How do you solve a problem like Collingwood?

When we reflect, in years to come, on the Ashes success of 2010-11 it will probably be the names of Alastair Cook and James Anderson that spring to mind.

But there were other, largely unsung, heroes. Not just those members of the tour party, like Tim Bresnan, who chipped in with valuable performances when their opportunity arose, but the support staff and coaches who helped the team remain fit and discover their best form. The likes of Graham Gooch (batting), Richard Halsall (fielding), Bruce French (wicketkeeping) and David Saker (bowling) all played a fulsome role.

And then there were the selectors. They have enjoyed a wonderful few months and deserve a great deal of credit.

The decision to replace Steve Finn for Bresnan, for example, was a masterstroke. Finn was, at the time, England’s leading wicket-taker, so the decision to omit him was controversial. After all, can you imagine a side dropping their leading run-scorer?

But Bresnan came into the side, bowled impressively and fully vindicated the decision. The recall of Tremlett was also astute.

Most of all, however, the selectors deserve praise for their faith in Cook. Coming into the series, Cook has passed 50 just once in his previous 10 Test innings and, but for a century against Pakistan in the penultimate Test of last summer, might have been struggling to make the tour.

Or so it was thought.

Actually, it appears Cook’s spot was never in doubt.

Such was the selectors’ faith in him, that Cook was certain to tour even if he’d failed in every innings against Pakistan.

“As far as I’m concerned, Cook was never anywhere near being dropped,” Ashley Giles said this week. “He has a very good Test record and we’re not into knee-jerk reactions.”

But, what would have happened if Cook hadn’t scored that century against Pakistan?

“It didn’t make much difference,” Giles replied. “We’d have stuck with him. Perhaps we’d have taken a reserve opener on the Ashes tour. But, in Australia, we all thought it was vital to have someone of Cook’s mental strength and we all thought he’d come good.”

766 Ashes runs later, it’s looking like an excellent decision. We can only speculate on how well Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash – who made their debuts in the same Test in 1991 – might have fared had they enjoyed such enlightened management. Against the far more modest bowling attacks of today, it’s not unreasonable to suggest that both men may have averaged around 50.

But every silver lining has a cloud. And if you were a batsman on the fringes of the England team, you may feel that the consistency of selection policy has allowed some to coast on reputation for some time.

Consider Paul Collingwood. England must pick their World Cup squad this week and the Collingwood issue is beginning to cause the selectors a major headache.

No-one disputes that Collingwood has been a wonderful servant of English cricket. His determination, his selflessness, his superb fielding and his all-round ability have rendered him an automatic selection in all formats for several years. It’s not hard to see why colleagues and supporters feel such loyalty towards him. He’s a good man.

But that’s not the criteria for selection, is it? If it was, Nelson Mandela would open the bowling for South Africa and Cheryl Cole would be keeping wicket for England.

Ultimately a batsman’s job is to score runs. And Collingwood hasn’t scored many in a long, long time.

Sound harsh? Well, consider this. In the last year, he’s played 13 T20 internationals. In them he’s scored just 119 runs at an average of 10.8. Despite batting at number four, his highest score is just 21.

Meanwhile, he’s passed 50 just once in his last 15 ODI innings (in a game that England lost) and, in his last seven matches, he averages only 19.

And, in Test cricket, he passed 50 just once in his last 14 innings and, in that time, averaged just 14.

That’s not just a poor run. It’s a crisis. You have to go back a long, long time to find a match-winning performance.

While it’s true that Collingwood adds value with his bowling and fielding, there are several prospective replacements who might feel they can also offer an all-round package.

Ravi Bopara, for example, has a better strike-rate with the ball (39.1 balls per wicket compared to Collingwood’s 46.2) and concedes his runs at almost the same rate (5.07 an over compared to Collingwood’s 5.01). Collingwood’s last 25 ODIs have garnered just 11 wickets at 52 apiece, while his record in India (four wickets at 72 apiece in 18 ODIs with an economy rate of 5.78) hardly makes a compelling case for inclusion, either.

