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THURSDAY 21 December 2000
Jamie Cox on torment for Tasmania and excitement for England
After coming through a very tough opening three Pura Cup games with only
four points, we targeted the two games leading into Christmas as
providing a wonderful chance for us to turn good form into significant
points.
South Australia in Adelaide and Victoria in Melbourne both provided
significant opportunities for a variety of reasons:
- Neither was considered a 'Cup contender' pre-season by many experts around the country;
- Neither had started the season all that well; in fact it would probably be fair to say that the form was with the Tigers.
- Both had injury problems to key players, others unavailable due to national duties, and were therefore below full strength.
- Both matches were to be played at venues where we had experienced prior success on traditional result wickets.
After the two previous games had developed into bat-dominated draws at
the benign Bellerive Oval, we were looking forward to playing on two
more competitive and challenging surfaces. But it was this that
eventually led to our downfall.
Whilst neither surface could be regarded as a seaming minefield, neither
could match the true bounce and pace of Bellerive. In fact, no batsman
from any of the three sides made a century in either of the two games so
ball definitely dominated bat. However, we were bowled out for under 200
in four consecutive innings' as a consequence of simply not adapting and
it was not surprising to lose both matches quite early on the fourth
day.
As a side, we have been renowned for, and prided ourselves on, having a
batting line-up as strong as any in the country. We have always believed
that 'no matter how many they get, we can get 'em.' Particularly in
reactive situations (that is, chasing totals or after being bowled out
cheaply in first innings), we hold a belief that we can regroup and
regain momentum.
These two games have been disturbing because of the lack of
responsibility and self-belief in our 'bread and butter' and has ensured
that Christmas lunch will not sit quite as comfortably as it might have,
particularly for our top six. However, I am sure that it will not have
spoilt holiday plans of many others and I hope that the time for
everyone is safe and well spent with family and friends.
Having spent two Aussie winters playing for Somerset in the UK, I now
find myself closely following the fortunes of England and, more
particularly, my Somerset team mates Andy Caddick and Marcus
Trescothick. Having two Somerset players in the national team means a
lot to many people down the south-west and it has really given me a
great interest in England's games.
Those that have closely followed the recent England-Pakistan series from
Pakistan would have to agree that is was a truly bizarre contest. For
fourteen of the fifteen days of the series, it was an insomniac's dream,
with neither team looking as though it was trying to win, simply trying
not to lose.
The first two Tests ended in terrible draws, thanks mainly to incredibly
slow run rates and over rates and the third seemed to be headed exactly
the same way, until exploding on the fifth day. England's bowlers got on
a roll early and Pakistan could only set them 160-odd to win - a task
which was managed with little time and less light to spare.
It was almost farcical to watch the concluding overs of the match. The
Pakistan over rate at times as low as eleven overs per hour, with a
spinner bowling from each end - a tactic undoubtedly employed to waste
time whilst the sun set quickly. Moin Khan obviously did not fancy being
the first captain to lose a Karachi Test match and was allowed to
control the pace of the match, despite new ICC regulations, which
enables umpires to impose 5 run penalties for deliberate slow play!
England would have no doubt been delighted and I am sure, in hindsight,
captain Hussain would have praised his men for hanging in and finally
breaking the Pakistanis. They should also be congratulated as the
England side has progressed a hell of a long way in twelve months and
they have now won their past three series. All is building nicely to the
2001 Ashes series and the odds regarding an England upset should make
interesting reading to punters out there - well, to all non-cricket
playing punters that is!
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