run out at Sydney as he should have been.
My hope is that the 2024/25 vintage are not talking about ifs and buts. I don’t know how much longer Stokes can go on but I’m sure he will lead this team and I am certain that Joe Root will be alongside him.