While the smart money suggests Collingwood will be selected in England’s 15-man World Cup squad, his position now hangs by a thread. If he is to see off the threat of the likes of Trott and Bopara, he really needs to start repaying the selectors faith with something more tangible than being a good influence. He needs runs and he needs them now.

It’s a dog’s life – and death – for Colly

England T20 call-ups for Yardy, Lumb and Bopara

The ECB today named the final England men’s and women’s squads for the forthcoming ICC World Twenty20 to be held in the Caribbean from April 30.

The England men’s final squad of 15 players includes uncapped Hampshire batsman Michael Lumb and Somerset’s Craig Kieswetter while Ravi Bopara and Michael Yardy have been recalled to the national team.

The England women’s squad welcomes back Claire Taylor and Holly Colvin as they look to defend their ICC World Twenty20 crown.

Commenting on the England men’s squad, Geoff Miller, England National Selector, said: “We believe we’ve picked a balanced squad that can meet the needs of the Twenty20 format – aggressive batting with variation and strength in depth and various bowling options that accommodate the conditions and surfaces in the West Indies. Our fielding, which is such a vital aspect of limited overs cricket, has improved markedly and there’s no reason we can’t perform well in what will be a challenging global tournament.

“On the recent tour of Bangladesh Craig Kieswetter showed what he is capable of in international limited overs cricket and as a wicketkeeper at the top of the order he gives us options down the order. Craig has improved over time and his selection indicates real competition for places which is only healthy for the England team. Despite missing selection for this format of the game Matt Prior very much remains in the England set up and a part of our plans.

“Michael Lumb has consistently performed well in limited overs cricket for Hampshire and has also impressed during his time in the IPL and with the England Lions. As a powerful left-hander Michael adds aggression to our batting and has the ability to compliment the rest of the line-up.

“Michael Yardy has also performed at a consistently high level for his county, Sussex, in limited overs cricket and knows his game inside and out. Both Michael and Ravi Bopara have earned recalls to the England squad after going away and working hard on their cricket with excellent results.”

Commenting on the England women’s squad, Clare Connor , Head of England Women’s Cricket, said: “We believe we have selected a squad of players with the necessary skills to retain the ICC World Twenty20. Whilst this will be no easy feat given the strength of our group ( Australia , West Indies and South Africa ), the Twenty20 series win in India in February has prepared the squad well for the challenge.

“In order to make way for the return of Claire Taylor and Holly Colvin, who missed the India tour due to other commitments, the selectors have had to make some tough decisions. Young Academy graduates Heather Knight, Danielle Wyatt and Danielle Hazell all seized their opportunities in India and, as such, have retained their places in the squad.

“A couple of senior players have missed out on selection but the door remains open to them with a huge summer ahead against New Zealand in July. It is exactly this sort of competition for places that we are always striving for. We wish Charlotte Edwards and her squad every success in their bid to retain their ICC World Twenty20 champion status.”

England men’s ICC World T20 squad:

1. Paul Collingwood ( Durham , Captain)
2. James Anderson ( Lancashire )
3. Ravi Bopara (Essex)
4. Tim Bresnan ( Yorkshire )
5. Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
6. Craig Kieswetter ( Somerset )
7. Michael Lumb (Hampshire)
8. Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
9. Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire)
10. Ajmal Shahzad ( Yorkshire )
11. Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
12. Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
13. James Tredwell ( Kent )
14. Luke Wright ( Sussex )
15. Michael Yardy ( Sussex )

England women’s ICC World T20 squad:

