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Australian Application Shows Up Profligate Pietersen
It represented around three seconds of a match that lasted just shy of five days. It was just one of well over two thousands balls bowled. It was one wicket of twenty-five in the match, but the first Test of the 2009 Ashes series will be remembered for the ridiculous arrogance of Kevin Pietersen. If England’s first innings of 435 had proved to be the competitive total it was over-optimistically labelled and not the missed opportunity that in reality it was, then his moment of idiocy could be quietly swept down to fine leg, but the fact that Australia’s batsmen went on to operate with such ruthless efficiency exposed the flaw in England’s star and in turn the flaw in relying on a brilliant, but self indulgent narcissist.
In a team sport, it’s unfair to hang the millstone of blame around one player’s neck, but in this case it so evidently damaged the team’s cause, it feels appropriate. After getting himself in and accruing a decent score, Pietersen abdicated responsibility, then casually dismissed it as his natural game and not something he plans to alter any time soon. His attempt to sweep a ball that looked set to be called wide on the off side required Inspector Gadget-esque limbs and seemed about as destined for success as a case being probed by the aforementioned inspector – without the help of Penny and the Brain if you’re into your 1980s cartoons. In contrast, the Australians took the inch given to them by the English bowlers and turned it into miles of ball chasing for the Pom fielders. No batsman in the world may be able to match Pietersen in terms of ball striking and flair, but it’s in the areas of application and duty to the team the unheralded Marcus North and Brad Haddin excelled. England’s cynical delay tactics towards the end were disappointing, but you get the feeling the Aussies wouldn’t be immune to it if the shoe was on the other foot.
So to the second Test and what England need to do. There is a school of thought that says England can’t bowl as meekly as they did for the vast majority of the Australian innings. Save for a fiery spell from Andrew Flintoff, they rarely posed a threat. Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson and Graeme Swann have proven they are better than that, but they need a few more tricks up their sleeves when the ball isn’t swinging and the pitch resembles newly laid motorway. Or at least to stop making excuses. That school of thought could be wrong, as now that the Aussies have sunk their teeth into them once, they’ll have nothing to fear for the remainder of the series. Steve Harmison did well for the England A team against the Aussies before the 1st Test and his form for Durham merits a call up to the squad at the very least. Graeme Onions should also take his phone off silent in the next couple of days.
If there was the talent available, Pietersen should be dropped to give him time to contemplate the notion of responsibility at county level. That will never happen as he still remains England’s man hope of winning the series, but there should be steps made to accommodate the prodigious Irishman, Eoin Morgan. The dubious documentation of grannies allowed Ireland to profit by signing up footballers that were about as Irish a natural tan and now it’s time to return the favour. Morgan made his name with flamboyant strokes in the shorter form of the game, but his game can be adapted for the more considered approach required for Test matches. A combined haul of sixteen runs suggests Alistair Cook could make way, but that would involve a rearrangement of the batting line-up that exceeds England conservatism.
As dismal as much of England’s performance in the first Test was, they can take steps to be more competitive. It doesn’t take a cartoon crime-fighter to figure that out.
July 14th, 2009 at 8:15 am
THE ULTIMATE BORE = TEST CRICKET.