Thursday 17 March 2011

Dramatic win keeps England in touch

As World Cup campaigns go, this one from England is going to take some beating.

If you don't have a heart condition already, you will have by the time you've watched an England game.

All their games at this World Cup have gone down to the wire, and while England haven't produced much quality, they must be respected for the way they battle back from the brink.

The side has serious flaws, from the middle order to the whole bowling department, but must now be seen as the wildcard in this tournament as they have shown themselves capable of beating anyone.

There hasn't been one game where the batting and bowling have worked well in tandem, but if both units can click, they could go all the way.

That seems ridiculous considering all games have been littered with errors, but their performances are so hard to predict that you can't rule it out.

They defeated the West Indies despite some terrible batting, bad running between the wickets and early wayward bowling, mirroring their display against South Africa earlier in the competition.

They are missing the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Stuart Broad and Ajmal Shahzad, but are still capable on their day.

Despite the big-hitting of Chris Gayle and Andre Russell, they stuck in there and got their reward in the end.

Their tactics of bowling back of a length to Gayle allowed him to free his arms and swing his bat, and although England got away with their errors this time and against South Africa, they are unlikely to get away with it another time.

They look a tired unit, but need to rally and put the wrongs of this campaign right in their quarter-final game.

Of course, if West Indies and Bangladesh win their final group games England will still go out, but that is unlikely and England should see this as redemption. Potentially three games away from a historic World Cup triumph, that should be enough motivation to put their tiredness to one side.

The selectors made a bold move picking James Tredwell and Luke Wright ahead of Michael Yardy and James Anderson, but it paid off in the end.

Wright saved England with the bat, playing a considered innings and pushing England towards a competitive total.

Tredwell's four-wicket performance, including the prized scalps of Gayle and Russell, dragged England back into the game and it is his selection the England management should take great pride in.

Bob Willis, sat in the Sky studio, looked perplexed at England's team selection prior to the match.

"Luke Wright has been more like Lord Lucan on this tour," he declared, in reference to the British peer who disappeared in 1974.

David Gower stated the England selectors had "taken leave of their senses", but the selections of Wright and Tredwell must now be looked back on as major successes. They are shoe-ins for any quarter-final England play.

Ravi Bopara also performed admirably with the ball, taking wickets at crucial times.

Graeme Swann was excellent as always, including taking the crucial wicket of dangerman Kieron Pollard, as the bowling attack came together to ensure as much pressure as possible was put on the Windies.

Chris Tremlett struggled, though, but this was largely due to the conditions which were not suitable for a bowler with his height and action.

In truth, the game against the Windies did nothing but magnify the problems both teams possess.

Both have quality, but both are erratic and capable of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Both sides' running between the wickets was suicidal, culminating in West Indies' final wicket (above) when they attempted a run which was never there.

Both sides collapsed from commanding positions, with England knowing they should have pushed 300 and the Windies left scratching their heads as to how they didn't win the game.

But for all the faults of the teams, they are lighting up this World Cup.

Each one of England's games has resulted in a thrilling finale, while the Windies bring flair and enthusiasm which cannot be matched by any of their counterparts.

Their national anthem sums them up. Such an upbeat melody, one which shows what they are all about.

Group B is the place to be.

No team has qualified yet, with all teams (barring England, who have played all six games) having one game left to seal their place in the quarter-finals.

Each game will have real significance, and it is a real contrast to the drab affair that is Group A.

Canada, Zimbabwe and Kenya have shown no worth to the competition, and have been completely upstaged by Ireland and even the Netherlands from Group B.

Those two are out, but have both had great moments and can be proud of their display.

They both thoroughly deserve a place in the next World Cup in 2015.

Whoever else misses out from Group B is going to be a great miss for the competition.

South Africa and India will surely qualify, they are possibly the best two teams in the tournament, although this will be tested when they come up against the likes of Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand.

England would be a great loss to the competition due to their thrilling matches and nerve-shredding moments.

The West Indies, as previously stated, bring great flair and character and it would be great to see them in the quarters.

Kemar Roach and Darren Bravo are great talents and the side have the same unpredictable factor as England and, coupled with the big-hitting of Gayle, Pollard and Darren Sammy, they have an outside chance of going all the way.

But then, Bangladesh surely deserve a place too. It would be a tremendous shame for them to exit the tournament when their endeavour and passion has lit up the tournament. Their crowds have been magnificent and it would be a great occasion if they could play a home quarter-final.

Whatever happens, it is going to be a thrilling finale to Group B.

It looks like a straight shoot-out between the Windies and Bangladesh - who can beat the major nation? - and it promises to go right down to the wire.

England could tell them a thing or two about that.

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