Enough is Enough - A Cricket 22 Story

Rumple43

Survival Games Finalist
Survival Games Finalist
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Location
Sheffield, England
Profile Flag
England
0 Intro.jpg

English cricket is in disarray.


After the latest embarrassing chapter against Australia, the English test team looks more directionless and outmatched on the world stage than they have in decades.


Something need to change, or the current course could be irreversible.

---------------------------------------------

Welcome to Enough is Enough, my new Cricket 22 story charting England’s (hopeful) rise from the cricketing doldrums and back to international test relevance.

The goal is to try and scale the heights of the cricketing world, culminating in the 2025/26 Ashes down under and a potential shot at redemption.

We’ll be kicking things off in early 2022, with the upcoming test series against the West Indies on the horizon.

I’ll utilise some video as well as written updates to paint a picture across how the team is developing, as people sometimes prefer to consume these things in different ways.

To view my YouTube channel, CLICK HERE.

Each “story” post will begin with a header like the one at the very top of this intro, so feel free to chip in with comments and discussion, main story posts should still be easy to pick out. I’ll also create a contents page so that when each post goes live people can follow along or jump to a specific update that they’re interested in.

A few other notes for interest:
  • I’ll be using my own sliders, and the latest version of the Slider Spreadsheet, available HERE. I plan to use the home/away modifiers and where possible, some of the additional drop down options as well.

  • I’ll be using reskilled teams, which are basically scaled down versions of those that come with the base game. Reduced judgement, reduced power, reduced skills. For more info on how I’ve done it, go HERE.

  • Players will earn attribute boosts and losses based on their in game performances. Teams will be picked in part based on their overall attributes, but also their current form, age and potential. This story will evolve over time as some players grasp their chance for international stardom, and others let it slip away.

  • Injuries can and will occur, with players missing time to various degrees depending on the injuries they sustain. I can’t just roll with the same players across four years, sometimes people will need to sit out, regardless of how good they are.

  • I’ll be manually stat tracking the competitive games I play, so there will be a page below for those numbers as we go.
As a disclaimer, although the people referenced in this story are real, their personality, thoughts, beliefs, quotes, actions and so forth are all fictitious and created for story telling purposes. As such, I’d prefer it if those real people don’t sue me. That'd be great, ta.

I’m unsure, given real world commitments, how often I’ll end up pushing out content. It could be a slow burn, especially given the number of games and series involved, but that said I’ll try to keep the flow of content coming as frequently as I can. I find that these types of stories give me more purpose to the games I play, and I can scratch a creative itch as well as a video game one at the same time.

So there we go. The road to the 2025/26 Ashes starts here!
 

Rumple43

Survival Games Finalist
Survival Games Finalist
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Location
Sheffield, England
Profile Flag
England
Contents

Jan 2022 - 1) England sack Giles, Silverwood and Thorpe - CLICK HERE

Feb 2022 - 2) England appoint Hesson, Stewart and Trott - CLICK HERE

Feb 2022 - 3) Touring 18 for West Indies announced - CLICK HERE

Mar 2022 - 4) Intro - Jamaica v England (4 day warm up) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 5) Day 1 recap - Jamaica v England (4 day warm up) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 6) Day 2 recap - Jamaica v England (4 day warm up) - CLICK HERE

Mar 2022 - 7) Tweet from Michael Vaughan - CLICK HERE

Mar 2022 - 8) Intro - West Indies v England (1st Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 9) Day 1 recap - West Indies v England (1st Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 10) Day 2 recap - West Indies v England (1st Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 11) Day 3 recap - West Indies v England (1st Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 12) Day 4 recap - West Indies v England (1st Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 13) Day 5 recap - England win by 286 runs (1st Test) - CLICK HERE

Mar 2022 - 14) Ryan Higgins injured, misses remainder of WI series - CLICK HERE

Mar 2022 - 15) Intro - West Indies v England (2nd Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 16) Day 1 recap - West Indies v England (2nd Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 17) Day 2 recap - West Indies v England (2nd Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 18) Day 3 recap - West Indies v England (2nd Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 19) Day 4 recap - England win by 319 runs (2nd Test) - CLICK HERE

Mar 2022 - 20) England mull changes for 3rd test - CLICK HERE

Mar 2022 - 21) Intro - West Indies v England (3rd Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 22) Day 1 recap - West Indies v England (3rd Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 23) Day 2 recap - West Indies v England (3rd Test) - CLICK HERE
Mar 2022 - 24) Day 3 recap - England win by an innings and 23 runs (3rd Test) - CLICK HERE