1. Charlotte Edwards ( Kent, Captain )
2. Katherine Brunt ( Yorkshire )
3. Holly Colvin ( Sussex )
4. Lydia Greenway ( Kent )
5. Jenny Gunn (Nottinghamshire)
6. Danielle Hazell ( Yorkshire )
7. Heather Knight (Berkshire)
8. Laura Marsh ( Sussex )
9. Beth Morgan (Middlesex)
10. Nicky Shaw (Surrey)
11. Anya Shrubsole ( Somerset )
12. Claire Taylor (Berkshire)
13. Sarah Taylor ( Sussex )
14. Danielle Wyatt (Staffordshire)

8 things Ravi Bopara told SPIN this month

From The SPIN Ashes special, in shops now. Subscribe here for £30 – and get a free Cricketers Who’s Who worth £18.99

I first picked up a bat when I was six. I started playing with my brother in the park and on street corners when I was eight. When I was 10 or 11, I first went to [Nasser's dad]  Joe Hussain’s cricket school in Ilford, then started playing for Essex age-groups when I was 12. I fell in love with the game quite early. I loved waking up in the morning knowing I had a game that day, or coming back from school knowing I had practice that evening. 

We were at a bit of a disadvantage, coming from an urban area. A lot of schools don’t have cricket. There’s not enough facilities, especially in London. There’s nowhere to go and play cricket. But then me and the teacher at school worked together to set up a team at my primary school. It sounds weird saying that – “me and the teacher”, ’cos I was only 10 or 11 then. But he did all the organising and I just tried to get guys involved and come along to the trials. But we organised the team and then we started to win things. We won the Lord’s Taverners Cup. Then 

I set up a team at my secondary school, too – and we won things there, too. 

I hit my first century when I was 12. Playing for Essex under-12s. A weird feeling. I got it with a six. We needed seven to win and I was on 94. So I knew it had to be a six and I just went for it. And it went for six. 

My best innings was for Essex against Leicester last year. The double-hundred in the Friends Provident Trophy [201 off 138 balls]. Yes, I’ve had recent success in Test cricket but I still think that was my best innings. Everything just went perfectly that day.

I knew my first series would make me better. Sri Lanka 2007 was one of the hardest times of my career. [Ravi hit 42 in five innings and ended with three ducks in a row] It was tough. But I knew, when I got run out in that last game, that I was going to become better from that experience. Because it hurt me so much. And some people are put off by that kind of feeling but I was driven by it. Everyone makes mistakes. We’re human. You just have to learn from your mistakes. 

I got a little too desperate to play for England.

Even before I hit the century for Essex against Australia in 2005, I was getting all that talk about being a future England player. And you can get a little bit desperate yourself and start to believe the hype. But the key is to enjoy yourself and be natural.That summer, when I was 20, I was thinking too much about wanting to play for England now. You start to dwell on negatives a lot. So, with experience, I think I’ve become a bit more… ignorant.  I can blank things out.

I never watched a full day’s Test cricket. I watched a lot of cricket on TV when I was growing up – a lot of my hero Sachin Tendulkar. I used to watch a lot of one-day cricket live. And a lot of Test highlights. 

I never watched a whole day’s Test cricket, though; just the highlights. What I liked about Test cricket was that beautiful shots that might go for one run in one-day games, would go for four in Tests. There was something nice about seeing that ball hop over that rope. Seeing the ball timed elegantly through the gap.

I don’t think too much about the bowlers.

I’ve hit centuries in my last three Tests. What’s changed since my debut series? I try to enjoy myself. I don’t think too much about the game or who the bowlers are or what might happen. I never think, ‘I should score runs today’.  I just make sure I’ve prepared as well as I can. If I score runs I score runs and if I don’t… then it’s not my day.

Ravi was speaking at npower’s Urban Cricket facility in Wyck Gardens, Brixton. npower and the ECB have distributed over 60,000 Urban Cricket kits to children in the UK. npower.com/cricket

From The SPIN Ashes special, in shops now. Subscribe here for £30 – and get a free Cricketers Who’s Who worth £18.99

West Indies knock England out of ICC World Twenty20

England are out of the ICC World Twenty20 after losing to West Indies by five wickets in a game shortened by rain.

