GS250
Member
- Joined
- 18 Mar 2019
- Messages
- 1,025
May I just mention the comment by Jimmy about the precedent having been set the day before when it comes to bad light...that, and you'll be aware if you've ever decided to use your body rather than the bat (as in missed !) that a ball even travelling at well below Test level delivery...hurts !
Yes...we all know that ball hurts like hell when you take one on the body. I think its half the reason a lot of kids give up on cricket once they start having to use a proper ball! Yes, things changed somewhat when Phillip Hughes was tragically killed a few years ago. However, lights and a pink ball have proven to be a safe combination. In the event, last night's fiasco didn't affect the outcome.
As for the radical change in England's performance, maybe something called leadership has emerged c/o a certain Kiwi along with players being actively encouraged to play their own game, rather than some restricted coaching version and something called " a positive mental attitude " has resulted. Silverwood was hardly a shrinking violet when he was playing, and Root's performances need no clarification...I get the impression the demise in England's performances was just a bit more complex than attributing blame to two very consummate professionals.
No one can doubt the dedication and professionalism of Root or Silverwood. However, like many England captains before him...he wasn't a natural leader of men and was also pretty risk averse. He was there by default really until Stokes started to show some signs that he was captain material. Root's captaincy wasn't a disaster, but you always felt we could be doing better. Silverwood on the other hand failed badly in his role in my opinion. As I've alluded to, the whole 'rotation' policy not only undermined England's ability to win test matches, but also showed a huge disrespect towards our opponents. Most of whom proved they were not 'lesser' at all. Again, it wasn't something of which was exclusive to Silverwood, but our obsession with winning the Ashes ruled above all and it also meant key series were just written off time and time again.
Onwards and upwards though!