Mar 2022 - 25) Series recap roundtable - CLICK HERE

Jun 2022 - 26) Intro - England v New Zealand (1st Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 27) Day 1 recap - England v New Zealand (1st Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 28) Day 2 recap - England v New Zealand (1st Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 29) Day 3 recap - England v New Zealand (1st Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 30) Day 4 recap - England v New Zealand (1st Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 31) Day 5 recap - England win by 4 wickets (1st Test) - CLICK HERE

Jun 2022 - 32) Jofra Archer ready for selection - CLICK HERE

Jun 2022 - 33) Intro - England v New Zealand (2nd Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 34) Day 1 recap - England v New Zealand (2nd Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 35) Day 2 recap - England v New Zealand (2nd Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 36) Day 3 recap - England v New Zealand (2nd Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 37) Day 4 recap - Match Tied (2nd Test) - CLICK HERE

Jun 2022 - 38) Intro - England v New Zealand (3rd Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 39) Day 1 recap - England v New Zealand (3rd Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 40) Day 2 recap - England v New Zealand (3rd Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 41) Day 3 recap - England v New Zealand (3rd Test) - CLICK HERE
Jun 2022 - 42) Day 4 recap - England win by 235 runs (3rd Test) - CLICK HERE
 
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Rumple43

Survival Games Finalist
Survival Games Finalist
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Location
Sheffield, England
Profile Flag
England

Series recaps and results​

March 2022
Toss
Result
Series
Overall
8-121st TestWest IndiesBridgetown
Y​
Won by 286 runs
1-0​
1-0​
16-202nd TestWest IndiesPort of Spain
Y​
Won by 319 runs
2-0​
2-0​
24-283rd TestWest IndiesKingston
N​
Won by I and 23 runs
3-0​
3-0​
June 2022
Toss
Result
Series
Overall
2-61st TestNew ZealandLord's
N​
Won by 4 wickets
1-0​
4-0​
10-142nd TestNew ZealandTrent Bridge
N​
Match tied
1-0​
4-0-1​
23-273rd TestNew ZealandHeadingley
Y​
Won by 235 runs
2-0​
5-0-1​

Player Development​

For each series player, development will take place as follows:
  • The batters with the top three averages will improve either (decided by random roll) their judgement, attack and defence attributes by +1, or 1 notch to each of their specific shots.

  • The fielder (excluding wicket-keepers) who takes the most catches will get +1 to their catching and fielding stats.

  • The bowlers with the three lowest averages will get +1 to their bowling stats.

  • If a wicket-keeper can take 15+ catches in a series, they will get +1 to their wicket-keeping skills.

  • Any player deemed to have "underperformed" with bat, ball or gloves will receive -1 to their specialist skills. This is subjective, but is based primarily around their output, age and experience. For example, a 28-year-old batter with 50 caps who has a similar average in a series to a 21-year-old on debut may not be treated the same.

  • Players need to play at least two games of a three match series in order to be eligible for development.
Tom Haines - Opener
WI series (235 runs @ 47.00) +1 batting stats, 74ovr --> 76ovr

Joe Root - Batter
WI series (315 runs @ 78.75) +1 batting stats
WI series (21 wickets @ 4.71) +1 bowling stats, 87 --> 88ovr

Zak Crawley - Batter
WI series (74 runs @ 18.50) -1 batting stats, 67ovr --> 64ovr

Ollie Pope - Batter
WI series (10 catches) +1 fielding stats, 71ovr --> 72ovr

Ben Foakes - Wicket-keeper
WI series (247 runs @ 61.75) +1 batting stats
WI series (16 catches) +1 keeping stats, 77ovr --> 80ovr

Mark Wood - Bowler
WI series (8 wickets @ 18.38) +1 bowling stats, 77ovr --> 80ovr

Ollie Robinson - Bowler
WI series (9 wickets @ 23.78) +1 bowling stats, 75ovr --> 76ovr

Chris Woakes - Bowler
WI series (1 wickets @ 144.00) -1 bowling stats, 75ovr --> 74ovr

Unchanged players

Rory Burns - 72ovr
Ryan Higgins - 75ovr
Harry Brook - 69ovr
Stuart Broad - 80ovr
Josh Bohannon - 69ovr
Dom Bess - 72ovr
 
Last edited:

Rumple43

Survival Games Finalist
Survival Games Finalist
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Location
Sheffield, England
Profile Flag
England