England hit 161/6 off their 20 overs, with Ravi Bopara top-scoring with 55 from 47 balls.

But after an hour had been lost to rain, West Indies were set a target revised by Duckworth-Lewis to just 80 from nine overs.

Though England took regular wickets and had the Windies at 45/5, Shiv Chanderpaul (17*) and Ronnie Sarwan (19*), surely the most experienced sixth-wicket partnership going, saw them home.

England, omitting Dimi Mascarenhas and again refusing to include Graham Napier, again laid a solid foundation but lacked any firepower in the final overs of their innings. Remarkably, they did not hit a boundary between the 11th and the 20th overs. Stuart Broad came in at No 8 for the last two balls of the innings and hit a four and a six, but it was much too little much too late.

At the top Luke Wright (6) fell again top edging a hook from a ball that got large on him. Today, it came from Kieron Pollard.

KP hit 31, before top-edging a sweep from medium pacer Simmons. After that Shah (18), Collingwood (11) and Foster (13) all managed to score at a run a ball but there was no sense of the innings taking flight, despite a massive hooked six from Shah.

In fact, it was after that Shah six in the 11th over – he fell in the next over to a brilliant catch from Fletcher on the square leg rope – that the boundary drought began, lasting until the penultimate ball of the innings.

The first rain break, midway through the 17th over, came at a bad time for England, as they were already struggling to rebuild momentum after the dismissal of Bopara. England failed to hit a single boundary between the 11th and 20th overs and, though the Duckworth-Lewis calculations appeared to favour the chasing side, it was this lack of adventure that ultimately cost them the game.

Defending the meagre, rain-adjusted total, England bowled well and fielded tenaciously. Ryan Sidebottom yorked Chris Gayle in the second over and James Foster pulled off another brilliant stumping, of Bravo off Swann, leaving the West Indies 45/5.

With Windies needing 30 off 18 balls, a James Anderson over went for 13, thanks to some clever batting from Sarwan that brought him two successive fours – the first saw him sweeping a ball from wide of off-stump for four .

After that, the Windies were in the box seat, and soon they were though to the semi-finals. Ryan Sidebottom came to the last over trying to defend three runs; England spent an age shuffling their fielders around but it was all too late; Sarwan smashed him for a four over extra cover and England were out.

England lose to Netherlands in World T20 sensation

The Netherlands have beaten England by four wickets in the first game of the ICC World Twenty20, in one of the biggest upsets in cricket history. They chased down England’s total of 162/5 by running two off the last ball of the game, thanks to an overthrow.

On a murky evening, Netherlands had won the toss and inserted their hosts. England’s new opening pair Luke Wright (71) and Ravi Bopara (46) again impressed, racing to 100 from the first 11 overs, before the side lost their way. With Rob Key coming in for the injured Kevin Pietersen, England lacked the big hitters down the order to capitalise on the excellent start. Owais Shah, Eoin Morgan and Paul Collingwood were all dismissed cheaply. 

Nonetheless, despite not hitting a single six in the innings, 162/5 seemed a competitive total. But the Netherlands were inspired by the clean hitting of Darren Reekers (20 off 13) at the top of the order, before Tom de Grooth (49 off 30) put them in with a real chance.

With their most experienced pro campaigner Ryan ten Doeschate (22 off 17) coming in at No 6, Netherlands needed 21 to win off 18. Finally, it came down to two runs required off the last ball – Edgar Schiferli hit the ball straight back to bowler Stuart Broad who, in failing to run Schiferli out, threw the ball past the stumps, allowing the Dutch to return for a second match-winning single.

With the rain pouring down throughout the Dutch innings, this was a tense game with England visibly shaken by the challenge they faced and missing several key run-out chances that might have changed the course of the game. The Netherlands were  up with the Duckworth-Lewis requirement throughout, but the umpires, despite the poor conditions, showed no inclination to bring the players off.

