After 35 years, 19 tournaments and four times as losing finalists, England have finally managed to win an ICC world limited overs event. If that wasn’t enough, then the fact that they beat old rivals Australia to do it will make the taste of success all the sweeter. It’s hard to believe that less than a year ago, England lost the opening game of the previous World T20 to the Netherlands and were beaten five times in eight completed Twenty 20 matches in 2009. So what has prompted this remarkable turnaround? What has made the country that invented Twenty 20 in 2003 finally learn how to play the shortest form of the game? For what it’s worth, here’s our view: Bold selections For a change, the England selectors must take their share of the plaudits for a bold squad selection, and like a shrewd punter all of their brave choices came off. The new opening partnership of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter continually gave England lightning starts. Michael Yardy’s 65mph darts aren’t the most attractive but they were effective throughout the tournament, despite Cameron White’s best efforts yesterday. Finally, Ryan Sidebottom has proved the doubters wrong and his early wickets of Shane Watson and Brad Haddin in the final gave England an early initiative they never lost. So that’s four out of four for Geoff Miller and company. Taking advantage of the batting powerplay Until the final neither Lumb nor Kieswetter had made a fifty in the tournament but that fact should not downplay their importance. Indeed England, so often pedestrian during the powerplay overs with the likes of Cook, Bell and Trott, were utterly transformed and had the highest average score at the end of the first six overs in the competition. That was down to Lumb and Kieswetter and helped lay the foundation from which the likes of Kevin Pietersen could build. Sixes and strike rates All of England’s batsmen had a strike-rate of over 100 during the competition and all showed they had the necessary power to hit sixes off seamers and spinners alike. Some of the hitting was brutal such as the rudimentary approach of Luke Wright, who paired up with Eoin Morgan for a couple of crucial partnerships at the start of the tournament. Morgan was at his unorthodox best and some of the sixes served up by Pietersen were simply breathtaking. An ability to hit sixes should be a pre-requisite for an effective Twenty 20 batsman and though they may be slow learners, the England set-up have finally realised that. Key players in top form Crucially, England’s best batsman and most penetrating bowler were also at the top of their games. Pietersen was back to his super-confident and arrogant best and deservedly won the Player of the Tournament award with 248 runs at 62 and a strike rate of 138. Meanwhile Graeme Swann took 10 wickets at 14 and had an excellent economy rate of 6.5. Both too played vital roles in the final. A varied and strong bowling unit Many were surprised when James Anderson was left out but Sidebottom showed the importance in Twenty 20 of a left arm seamer that can swing the ball, vary their pace and bowl yorkers. He and Tim Bresnan regularly gave England good starts and invariably took wickets with the new ball. Stuart Broad showed his full repertoire and proved difficult for batsmen to get away. And the aforementioned spin twins Swann and Yardy were a more than useful combination. Australia’s pace attack may have taken most of the plaudits during the competition, but it was England’s attack that had the best strength in depth. Brilliant fielding England were consistently excellent in the field throughout the tournament and appeared to be a very fit and focused side. Most catches were held, boundaries were regularly saved and England were particularly good at restricting twos, which can prove vital in close Twenty 20 matches. Captain Paul Collingwood led from the front in this regard and his superlative catch to dismiss Clarke yesterday was indicative of England’s brilliance and attitude in the field. Inspired leadership Collingwood is supposedly a reluctant skipper that had to be persuaded to be the Twenty 20 captain following his resignation from leading the one day team in 2008. That certainly wasn’t apparent during this tournament with Collingwood’s attacking instincts proving contagious for the rest of the side. Coach Andy Flower too should take enormous credit for honing a well drilled, dynamic and positive unit that is obviously happy in each others company. Confidence The final ingredient was the obvious confidence that flowed through this England side. Whereas before they have been cautious, defensive and negative, this competition saw them as fearless, attacking and positive throughout. Indeed, the verve and ruthlessness of England in this tournament was light years ahead of what they have produced in limited overs tournaments in the past. If anything it was England that looked the most Australian of the two teams yesterday and there can’t be much higher praise than that. _________________________________________________________ About the writer: As well as writing regularly for CricDude, David Green has his own blog entitled The Reverse Sweep, which is updated daily. You can also follow David on Twitter @TheReverseSweep. |
