Boult and Southee sink
England
Life had not yet gained momentum in the early morning in
Dhaka. I got out of my house as early as possible to reach hospital. While
stuck in the traffic-jam, a pretty annoying one on a day when the ruling party
is all set for one of their funny show downs, I checked on the live commentary
at ESPNcricinfo. Well, the score 35 for 9 left me shell shocked! Was the
website hacked or something else? One of the best Test teams of modern day
cricket, were in all sorts of trouble against the pace and swing of Trent Boult
and Tim Southee.
New Zealand’s Day-Night Test match needed a big BOOM and Boult
and Southee gifted the home team just the kind of start they needed for this
event and the perfect boost to start up this Test series. But not a great
moment for England, whose journey in five-day matches in Downunder have been
shambolic so far!
During the first drinks break, seven of English batsmen were
back in the hut and at one point, it seemed, New Zealand would hand England
their lowest Test total – 26 - ever which England gifted them in 1955 at
Auckland. But, well, England could save their prestige a bit as Craig Overton
played some shots to get the total past 50. England were all out for 58 –
simply shocking!
I took time to watch the highlights of England’s disastrous
display against the pink ball in the afternoon. I kept on guessing, such a
terrible display could have been possible under the lights, but not in
afternoon when the pink ball won’t move that daringly. England’s problems would
have been more about lack of technique against the moving ball.
While watching the moments of craziness in the first session,
I found out, England’s footwork was at its worst. The back foot was stuck at
the crease – it hardly moved and the front foot never reached the pitch of the
ball. Even big names like Alastair Cook and Joe Root were found wanting. Their
outside edge was consistently challenged – of course, Boult and Southee would
do such. But melting down early was not expected. The new
pink ball moves, yes the new ball moves early on, but if you are in a
limited-overs mode, mate, you are going to struggle big time.
The English team of the 90s were underachievers, but I don’t
think they would have struggled that much like this current side!
“I thought we made a lot of mistakes today with our footwork”,
said Trevor Bayliss. “The ball was swinging a little bit, but when the ball's
full, it's as simple as it gets, you've got to play forward. A lot of our guys
were out today from behind the crease to fairly full balls.
“We've been on the other side of scores like that and it's
euphoria. This is the opposite. Someone sneezes and the rest of the guys catch
a cold don't they? Everyone was making the same type of mistakes - feet not
moving properly, decision making not as it normally is”.
“Someone makes a mistake at the top of the order and under
pressure sometimes that happens. Unfortunately, today it was our turn. It
wasn't good enough”.
England would need to play extremely well in the next few
days to halt their poor record away from home, which includes nine defeats in
the last 11 matches. England's longest winless streak away from home is 12 -
they will do well not to equal that now.
Boult and Southee –
too hot to handle!
You forget about Trent Boult and Tim Southee easily when
names like Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, James Anderson or Stuart Broad are
cited. But these two gems of New Zealand tend to remind you hard by dishing out
some mind-blowing bowling displays. Both
of them moved the new pink thing and pitched it fuller like never before – the line
has been always on fourth stump and bingo! England with their poor technique
found no answer.
Boult and Southee reminded us again, not to forget them.
They demand a place among the modern day great fast bowlers.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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