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- Jan 13, 2010
Article by Christopher Finch -
England’s first ICC tournament win shocked many people, particularly those used to the sub-par performances, negative batting tactics and bizarre squad selections of the one day side over the years. But all of a sudden, with the team at it’s lowest ebb following an embarrassing 6-1 defeat at home to Australia last year, England showed signs of improvement in reaching the semi█ finals of the ICC Champions Trophy last year. But where on earth did the World Twenty20 victory come from?
Sure, there are differences between the 20 over and 50 over format of the game, but at the end of the day it is a limited overs format where quick runs, tight bowling and sharp fielding is needed for victory.
For a team that had previously relied so much on Kevin Pietersen to score quick runs in the shorter forms of the game, two more South Africans were recruited to the team, having resided in England for long enough to qualify to play for them. Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb had both impressed in the domestic game over recent seasons, and were chosen to become the 16th opening partnership in 26 Twenty20 matches for England.
However, unlike the selections of players like Darren Maddy and Chris Schofield in 2007, and Graham Napier and Rob Key in 2009, the new duo impressed from the outset. With a ‘license’ to hit out from the start, England took advantage of the powerplay like never before, and with Pietersen back to the top of his game, it gave the middle order time to settle in.
Pietersen was the second highest run scorer in the tournament with 248, despite flying home during the Super Eights to witness the birth of his son, and looked a completely different player from the one that had struggled in South Africa over the winter. He combined well with both Kieswetter, as best shown in their swashbuckling innings in the final, and Eoin Morgan, for many the real star of the tournament. His inventive strokeplay, alongside classy cricket shots, and the lusty blows where needed helped him to nearly 200 runs in the tournament.
The bowling was impressive as well. Ryan Sidebottom shocked everybody when he was picked ahead of James Anderson for the first game against the West Indies, but took 10 wickets during the tournament, as did Graeme Swann who once again showed why he is the most improved bowler in world cricket. A decade ago he returned from a tour of South Africa with his international career in tatters, while now he is one of the most effective bowlers in the game. The rest were all consistent enough, with everyone having an economy rate of under 7.5, and all bar two of the 108.2 overs bowled in the tournament delivered by the same five men. Swann, Sidebottom, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Michael Yardy.
My next article in a day or two will look at the leadership of Collingwood, the consistency of the selection and where the team goes next.
More...
England’s first ICC tournament win shocked many people, particularly those used to the sub-par performances, negative batting tactics and bizarre squad selections of the one day side over the years. But all of a sudden, with the team at it’s lowest ebb following an embarrassing 6-1 defeat at home to Australia last year, England showed signs of improvement in reaching the semi█ finals of the ICC Champions Trophy last year. But where on earth did the World Twenty20 victory come from?
Sure, there are differences between the 20 over and 50 over format of the game, but at the end of the day it is a limited overs format where quick runs, tight bowling and sharp fielding is needed for victory.
For a team that had previously relied so much on Kevin Pietersen to score quick runs in the shorter forms of the game, two more South Africans were recruited to the team, having resided in England for long enough to qualify to play for them. Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb had both impressed in the domestic game over recent seasons, and were chosen to become the 16th opening partnership in 26 Twenty20 matches for England.
However, unlike the selections of players like Darren Maddy and Chris Schofield in 2007, and Graham Napier and Rob Key in 2009, the new duo impressed from the outset. With a ‘license’ to hit out from the start, England took advantage of the powerplay like never before, and with Pietersen back to the top of his game, it gave the middle order time to settle in.
Pietersen was the second highest run scorer in the tournament with 248, despite flying home during the Super Eights to witness the birth of his son, and looked a completely different player from the one that had struggled in South Africa over the winter. He combined well with both Kieswetter, as best shown in their swashbuckling innings in the final, and Eoin Morgan, for many the real star of the tournament. His inventive strokeplay, alongside classy cricket shots, and the lusty blows where needed helped him to nearly 200 runs in the tournament.
The bowling was impressive as well. Ryan Sidebottom shocked everybody when he was picked ahead of James Anderson for the first game against the West Indies, but took 10 wickets during the tournament, as did Graeme Swann who once again showed why he is the most improved bowler in world cricket. A decade ago he returned from a tour of South Africa with his international career in tatters, while now he is one of the most effective bowlers in the game. The rest were all consistent enough, with everyone having an economy rate of under 7.5, and all bar two of the 108.2 overs bowled in the tournament delivered by the same five men. Swann, Sidebottom, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan and Michael Yardy.
My next article in a day or two will look at the leadership of Collingwood, the consistency of the selection and where the team goes next.
More...
