I felt that clearly we were very much underprepared; a good proportion of our player's last competitive cricket was the 31st August when England played their last International against South Africa.
Having just returned home from watching the Stanford money match in Antigua over the weekend, it left me wondering from an English perspective what had gone wrong. I felt that clearly we were very much underprepared; a good proportion of our player's last competitive cricket was the 31st August when England played their last International against South Africa. They only had a week's preparation and through the week most of the lads contracted a stomach bug that laid them low for 48 hours, so it is hardly surprising to me to see us looking as rusty as we did. Especially when the other side of the coin, the Stanford squad had been in a camp for six weeks playing and practising on The Oval in preparation for what was in their eyes the biggest game of their careers.
About a month ago, Alastair Cook came out in the press saying that he regarded this match as a money match and was shot down the next day by the England management. May be if the whole squad had had a similar perspective on this, things may have been different. That was one of a five year deal and it is massively important things change and when we go back we are clear in both mind and body as to how we are going to achieve our goal, namely winning the match.
I thought the spectacle itself was great on Saturday night; the ground itself has a lovely festival feel to it and is a first class facility. The players said the lights on Saturday night had improved from earlier on in the week, so the only major thing that needs addressing on the cricket field is probably the pitch. It would be great if next year the scores were a lot nearer to two hundred, than one hundred and the fans were able to see a few more fours and sixes. Having said all of that, nothing should be taken away from the home team, they prepared well and on Saturday night they were absolutely irresistible. Their bowling plans were executed to perfection, they looked red hot in the field and the only two batsmen we saw were able to play with unrestrained freedom. Let's hope we can come back next year better prepared and looking more like the England team that finished the summer on the 30th August.
The team now have a daunting trip to India to look forward to, with India at the moment having to date given the Aussies a real hard time in the Test series over in India. One player who England will not have to worry about is Anil Kumble who over the weekend announced his International retirement with immediate effect. Perhaps in any other era (without Murali and Warne) he would have been lorded as the greatest spinner on the planet, his 619 wickets bearing testament to that. Kumble has been a gentleman cricketer who has been a terrific ambassador for the game and I for one would like to wish him all the best in his retirement.