Series and Lifetime Averages​


England - Batting
PlayerTeamHandMINORunsBalls100s50s1st2ndCtStHSAVS/R
JOE ROOTENGLANDRIGHT3513154981212119440150*78.7563.25
CHRIS WOAKESENGLANDRIGHT2311562531115061013778.0061.66
RYAN HIGGINSENGLANDRIGHT12162420110521052*62.00147.62
BEN FOAKESENGLANDRIGHT35124740902157901608761.7560.39
TOM HAINESENGLANDLEFT3502354660316471208147.0050.43
RORY BURNSENGLANDLEFT35023040412831472011346.0056.93
OLLIE POPEENGLANDRIGHT35019536602146491008939.0053.28
ZAK CRAWLEYENGLANDRIGHT24074150015420105418.5049.33
HARRY BROOKENGLANDRIGHT35078147006513203015.6053.06
OLLIE ROBINSONENGLANDRIGHT3412261002021087.3336.07
STUART BROADENGLANDRIGHT33193700901094.5024.32
MARK WOODENGLANDRIGHT22142900403034.0013.79
JOSH BOHANNONENGLANDRIGHT11031700300033.00
17.65​
DOM BESSENGLANDRIGHT1100600000000.00
0.00​

England - Bowling
PlayerTeamTypeMIBallsRunsWkts5WI10WMBBIBBMAVEconS/R
JOE ROOTENGLANDOS364239921215-2410-514.711.4020.14
DOM BESSENGLANDOS12195858004-358-8510.632.6224.38
MARK WOODENGLANDRF244801478004-326-5518.381.8460.00
OLLIE ROBINSONENGLANDRFM365942149003-134-5923.782.1666.00
STUART BROADENGLANDRFM3668426910003-455-8426.902.3668.40
RYAN HIGGINSENGLANDRMF12180902001-162-9045.003.0090.00
CHRIS WOAKESENGLANDRMF243061441001-201-64144.002.82306.00

West Indies - Batting
PlayerTeamHandMINORunsBalls100s50s1st2ndCtStHSAVS/R
KRAIGG BRATHWAITEWEST INDIESRIGHT36020448212119855010834.0042.32
KIERAN POWELLWEST INDIESLEFT3601603550111248207926.6745.07
NKRUMAH BONNERWEST INDIESRIGHT3601574260031126307926.1736.85
ROSTON CHASEWEST INDIESRIGHT3601222500010814207120.3348.80
JASON HOLDERWEST INDIESRIGHT361932230110830050*18.6041.70
RAHKEEM CORNWALLWEST INDIESRIGHT120235800716001611.5039.66
KYLE MAYERSWEST INDIESLEFT36068228003533201811.3329.82
JOSHUA DA SILVAWEST INDIESRIGHT360662490032341302911.0026.51
JERMAINE BLACKWOODWEST INDIESRIGHT2403417700231100148.5019.21
ALZARRI JOSEPHWEST INDIESRIGHT241251530023200218.3316.34
SHAI HOPEWEST INDIESRIGHT12016680001610168.0023.53
JAYDEN SEALESWEST INDIESLEFT24118940001820146.0019.15
KEMAR ROACHWEST INDIESRIGHT362121380012000103.008.70
SHANNON GABRIELWEST INDIESRIGHT121040000000*0.000.00

West Indies - Bowling
PlayerTeamTypeMIBallsRunsWkts5WI10WMBBIBBMAVEconS/R
JAYDEN SEALESWEST INDIESRFM244622689004-885-15129.783.4851.33
ROSTON CHASEWEST INDIESOS352221093002-163-4336.332.9574.00
KEMAR ROACHWEST INDIESRFM3467443111105-925-9239.183.8461.27
ALZARRI JOSEPHWEST INDIESRF244022025003-645-13840.403.0180.40
RAHKEEM CORNWALLWEST INDIESOS11174822002-822-8241.002.8387.00
SHANNON GABRIELWEST INDIESRF1196511001-511-5151.003.1996.00
JASON HOLDERWEST INDIESRMF355323356002-464-10655.833.7888.67
KYLE MAYERSWEST INDIESRMF352401182001-231-2359.002.95120.00
NKRUMAH BONNERWEST INDIESRM3178590000-590-59N/A4.54N/A

England - Batting
PlayerTeamHandMINORunsBalls100s50s1st2ndCtStHSAVS/R
HARRY BROOKENGLANDRIGHT362337597231801571011684.2556.45
JOE ROOTENGLANDRIGHT360288376121591293010348.0076.60
BEN STOKESENGLANDLEFT2411352140111817207145.0063.08
OLLIE POPEENGLANDRIGHT3602003810168132304133.3352.49
TOM HAINESENGLANDLEFT3601853580216914107230.8351.68
RORY BURNSENGLANDLEFT3601603060113538308926.6752.29
BEN FOAKESENGLANDRIGHT36112519301428312050*25.0064.77
JOSH BOHANNONENGLANDRIGHT23068133003236003622.6751.13
STUART BROADENGLANDRIGHT351658301594105916.2578.31
RYAN HIGGINSENGLANDRIGHT120251400322102212.50178.57
JOFRA ARCHERENGLANDRIGHT240414900383002210.2583.67
JAMES ANDERSONENGLANDLEFT351267600111520146.5034.21
MARK WOODENGLANDRIGHT12093100000054.5029.03
OLLIE ROBINSONENGLANDRIGHT1100300001030.000.00

