In the wake of another horror Ashes day, England legend Mark Ramprakash says his nation lacks a clear plan in regards to cultivating the next generation of Test cricketing talent.
“England’s thinking has clearly been muddled,” he said on BT Sport’s daily podcast, regarding the touring side’s preparation between the 2019 Ashes and now.
“In a broader context, the vision, the lack of vision and strategy over this period in Test match cricket.”
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The 52-Test veteran noted that promising talents like Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed and Ollie Pope were the best options England had in terms of young talent, but didn’t look the part right now.
“They’re looking a little bit out their depth,” he said, comparing the situation to the country’s young but experienced crop of T20 players
“The England one-day team have an oversupply of players, we are searching in Test match cricket for players to come in and do a job,” he said.
journalist Jonathan Liew said England had “forgotten how to win”, comparing the side to New Zealand in the ’90s.
“Every new play that comes in is essentially trying to sure up failure – they’re not coming in in a position of strength,” he said.
“If you don’t have a plan, and you don’t have a formula, then you’re essentially kind of adrift.”
Speaking to reporters after day one, English middle order batter Jonny Bairstow said his team was still searching for a big score but winning the toss could have made a difference.
“When you look at the toss as well, that obviously didn’t go our way,” he said.
“We’d have also looked to bowl in that first session.”
Bairstow said the team as a whole needed to be “stronger and tougher” with themselves in regards to their dismissals — his own, Ben Stokes’ and Jos Buttler’s were judged as particularly heinous by fans.
“It’s one of those that they and we will look back on and reassess next time, and potentially take a different option,” He said.
Former Test captain Michael Atherton was less neutral, calling Buttler’s dismissal “egregious”.
“Lyon is a hard bowler to hit over the top with accuracy, because of the overspin he imparts — resulting in dip that makes it hard to get to the pitch of the ball — and no sooner had the shot been played, than Buttler hung his head in the knowledge of the outcome,” he wrote in the The Times.
“Trying to hit over long-on, he succeeding (sic) only in dragging the ball to deep mid-wicket instead.”
It was yet another innings where Joe Root carried the fortunes of the team on his back almost entirely, the retired ex-skipper acknowledged.
“The similarities to the opening two Tests were readily apparent, with early wickets falling to the new ball, key wickets going at crucial moments in the overs immediately before lunch and tea and a vital one in second session to a build-up of immense pressure,” Atherton said.
“Once again it was Root or bust, so when England’s captain departed within the first hour after lunch for a perky half-century, but no more, the chances of a competitive score went with him.”
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