Adil Rashid played ahead of Graeme Swann but his showing (1/36 off four) failed to apply the brakes. James Anderson (3/23 off four overs) was the pick of the bowlers but England’s batting and fielding let them down, while the Dutch were apparently fearless in their batting.

With the opening ceremony, led by Alesha Dixon, called off thanks to the poor weather, it seemed as if the ICC World Twenty20 would get off to an anti-climactic start. As it happened, the inspirational Dutch side made this a night to remember.

Now, England must beat Pakistan on Sunday to avoid being chucked out of their own tournament at the first hurdle.

MOTM Swann inspires England to win inside three days

England beat West Indies by ten wickets at Lord’s, chasing down a target of 32 to win the first Test, shortly before the scheduled close of Day 3.

Graeme Swann, who took six wickets in the match as well as hitting an unbeaten 63, was named man of the match.

England bowled out West Indies for 256 this afternoon. After a delayed start due to rain, West Indies resumed on 39/2 this morning. By lunch they were 80/5 and, still 145 behind after following on, appeared heading for defeat sooner rather than later

Swann had dismissed the Windies rock Chanderpaul (4) cheaply for the second time in the match, emphasising the apparent hold he has over the West Indies’ six left-handers.

But with Brendan Nash (81) and Denesh Ramdin putting on 143 for the sixth wicket, England were made to work in the afternoon session. Stuart Broad broke the partnership, dismissing Ramdin on the verge of tea. Soon Nash, getting over-adventurous as he ran out of partners, fell to Broad too, caught in the deep by Cook.

West Indies had lost 2o wickets in less than 105 overs’ batting time in the match, a shabby performance in the light of their recent series win over England in warmer and more bat-friendly conditions

So Strauss and Flower’s new-look England start the season on a high. They were gifted momentum, first, by West Indies’ dropping six catches on the first day and then by a hapless batting performance.

Seeing England’s delight at beating one of the few teams ranked below their own No 6 place in the ICC table will not necessarily have the Aussies quaking. If England can’t beat West Indies in a home Test shortly after Easter, then they really should pack up and go home.

But at least, in the performances of Swann, Onions and Bopara, this England team have made a definite stride forwards; the grim aura of underachievement that surrounded the Vaughan-Harmison-Panesar-Moores axis over the last 12 months has, for the moment at least, been dispelled.

Bresnan and Onions called up to England Test squad

Yorkshire’s Tim Bresnan and Durham ‘s Graham Onions have been named in the England 12 for the first npower Test match against the West Indies which starts at Lord’s on Wednesday.

Ravi Bopara, who scored an outstanding 104 against the West Indies in Bridgetown, is chosen in the batting line up ahead of Owais Shah, who batted at No 3 in the recent series in the Caribbean.

 

Bresnan, 24, has played in five One Day Internationals for England as well as a Twenty20 against Sri Lanka at Southampton in 2006 while Onions, 26, will be making his first appearance in an England Test squad. Both Bresnan and Onions have appeared for the England Lions.

Geoff Miller, National Selector, said: ‘This is very exciting for the two young fast bowlers to be included in the squad for a Lord’s Test match and sends a message to all county players that if they put in consistently good performances they will get recognised. Both have had good starts to this season and had been close to Test match selection on a number of occasions. They have earned their place in the party.

‘The selectors also felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter. There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. He showed in Barbados that he has the ability to play at Test level.’

England squad for the 1st npower Test Match against West Indies - Lord’s May 6-10: A Strauss (Middlesex, captain); J Anderson (Lancashire); R Bopara (Essex); T Bresnan (Yorkshire ); S Broad (Nottinghamshire); P Collingwood (Durham); A Cook (Essex); G Onions  (Durham); M Panesar (Northamptonshire); K Pietersen (Hampshire); M Prior (Sussex); G Swann (Nottinghamshire)