England - Bowling
PlayerTeamTypeMIBallsRunsWkts5WI10WMBBIBBMAVEconS/R
TOM HAINESENGLANDRM121831001-11-33.001.0018.00
JAMES ANDERSONENGLANDRMF3672031520206-338-7215.752.6336.00
JOFRA ARCHERENGLANDRF244091999004-405-7522.112.9245.44
OLLIE ROBINSONENGLANDRFM122581074002-494-10726.752.4964.50
STUART BROADENGLANDRFM3673233912105-535-13228.252.7861.00
JOE ROOTENGLANDOS363801835002-502-8436.602.8976.00
RYAN HIGGINSENGLANDRMF1273431001-181-4343.003.5373.00
BEN STOKESENGLANDRFM243421764002-642-6044.003.0985.50
MARK WOODENGLANDRF12204891001-641-8989.002.62204.00

New Zealand - Batting
PlayerTeamHandMINORunsBalls100s50s1st2ndCtStHSAVS/R
TOM BLUNDELLNZRIGHT3602856241315812717010947.5045.67
WILL YOUNGNZLEFT3602284390320325209338.0051.94
KANE WILLIAMSONNZRIGHT3602053890268136205934.1752.70
DARYL MITCHELLNZRIGHT12062131004616104631.0047.33
DEVON CONWAYNZRIGHT3601633100158105407327.1752.58
HENRY NICHOLLSNZLEFT360138305005880303423.0045.25
COLIN DE GRANDHOMMENZRIGHT24068145005315203117.0046.90
KYLE JAMIESONNZRIGHT36096225016828005916.0042.67
NEIL WAGNERNZLEFT1202610000422002213.0026.00
TIM SOUTHEENZRIGHT36251186003813002212.7527.42
TRENT BOULTNZRIGHT3642386002210011*11.5026.74
TOM LATHAMNZLEFT3605512300183710379.1744.72
AJAZ PATELNZLEFT240308400191110127.5035.71

New Zealand - Bowling
PlayerTeamTypeMIBallsRunsWkts5WI10WMBBIBBMAVEconS/R
AJAZ PATELNZSLO2449925711003-286-11123.363.0945.36
TIM SOUTHEENZRFM3664540014105-1237-16228.573.7246.07
TRENT BOULTNZLFM3670843414004-665-13331.003.6850.57
KYLE JAMIESONNZRFM3664838210003-954-14938.203.5464.80
COLIN DE GRANDHOMMENZRMF24162952001-291-4247.503.5281.00
NEIL WAGNERNZLFM121741112001-552-11155.503.8387.00
DARYL MITCHELLNZRM1260290000-130-29N/A2.90N/A

England - Batting
PlayerTeamHandMINORunsBalls100s50s1st2ndCtStHSAVS/R
CHRIS WOAKESENGLANDRIGHT2311562531115061013778.0061.66
JOE ROOTENGLANDRIGHT61116038742428032370150*60.3068.99
HARRY BROOKENGLANDRIGHT6112415744232451703011646.1155.78
BEN STOKESENGLANDLEFT2411352140111817207145.0063.08
BEN FOAKESENGLANDRIGHT6112372602031991732808741.3361.79
TOM HAINESENGLANDLEFT61104208240533385308138.1850.97
OLLIE POPEENGLANDRIGHT6110395747032141811308935.9152.88
RORY BURNSENGLANDLEFT6120390710132181855011332.5054.93
RYAN HIGGINSENGLANDRIGHT24187560113742052*29.00155.36
ZAK CRAWLEYENGLANDRIGHT24074150015420105418.5049.33
JOSH BOHANNONENGLANDRIGHT34071150003536003617.7547.33
STUART BROADENGLANDRIGHT6827412001684205912.3361.67
JOFRA ARCHERENGLANDRIGHT240414900383002210.2583.67
JAMES ANDERSONENGLANDLEFT351267600111520146.5034.21
OLLIE ROBINSONENGLANDRIGHT4512264002022085.5034.4
MARK WOODENGLANDRIGHT341136000403054.3321.7
DOM BESSENGLANDRIGHT1100600000000.000.0

