England recover from turbulent summer and head into winter upbeat, says Mark Ramprakash
England’s cricket team have recovered from a turbulent summer of matches and head into the winter in an upbeat mood, Mark Ramprakash writes. A run of improved Test and white-ball performances in the second half of the summer underpins that optimism.
Just weeks earlier Ramprakash says he felt demoralised by a side he described as "a mess, a shambles," citing poor management, a red-ball coach who had been sacked, another who "wasn’t going to turn up for ages," and the abrupt retirement of the Test captain whose dual skillset he judged important for balance. He also references off-field issues, including "the madness that followed Ben Stokes’s and Gus Atkinson’s night out after a promising win over New Zealand at Lord’s," before noting the team’s subsequent rebound.
The latter half of the summer produced what Ramprakash calls outstanding displays in both Tests and white-ball cricket, and he praises a group of talented players and a coaching unit with "strong individuals and combinations across formats." He writes that England are now "well placed to take on South Africa" in their next Test series and to approach the following summer with "a sensible, consistent approach."
Ramprakash contrasts England’s opponents: he says the Kiwis, in the first red-ball series of the summer, "played extremely well" and showed resilience, adaptability and attention to basics, whereas against Pakistan England adopted "a more grownup style of play, leaning on a group of four pace bowlers, all different in their own ways and excellent as a combination."
On coaching, Ramprakash states the removal of Brendon McCullum as red-ball coach "felt necessary," and he describes the appointment of Stephen Fleming as "astute." He reports Fleming took some time to arrive but has had a series of "really good conversations with people in the game," and Ramprakash believes Fleming and Joe Root "will forge a really good partnership."
Ramprakash says the word identity featured heavily when Fleming spoke to the media and recounts his own experience of dressing-room cultures that never used the term; he relates an interview he heard with Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler about changing small habits and making players accountable. He records Fleming’s stated priorities: to allow players to "relax and play with freedom, but to combine that with smart cricket and adaptability," to focus on "leadership and strategy," and to aim to take England to No 1 in the world with an ambition to win the World Test Championship.
On white-ball preparations and selection, Ramprakash notes Kevin Pietersen has joined to "help prepare, challenge and mentor the white-ball players" and highlights the potential of Pietersen’s relationship with Harry Brook. He says McCullum appears "in his element in white-ball cricket," praises England’s one-day series against Sri Lanka, and singles out Sonny Baker at the Oval for changing his run-up angle, swinging the ball late at "89mph," and drawing a comparison: "He reminded me a little bit of Brett Lee and that is high praise." He adds there has been real competition for places, pointing to Jordan Cox and Tom Banton delivering "outstanding performances in Test and one-day cricket," and says England’s four seamers "shone against Pakistan," while suggesting if Baker continues to improve "he has to come into the mix." He also acknowledges unresolved questions around the Test side’s best spinner and the best opening partnership.
From the position Ramprakash describes a few months earlier to the present, he concludes the change merits recognition: England are now in a stronger position and carry optimism into their forthcoming Test meeting with South Africa and into preparations for the next summer.