Since the recent whirlwind World Twenty20 Cup the England and Wales Cricket Board could now be dubbed the “England, Wales, South Africa and Ireland Cricket Board.”
Recent additions to the England team; tricky Irish revelation Eoin Morgan and powerful Johannesburg-born openers Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter; were all significant performers in the Three Lions’ glory trail. They joined the Anglicised Kevin Pietersen in England’s cosmopolitan line-up. However, there was more to England’s success than recruiting exciting, newly-qualified cricketers.
Andy Flower's Influence
Much praise for the transformation of the England one-day cricket team has to go to another foreign “defector”, coach Andy Flower. The well-regarded former Zimbabwean international wicketkeeper-batsmen banked an enviable 50+ Test batting average and an ODI average of 35.34 in a formidable career.
After leading England to Ashes glory and a respectable drawn series in South Africa, Flower set about reinventing the improving but short-sighted ODI and Twenty20 sides.
England were humbled 6-1 in the ODI series that followed; the Aussies claiming some revenge for their Test defeat. The team was in transition, trying to get the right fusion of established Test players and limited-overs specialists; trialling Joe Denly, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah and Luke Wright.
Big-Hitting Batsmen Key For England
Morgan’s unorthodox style and fearless strokeplay impressed as England had a reasonable ICC Champions Trophy run soon after; including a big win over South Africa in which they posted a massive 323-8. Shah scored 98 and Morgan hit a second consecutive half-century.
They followed this up with encouraging ODI series wins over South Africa (Winter 2009) and Bangladesh (Spring 2010). Twenty20 results were mixed, but the team looked competitive and better balanced.
England’s performance in 2009’s home World Twenty20 Cup will be remembered for their embarrassing defeat to minnows Holland. They recovered to beat eventual-winners Pakistan on route to the Super Eights. After a crushing loss to South Africa, England beat India before being knocked out, losing to West Indies in a tight Duckworth-Lewis decision.
This time around, with just a handful of English players competing in the IPL in the lead up to the ICC World Twenty20 Cup (Bopara, Pietersen, Collingwood, Lumb, Shah), it looked like they might come up short again against well represent countries like Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa and India.
There were decent IPL performances from Collingwood and Pietersen, Lumb looked assured opening for Rajasthan Royals and Bopara stood out from a disappointing King’s XI Punjab team. Bopara played just one game in the World Twenty20 Cup, stepping in for Pietersen, who went home for the birth of his Dylan, before returning for the semi-final and final.
Rise of Kieswetter and Lumb
So how did it go so right for England to win their first major international limited-overs tournament?
A number of factors contributed to England’s well-oiled Twenty20 machine, starting with the squad selection. Choosing Lumb and Kieswetter as openers was a bold but a significant move. The opening partnership of England’s one-day outfit had been a long-term problem. In Twenty20, teams need at least one explosive opening batsman (think Chris Gayle, Mahela Jayawardene, Kamran Akmal, Shane Watson). England hadn’t had a consistent fast-scoring opener since Marcus Trescothick.
England’s Test openers and middle order (with the exception of Pietersen) are classical batsmen, not big-hitters. Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and Bell were left out.
England, notoriously slow starters in Twenty20 matches, didn’t have the firepower to take advantage of power-plays. Denly, Wright and Trott all had stints in the opening slots in Twenty20 games in 2009/10, but it didn’t click.
That’s when Kieswetter came into the equation. When England toured Bangladesh, they also took an England A (“Lions”) team. In a warm-up match, England played the Lions at Twenty20.
An opening partnership of 100 from Lumb (58 runs from 35 balls) and Kieswetter (81 from 66 balls) helped the Lions successfully chase down England’s score of 157-6.
This impressive hitting caught selectors’ eyes and a week later Kieswetter was added to the senior team in a 50-over tour match against a Bangladesh XI. He didn’t miss out, plundering143 from 123 balls including 6 sixes in a huge total of 370-7. Meanwhile, Lumb hit a ton for the Lions against Pakistan A.
Kieswetter played in the ODI series as an opening batsmen alone (Prior remained as wicketkeeper), and in the final game hit his maiden ODI century as England sealed the series 3-0.
Two months later, Kieswetter was number two for England in the ICC World Twenty20. Prior missed out, as Kieswetter took the gloves; making room for another bowler.
Cook’s form in 50-over cricket was improving but he made way for Lumb. The Lions duo were reunited and proved the catalyst for England posting big scores and chasing totals.
Kevin Pietersen Helps England Win Final
Pietersen stole the headlines and was named Man of the Tournament Award; scoring 248 runs at an average of 62. However, Lumb and Kieswetter continually set the platform for the middle order to fill their boots.
It is important to realise the other reasons for England’s dominance; Collingwood growing in stature as captain and his leg-side six-hitting; Pietersen batting at three; a strong tail (Bresnan, Swann and Broad) coming in after Morgan and Wright; Swann and Yardy bowling in tandem; great bowling at the death (particularly from Sidebottom); and ever-impressive fielding displays.
The selectors got it spot on in putting together a well-balanced team, batting freely and playing positive cricket. After a controversial Duckworth-Lewis loss to West Indies and a no-result against Ireland in a nervy first group stage, they bulldozed through Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
England were the best team in the competition and their collective unit was too strong for nations blessed with more star-studded casts. Key man Kieswetter saved his best for last with a swift but graceful 63 against a furious pace attack (Tait, Nannes and Johnson), as England beat Australia in the final. He took the game away from the Aussies and his tournament run total to 222.
The brave selection of the inexperienced Lumb and Kieswetter as openers was the difference between a strong campaign and world-beating one.
Rowland Marsh - I am a 29-year-old writer living in Turnpike Lane. This is situated in the Tottenham half of the North London divide, where I have a ...