England - Bowling
PlayerTeamTypeMIBallsRunsWkts5WI10WMBBIBBMAVEconS/R
TOM HAINESENGLANDRM121831001-11-33.001.0018.00
DOM BESSENGLANDOS12195858004-358-8510.632.6224.38
JOE ROOTENGLANDOS61280328226215-2410-5110.852.1130.88
JAMES ANDERSONENGLANDRMF3672031520206-338-7215.752.6336.0
JOFRA ARCHERENGLANDRF244091999004-405-7522.112.9245.4
OLLIE ROBINSONENGLANDRFM4885232113003-134-5924.692.2665.54
MARK WOODENGLANDRF366842369004-326-5526.222.0776.00
STUART BROADENGLANDRFM612141660822105-535-13227.642.5864.36
BEN STOKESENGLANDRFM243421764002-642-6044.003.0985.5
RYAN HIGGINSENGLANDRMF242531333001-162-9044.333.1584.33
CHRIS WOAKESENGLANDRMF243061441001-201-64144.002.82306.00
 
Last edited:

Tfiwssirhc

#bemore
ENG....
Manchester Originals
TPCL Titans
Joined
Dec 28, 2021
Good luck with this mate,sounds intriguing.I've decided to play every test match over the next 3 years,so starting with south Africa's tour of New Zealand,going well at the MO,just hoping they don't screw things up in a patch :lol
 

Slug1793

Associate Cricketer
Joined
Jun 21, 2015
Location
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Profile Flag
England

English cricket is in disarray.


After the latest embarrassing chapter against Australia, the English test team looks more directionless and outmatched on the world stage than they have in decades.

Something need to change, or the current course could be irreversible.


---------------------------------------------

Welcome to Enough is Enough, my new Cricket 22 story charting England’s (hopeful) rise from the cricketing doldrums and back to international test relevance.

The goal is to try and scale the heights of the cricketing world, culminating in the 2025/26 Ashes down under and a potential shot at redemption.

We’ll be kicking things off in early 2022, with the upcoming test series against the West Indies on the horizon.

I’ll utilise some video as well as written updates to paint a picture across how the team is developing, as people sometimes prefer to consume these things in different ways.

To view my YouTube channel, CLICK HERE.

Each “story” post will begin with a header like the one at the very top of this intro, so feel free to chip in with comments and discussion, main story posts should still be easy to pick out. I’ll also create a contents page so that when each post goes live people can follow along or jump to a specific update that they’re interested in.

A few other notes for interest:
  • I’ll be using my own sliders, and the latest version of the Slider Spreadsheet, available HERE. I plan to use the home/away modifiers and where possible, some of the additional drop down options as well.

  • I’ll be using reskilled teams, which are basically scaled down versions of those that come with the base game. Reduced judgement, reduced power, reduced skills. For more info on how I’ve done it, go HERE.

  • Players will earn attribute boosts and losses based on their in game performances. Teams will be picked in part based on their overall attributes, but also their current form, age and potential. This story will evolve over time as some players grasp their chance for international stardom, and others let it slip away.

  • Injuries can and will occur, with players missing time to various degrees depending on the injuries they sustain. I can’t just roll with the same players across four years, sometimes people will need to sit out, regardless of how good they are.

  • I’ll be manually stat tracking the competitive games I play, so there will be a page below for those numbers as we go.
As a disclaimer, although the people referenced in this story are real, their personality, thoughts, beliefs, quotes, actions and so forth are all fictitious and created for story telling purposes. As such, I’d prefer it if those real people don’t sue me. That'd be great, ta.

I’m unsure, given real world commitments, how often I’ll end up pushing out content. It could be a slow burn, especially given the number of games and series involved, but that said I’ll try to keep the flow of content coming as frequently as I can. I find that these types of stories give me more purpose to the games I play, and I can scratch a creative itch as well as a video game one at the same time.

So there we go. The road to the 2025/26 Ashes starts here!
Sounds good mate, looking forward to seeing it unfold. I done the same on 19 starting with the 2008 series against SA eventually leading to the T20 WC and 2009 Ashes series. I’m looking to start it up again on 22 but I’m having to create all the teams again sooooo not started yet.

Interested to see your ‘manual stats tracking’ as I done the same and I have an excel file which is basically stat porn haha happy to share it if you fancy a nose :thumbs
 

Rumple43

Survival Games Finalist
Survival Games Finalist
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Location
Sheffield, England
Profile Flag
England
Sounds good mate, looking forward to seeing it unfold. I done the same on 19 starting with the 2008 series against SA eventually leading to the T20 WC and 2009 Ashes series. I’m looking to start it up again on 22 but I’m having to create all the teams again sooooo not started yet.

Interested to see your ‘manual stats tracking’ as I done the same and I have an excel file which is basically stat porn haha happy to share it if you fancy a nose :thumbs
Love me some excel. I made something for a different project that I never really got off the ground on Ashes 17, so I've recycled it to use for this project instead.

I'll have the stats in here once I've completed my first series, so we can compare note then haha

And I'll look forward to your write up, whenever you get a chance to make the teams, that is!
 

