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Bring on the Australians

By Michael Atherton

16 August 1998


LISTENING to the climax of the series in the back of a Leeds taxi was not exactly where I expected to be. But there I was on Monday. A bout of food poisoning had necessitated a quick visit to a doctor's clinic where I had seen Angus Fraser take the penultimate and yet another tail-end wicket. I rushed into my waiting cab hoping to catch the final rites at first hand.

Instead of Test Match Special, however, I was greeted by Jimmy Young on Radio 2. Cursing the BBC Radio controller - how can he even think of removing TMS from our airwaves? And what the hell is the frequency anyway? Is it long wave or medium wave? After much fiddling I've never been so glad to finally hear the dulcet tones of Fred Trueman: ``The boy Nnnntini can really make a name for himself here.''

Urging my driver on at breakneck speed we screamed through the gates at Headingley just as Christopher Martin-Jenkins announced the final wicket and I saw the players and crows rushing off. I made it to the dressing room in time for the ritual popping of champagne corks amid much back-slapping and self-congratulation. I was proud to be part of a team that had triumphed over a long season of cricket that was both tough and tense.

Before the presentations and obligatory interviews we had a strange 10 minutes to kill in the dressing room. I always find the moments of achievement are conflicting ones: thank goodness we've done it; thank goodness we didn't blow it, and what a fine line there is between the two. Some sympathy also for the opposition. As Mark Twain said: ``Human nature is the same everywhere. It defies success, it has nothing but scorn for defeat.'' And there were some good and proud players in the South African dressing room who would be feeling pretty low. I should know.

Mostly, of course, people were euphoric, especially the younger brigade. There was the sight of one or two not knowing exactly what to do; the dressing room attendant trying to screw off a champagne cork as if it was a bottle of pop; Darren Gough and Dominic Cork fighting with each other to get through the door to do the first television interview and then mirth in the dressing room as we watched their mutual admiration society. ``You're my hero Goughy!'' ``You've had a great summer Corky!'' And Mark Butcher, already some evidence of a stagger, fag in hand and bottle under the arm, contemplating the celebrations ahead.

Despite the fact that we were the bookies underdogs in May and despite being rubbished by my fellow columnist Peter Roebuck for suggesting England ought to win, I did not feel this was a huge upset. Previous form suggested a close contest. In 1994 I was convinced we would have triumphed had it been a five-match series and in 1995 it went to the wire.

Thankfully this time we got to the winning line first, if only by a short head. During my post-match interview, David Gower asked me if I felt any residual disappointment at not experiencing more moments like that when I was captain. Firstly, I was happy to be there. In April there were some doubts in my mind that I would be. I was happy, more than happy, to have contributed in a reasonable way in three matches out of the five. I was delighted that Alec Stewart achieved a memorable first series win and I feel some pride that I left the team in reasonably good order. Although no surprise to me, this is a huge boost for English cricket. Remember the mid-summer depression that was Manchester?

Poor attendance, low interest levels and little success. How quickly things change! In modern day journalism, there is no room for grey areas and extremes are everything. In the same way that the problems of our game and our team were exaggerated then so no doubt they will be swept under the carpet now. That would be a mistake.

The triangular series and one-off Test match against Sri Lanka will tell us nothing. It is further down the line, to the end-of-season structural review and to the Ashes, that we must look. This summer success and the imminent TV deal give administrators the best chance in years to put our game on a sound structural and financial basis. Clearly our domestic game still needs strengthening if it is to be a good provider for the England team.

The most pressing need is for a higher level of first-class cricket, a level that bridges the gap between county and Test cricket. Regional cricket is the answer but more of that later.

The selectors will know also that improvements to the team must be made. There were many plus points in the summer: the performance of a hard core of experienced players, the emergence of Butcher, the re-emergence of Gough and Cork and the general spirit among the team. But they will be mindful that only one South African wicket fell to spin, that the low-middle order contributed too few runs and that the wickets in Australia will not always be as helpful as Headingley.

Time and again during my captaincy we appeared to turn the corner only for it to be illusory. When you are not closely involved in selection any more it is easier to be objective. I would suggest that we keep post Headingley euphoria to a minimum, cut out references to the 'Dream Team' and accept that so far as a team we have won little, but that we have achieved something this summer and can build on it.

After all, as Mark Waugh said last week, the Australians are not exactly ``quaking in their boots''. However, I sense the gap has narrowed over the last two Ashes series. One or two of the Aussies are not as young as they were and a couple of their bowlers have creaking joints, including of course the great leg-spinner. If we continue to improve, indications are this winter could be tighter still.

If selected, it will be the fourth time I have been to Australia with a representative side and the third time on a major tour. None has been too successful. Learning from past mistakes, there are certain prerequisites for a successful touring party over there.

Firstly, fitness is paramount in the relentless heat. The intensity of the game goes up a notch in Australia and you need hard players prepared to take pressure from them and then dish it out themselves. Cricket is, like the outback, unforgiving and hostile. This summer can only have stood us in good stead for the journey ahead.


Source: The Electronic Telegraph
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Date-stamped : 16 Aug1998 - 10:26