[September 25]
When I first started typing these pages as the year went along, rather than in a
lump after the season's conclusion, I never realised what an impossible task I
had taken on. The result is that 12 ODIs have rattled by (or been rained off!)
and several T20s since I last typed; not exactly an up-to-date analysis or
ramble on the year! The small type caption in the blue box above may make you
wonder if I understand the meaning of the word "periodically".
Well it has all gone by in a flash and during the course of those weeks England
have surpassed their record for the longest run of undefeated games - not 'wins'
you'll note since the weather (and maybe the opposition) interfered, or could
have interfered, with that.
I had the chance to take my first look at the West Indies team, who I had missed
in the World Cup in 2005 as rain had completely washed out the England fixture
then,
although I did see them in extremely smart suits at the airport awaiting a
flight home. A huge guy in front of me in the queue asked me if I knew who they were and,
having told him, he promptly got on his mobile to tell someone he was "at the
airport with the West Indies team".
This time I watched their fielding an
bowling, and while I felt confident in an England victory it looked like it
would not be a walkover. Rain, of course followed. The following day's play, which I was not able to
watch, must have left them reeling and the general view seemed to be "their
batting is not up to their fielding and bowling". Perhaps this is a little
unkind. The weather was dire and the temperature not exactly West Indian. Let's
reserve judgment on what their bats can do until March next year.
And next came South Africa. I have muttered on here about the quota
(euphemistically called a 'target') before and so there seems little point in
doing so again, except to say that I have no idea on this occasion whether the
team they brought was indeed the best the country can produce or not. While this
"target" remains it will always be thus. They had lost the talents of one of the
world's finest batsmen in Johmari Logtenberg to another sport, and that,
obviously was never going to help their cause.
![[Johmari Logtenberg]](nine/logtenberg9.jpg)
Johmari Logtenberg
A few of the names were familiar to me and I was well aware they had two
useful bowlers in Ashlyn Kilowan and Alicia Smith and that captain Cri-Zelda
Brits had plenty of experience of English conditions. During the course of the
series other names were to become more familiar and I especially
enjoyed Tricia Chetty's keeping, a player who coped marvellously with some
very poor returns from fielders which she tidied up so neatly the
fielders misdemeanors were often far less apparent. I also had to admire Sunette
Loubser who had to suffer her name wrongly spelt in the programme and pronounced
more ways than you would think possible for such an apparently simple
combination of letters, although it was her bowling that impressed me. She does
not have what one could call a classic bowling action but it can be very
effective and in the end that's what counts! Her attitude to the game could also
be a lesson to others in how to lose matches and hold your head up! I hope to
see both Loubser and Chetty in March at the World Cup.
Brits showed how a losing
captain should appear at post match interviews. It's a chore *every* captain has
to do from time to time so learn to do it well. Their cause might have been
helped if they had had an idea of the batting order and indeed what their
'starting line-up' should be. It all seemed very experimental and maybe, with
quite a number of inexperienced players, that's the way it had to be. I always
hope a team like that of 1997 will appear again and England will have to watch
their backs. The captain of that series watched this one and it must have been a
tough time for her. I think it worth stating yet again on this site that women's
cricket desperately needs other sides to join the top four with a view to taking
matches from them if only now and again. South Africa, along with Sri Lanka,
have looked from time to time as if they might just make it, but it's yet to
happen. Will any of the emerging nations do it? It'll be a few years away but I
am intrigued to see what the likes of Bangladesh for instance can accomplish if
the sport becomes well established there.
[October]
And then there was India. Although there were a few 'new' players, many of this
side had toured here before and I was looking forward to seeing the return of
Neetu David after her short retirement. If ever a series did not live up to
expectations this was it. As the world's ranked number two (yes, I know the
rankings are nearly as old as I am!), a fight could have been expected but
established Indian players failed to come to the party and the newcomers can
hardly be blamed if their seniors didn't show the way. Goswami is a genuine 'tryer'
but simply didn't seem to be able to find the rhythm, and hence the pace, she
had done on previous tours and the dampness of the summer meant the bounce was
not so threatening
Most of the established batsmen like Kala or Naik could find no consistency. Raj
made a number of reasonable scores in her usual classy style but a number of
supporters (of the England camp) muttered she was taking so long she was
'batting for herself and not the team'. At the boundary's edge I was inclined to
agree but looking back through the scoresheets I am left wondering if, had she
succumbed early, the remaining batting order could have mounted a reasonable
score. If there was one player I had to admire it was Jaya Sharma who managed to
play herself out of a terrible run of form, and who threw herself around the
boundary like a thing possessed. At Taunton I was right on the boundary where
her frantic efforts saved a number of runs and I kept an eye after the cameras
had moved on following her injury. There's no doubt in my mind that continuing
was quite a painful business but despite continued advice from the umpire to
find a substitute she would not give in.
At Arundel the visitors finally came out fighting. I don't know what stirred
them but I wish it had earlier. It was thus even more annoying when the weather
put paid to the day-night match at Hove as England might have had to really
sweat for the only time that summer. The Blue Lions made the best of Hove and
Martin Greenway (Lydia's dad ... sorry Martin) was presented with a red and
white striped scarf. No, I won't tell you why ... ask a member of the
supporters' club... I must take the opportunity to thank all those who
contributed to the feast, especially Roma Guha for some fine Indian food, and to
the owners of the marquis who unknowingly supplied shelter in the worst of the
weather.
![[Martin Greenway]](images/080909_008-Greenway-Martin+.jpg)
Martin Greenway
The Blue Lions - England supporters party (picture courtesy Helen Taylor)
Thus the international summer came to a soggy end and, if I had had the task of
picking an Indian Player of the Series, it would have to have been Jaya Sharma
for the gutsiest play I have seen for some time. I always have to admire those
who simply won't give up even when all looks hopeless.
Jaya Sharma
I have one general point to make too that I know has been mentioned many times
in the men's game as well. There were occasions (note the plural!) when play
could easily have started again earlier after a rain break, or even started
earlier in the day, but an over cautious attitude seems to prevail these days.
Much cricket was unnecessarily lost. There is just the consolation that
the girls seem to see rather better in the dark than the guys. When will more
sensible instructions be given to umpires about conditions of play? I begin to
suspect not in my lifetime... with the PC and Health & Safety culture that would
probably prefer the sport to be played with tennis balls!
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