Slug1793

Associate Cricketer
Joined
Jun 21, 2015
Location
United Kingdom, Liverpool
Profile Flag
England
Love me some excel. I made something for a different project that I never really got off the ground on Ashes 17, so I've recycled it to use for this project instead.

I'll have the stats in here once I've completed my first series, so we can compare note then haha

And I'll look forward to your write up, whenever you get a chance to make the teams, that is!
Can’t beat a bit of excel can you, I had graphs and everything haha too much time on my hands and too sad!
 

Rumple43

Survival Games Finalist
Survival Games Finalist
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Location
Sheffield, England
Profile Flag
England
1 January 2022.jpg

Cricinfo Header.jpg

News.jpg

Ashes fallout: Giles, Silverwood, Thorpe all out as England clear the decks following drubbing down under

Inevitable change sweeps through England ranks following tour disaster, word still to come on replacements and touring party for West Indies

Andrew Miller.jpg

Image.jpg

Side Bar.jpgFollowing England’s 4-0 humbling at the hands of Australia, the ECB have taken steps this week to remove Head Coach Chris Silverwood, Managing Director Ashley Giles and Batting Coach Graham Thorpe.

Though it remained clear in recent weeks that the ECB would need to exert some level of change following their latest test debacle in Australia, it wasn’t predicted by many to be such a clean sweep across the team’s top brass.

“We want to thank Chris, Ashley and Graham for their work in recent years across what have undoubtedly been some difficult conditions” said ECB CEO Tom Harrison. “Unfortunately results across recent series haven’t been up to the standard expected of our teams. We’ve taken the opportunity to move the team in a new direction and wish all three the very best going forward.”

Silverwood was appointed in October 2019 and has overseen some mixed results as England’s coach. Early series wins in South Africa and Sri Lanka have given way to a stretch of just one win from the last 14 tests, dating back to February 2021. For a man promoted to head selector as well as head coach during that streak, results haven’t matched that show of faith.

Former Warwickshire and England man Giles was the most unexpected dismissal given his lofty status within the current set up. Perhaps paying the price for county cricket’s recent woes as much as those by the Three Lions, it is thought the ECB are clearing house in order to display that real change amongst the performance end of the sport is a possibility without the 54-test cap man still in the picture.

Thorpe was the most likely candidate of the trio to get the boot. Without a score above 300 and with three below 150 this winter, the former Surrey man appeared a dead man walking the longer England’s batting woes continued. It’s thought that a more pointed criticism of his teachings stemmed from a lack of development amongst the younger batters in the current set up, particularly Ollie Pope.

No word has yet been given as to who could replace the trio, though interest in all three positions should be high given England’s seemingly unshakable stature within the game.

With the upcoming three test series against the West Indies just weeks away, it’s thought the ECB could announce new appointments and the potential touring party as soon as next week.

Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket
 

Rumple43

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England appoint Hesson, Stewart and Trott in major shake up to Men’s senior team, split red and white ball responsibility

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Mike Hesson, Alec Stewart and Jonathan Trott have all been appointed to new roles within the England Men’s team.

Hesson, who was head coach of New Zealand from 2012 until 2018, has signed a four-year contract with immediate effect and will lead the red-ball team in next month’s tour of the West Indies.

The 47-year-old replaces the outgoing Chris Silverwood, who was dismissed last week following a run of one win from England’s last 14 tests.

Paul Collingwood will move into full time control of the ODI and T20 sides, leaving Hesson with the sole responsibility of improving England’s test fortunes.

“I’m excited to take this job, and I plan to do all I can to improve the fortunes of the England cricket team,” said Hesson, who most recently held a GM role within the IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore. “There are many positives to build on across the programme, especially for Paul on the white ball side, but I think we can strive to be the best team in the world across all formats. That is the goal.”

The former New Zealand head coach was also bold in his current assessment of the red ball set up, claiming: “The focus has been wrong in recent times, for whatever reason, and it’s up to us to begin steering the ship along the right path.”

Familiar faces in new places

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Sat alongside Hesson was England’s new Managing Director Alec Stewart, who has been prised out of his Director of Cricket role with Surrey, which he’s held since 2014.

With over 300 England caps across test and ODIs, Stewart is no strange to the international stage and has impressed domestically in recent years, especially with regards to player development.

“We all know where we want England cricket to be, and we know that the answers need to lie within what we currently have at our disposal,” said Stewart. “Yes, changes are needed, but the foundations and the talent and the pieces are there for us, we just need to slot the right ones into the right spots.”

Trott has been promoted from the England Lions set up, where his player management and emphasis on the mental aspects of the game has earned him rave reviews.

A new direction

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The appointments paint a clear picture of the ECB’s new approach to the national team, given the track record of the men involved.

