2013 Diary

A Ramble on Women's Cricket
 - with diversions -

This diary will be updated erratically throughout the year.

2013 Page 7

<July 2>

The international season has arrived as England take on Pakistan. First came the warm-up games between the England Academy and the visitors.

T20s Photo Gallery    :   50-over Photo Gallery

These proved to be interesting and close matches (all the series scorecards), the outstanding players being Nain Abidi for Pakistan and Fran Wilson for the Academy but with many on both sides making significant contributions. In the all-rounder department Sonia Odedra stood out for the Academy. The weather was not the kindest and rain thwarted plans to watch England v a male side in the day between the two T20s and the 50over match.

The two sides seemed well matched and honours were shared.

Nain Abidi

Somerset's Fran Wilson

<July 6>

And then the internationals ...

Now the early matches went as any pundit might have predicted, although it felt, as a spectator that the visitors were gradually finding their feet in what must have seemed like arctic conditions having left a 48°C Lahore just a few days before.

England v Pakistan : ODI1 Card  :  ODI2 Card : T20-1 Card  :  T20-2 Card

All, however changed rather dramatically in the last game of this series, the second of two T20s. The England team showed a number of changes from the morning's match, in particular in the omission of Sarah Taylor who had hit a fine, fluent half century, finishing with 57 from just 50 balls. But even Sarah's strike rate did not come close to that of the England captain who made 46 from just 33 deliveries.

With Sarah omitted and Charlotte, we were to discover later, to bat much lower down the order at 9, it was up to some of the less experienced members of the squad to show what they could do. Sadly it didn't go well, and the more experienced hands later in the order were not able to rescue the situation. Arran Brindle put up a fine show with 39 from 27 balls, and even the clearest thinking on her part during the last over couldn't get England over the line. One or two things were immediately apparent in Pakistan's approach. During their own innings they were much more positive with the bat and even those with low scores didn't waste deliveries. Get on or get out appeared to be the mantra. Also I noticed that their boundary fielders, who had rather sat back and let the ball come to them in the earlier match, now attacked the ball energetically so many possible England twos simply became easy singles but no more. Sana Mir was also seen to swap fielders from time to time, the same field placing being preserved. Obviously it was a case of getting the right person in the right place. All this attention to detail paid off, and was an example to any team that is the 'under-dog'. Get the little things right as well as the big and you give yourself the best chance!

I have little doubt that the new England management will come in for some flak about this result, but I must defend the idea that there is little point in putting new players into a squad and then not giving them a chance to show what they can do. If you insist on hiding them down the order they will arrive at the crease with no time to make a mark, only time to be dismissed and you've learned nothing. Either that or they don't get to the crease at all and you're still none the wiser. In this regard my opinion would be that England did what it should, indeed had, to do. The injury situation around the squad is so severe (more on that later maybe)  that knowing how new players can stand the pressure of putting on an England shirt is vital.

Driving home I derived satisfaction from the way the Sussex contingent had acquitted itself. I have never doubted that County cricket is the natural feeder for the England team and that we were both skilled (and lucky!) at Sussex in our success in that department.

Pakistan celebrate victory as Arran Brindle's brilliant rearguard comes to an end in the 2nd T20I

If I am not criticising the England management for their choices, neither am I criticising the players more recently added to the England squad. It takes time to adjust to the new level of cricket, the training and the atmosphere. I would rule none of them out for the future. If you are reading this - and you must be - just remember it is early days for those representatives and many fine careers have started with poorer performances than these.

And of Pakistan... it may be a little presumptuous to single out individuals, but I'm going to anyway! Nain Abidi has always looked an accomplished bat to me and I was amazed at her poor run of form until this last match when she showed what she can do. Sana Mir is obviously a thoughtful captain knowing how to make the best of the forces at her disposal, and in Batool Fatima they have a keeper of truly world-class quality.

Batool Fatima pulls off a remarkable catch to dismiss Suzie Rowe in the first T20I

The catch above must be my 'catch of the season' so far! Her skill is obvious, not only in the very awkward catch in the picture above but in the huge dive necessary to run out Arran Brindle and ensure the second match belonged to her side. She hardly put a glove wrong throughout the warm-ups and in the series itself.

<July 9>

I have just learned of a fixture that might be of interest to those following the international teams passing through the UK. This match is shown as "afternoon" so a T20 is the probable format.

A question I have to ask... why was the chance not taken to play an international game while they're here? It cannot be as a result of the last encounter, for here's a chance to even the score. I would have thought the opportunity for international opposition prior to the Ashes must be worth taking.

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