In Hesson, the sport’s leaders have a man who leant heavily on an improving domestic set up to lay the foundations for New Zealand’s current successes. With recently announced plans to alter the county schedule to add more mid-season games, it appears Hesson would be pushing at an open door with regards to changes to the domestic status quo.

Stewart’s tenure at the Surrey saw the county produce a conveyor belt of English talent across all three formats, culminating in a county championship win in 2018.

Sam and Tom Curran, Ollie Pope, Rory Burns, Ben Foakes and Reece Topley have all played internationally in recent years, with the likes of spinner Amar Virdi and batters Will Jacks and Ryan Patel tipped to feature in the future.

Add in Trott’s focus to equipping England’s players with the mental fortitude to succeed at the highest level and change could well be on the horizon for England’s aging core.

Burns, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Jack Leach, James Anderson, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Stuart Broad all featured during last month’s 4-0 loss against Australia and all are currently aged 30 or older, with Anderson top of the list at 39.

With England’s new think tank set to name their 18-man touring party in the coming days, there won’t be long to wait before the test side’s new direction becomes a little clearer.
 

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England: 18-man touring party for West Indies named, Anderson dropped as new coach Mike Hesson exerts his fresh approach

GEORGE DOBELL: Six Lions promoted to main group as Tom Haines, Brydon Carse and Ryan Higgins all
given a first nod for new look England under Hesson and Stewart


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England have named their first squad of the Mike Hesson era, with three players being selected for the first time and six others moving up from the Lions.

Sussex Tom Haines, Durham’s Brydon Carse and Gloucestershire’s Ryan Higgins have all been brought in as fresh faces, with Tom Lees, Josh Bohannon, James Bracey, Harry Brook, Ben Foakes and Saqid Mahmood all being promoted from December’s Lions squad that toured Australia.

There’s no place for a number of England’s established stars, including James Anderson and Jos Buttler, as the Three Lions give an apparent break to a number of their veterans.


“The Ashes are over. We go to the West Indies focussing on the here and now, and this three-game series is all that matters to our programme right now,” said new head coach Mike Hesson.

“Are we aware of the future? Of course, but not at the expense of what is in front of us. Part of building for the future is maximising our opportunities, seizing the moment, and that begins with the West Indies.”

Speaking about the squad chosen, the New Zealander said: “This is a results-based business. We need to win and I believe we can develop the players in this squad, and those around it, to make them better. That isn’t just the 18 here, it’s much bigger than that. It’s about putting the right players in the right opportunities to succeed.”

Hesson also alluded to resting some senior players, including the injured Ben Stokes who still has a lingering side issue, whilst others, such as Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan have been playing solidly since before last year's T20 World Cup.

Sources behind the scenes suggest that although players have been given a rested tag, new members of the squad can own their place if performances merit it, leaving a number of senior players aggrieved at what they perceive as being dropped.

James Anderson is thought to fall into that category, insisting privately that he doesn’t need to take a break after being used sparing Down Under, though the team have suggested there could be a drive to keep the 39-year-old fresh for the upcoming English summer.

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Looking at the debutants, Haines is just 23 and enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2021, hitting a championship-leading 1,176 runs with three hundreds and a top score of 156.

Carse was originally named in the Lions tour of Australia but left before a ball was bowled due to a knee injury. Having already made his ODI debut against Pakistan last year, the fast bowler is back fit and ready to add some pace to the England attack on what are expected to be pace friendly pitches in the West Indies.

Higgins is seen as somewhat of a left field choice, with some quarters calling his inclusion a sign that this is more of an “England A” squad than a full-strength selection. That said, the Gloucestershire all-rounder owns a healthy 30.88 first class batting average, with a bowling average of 21.84. His 51 wickets were good for eighth most in 2021, and he’s the only county cricketer to score over 1,500 runs whilst taking at least 100 wickets since 2018.

England’s tour gets underway on 1st March with a four day warm up game against Jamaica, before the three-match series against West Indies begins on 8th March.

Full Squad:

Joe Root (Capt), Dom Bess, Josh Bohannon, James Bracey (WK), Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Rory Burns, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes (WK), Tom Haines, Ryan Higgins, Alex Lees, Saqib Mahmood, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
 

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Jamaica v England (4 day warm up game)

Date:
1-4 March 2022

Venue: Sabina Park, Jamaica

Weather: Hot, sunny, no chance of rain. Temperatures are likely to be in the 30c+ region throughout

Pitch: Hard, Dusty with some grass, looks lively for bowlers and should provide plenty of assistance


England’s new era begins under Head Coach Mike Hesson with the one and only warm up game of their tour of the West Indies.


Going up against Jamaica, the contest will provide some valuable live action for Hesson to assess as he mulls over the potential XI for next week’s first test. Playing in conditions that may well favour the ball, any kind of knock from one of England's batters could open to the door to a potential run in the Test side.

Line Ups

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England were always set to ring the changes from their last outing after their touring 18 contained a number of replacements from the squad that recently lost 4-0 in Australia.

Sussex’s Tom Haines looks set to be the latest opener on England’s less than impressive conveyor belt of partners for Rory Burns, whilst Yorkshire’s Harry Brook has won his first nod for the senior team after a previous stint as U19 captain, with Ben Foakes recalled to the side for the first time since March 2021.

Gloucestershire’s Ryan Higgins is set to fill the all rounder berth with Ben Stokes still missing through injury, and he’ll chip in to help a three-man pace attack of Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood. With no specialist spinner, captain Joe Root may need to turn his arm over here as well.

Jermaine Blackwood and Nkrumah Bonner are both names to watch out for in the Jamaica ranks as they look likely to feature for the West Indies next week.

John Campbell has test experience, having last played internationally in March 2021, and fast bowler Oshane Thomas will also be hoping to catch the selectors’ eye with a bright showing.

Tale of the tape


England will looking to build some confidence after a fragile winter, though the Sabina Park pitch (which will host the final test of this three match series) does not look like it will offer either team big runs.

The tourists should handle their opponents fairly reasonably in this one, but there are still places up for grabs and players on show that will want to make their mark.

England’s strength remains their bowling. Whatever happens with the bat, that unit should prove too strong for the hosts.

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England’s prep off to wild start at Sabina Park

20 wickets fall on day one of tour match against Jamaica as England bowl out hosts for 46

England’s four-day game against local hosts Jamaica got off to a wild start as both teams were bowled out with room to spare on day one.

The tourists appeared to have made a subpar 150 with the bat, losing all 10 wickets inside two sessions, before England’s bowlers unleashed a devastating 21 over spell to demolish their opponents.

Mark Wood claimed 5-18 off eight as Stuart Broad (9.2-4-3-15) and Ryan Higgins (4-0-1-13) both got in on the action to put England in control.

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Rory Burns top scored in Mike Hesson’s first action as the Three Lions’ new head coach, he made a dogged 58 from 170 balls as England lost wickets at regular intervals around the Surrey man.

Harry Brook and Ben Foakes both fell for a duck, whilst Tom Haines made a shaky 18 from 14 balls that contained two edges before the Sussex man was run out from midwicket.

Ryan Higgins looked more assured as the team’s other new face, he made 28 from 66 before being stumped off spinner Jamie Merchant.

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With England’s familiar woes laid bare once more, it was up to the bowlers to dig the team out of the mire.

Combining the aggression of Wood either side of tea, the guile and experience of Stuart Broad and the tight control of Higgins, Ollie Robinson even proved surplus to requirements in the four-man attack.

Test hopeful and Jamaica captain John Campbell top scored, though his 14 meant he was the only man to pass into double digits. Current internationals Jermaine Blackwood (4) and Nkrumah Bonner (6) both struggled.

England survived the short spell before close under the Sabina Park lights, finishing on 12 without loss, though it could have been much worse had Rory Burns leading edge not fallen just short of the waiting cover fielder off the final ball of the day.


That meant day one ended exactly how it began, with Rory Burns and Tom Haines at the crease, though it’s fair to say there was plenty of action in between.

England currently lead by 116 runs, with the current aim remaining for their batters to get as much time in the middle as possible during day two.

If Root’s men can get themselves to triple digits on a pitch that is providing more than a little assistance for both seam and spin, a chase in excess of 200 looks beyond their opponents.

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England captain Joe Root said:

“That was a bit of a crazy one, but I think we can still take a lot of positives from it.

“A big pat on the back to Woody, I thought he along with the Broady and Higgs bowled really well and put Jamaica under a lot of pressure.

“Make no mistake, we know we need to score runs if we’re to win this series, though this surface can’t be underestimated. It was a tough strip to bat on today, as results showed for both teams.”
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Slug1793

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Great work mate and super Mark Wood in the wickets, would love to see his action in the game, complete with the trademark fall on the floor! Looking forward to seeing more of this and it’s also giving me good vibes for getting mine started soon :thumbs
 

Rumple43

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Great work mate and super Mark Wood in the wickets, would love to see his action in the game, complete with the trademark fall on the floor! Looking forward to seeing more of this and it’s also giving me good vibes for getting mine started soon :thumbs
I'm pondering if I want to treat Wood like real life and resting him a lot, or just pretend he's not made of glass and pound him into the ground every series!

That said, Jofra's elbow will be fixed soon, then he might be on the outside looking in. Not if he keeps taking 5 for 18 tho haha
 

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