by bigfluffylemon » Sun Sep 10, 2017 7:37 am
Job done by England. In fact, from 99-3, today couldn't have gone much better for them. Hope's resistance was the only high point for WIndies.
But it leaves a bit of a hollow feeling. On paper, it's been a successful summer, with two series wins, including against the number 2 ranked South Africa side. England move up to number 3 in the rankings, and are now ahead of Australia. However, it does not feel as though they have really made any progress as a side over the last 12 months, or even 2 years since Bayliss took over. They are still over reliant on the same few high performers, the same selection issues persist, the same lack of a high quality spin attack, for all the value Moeen adds to the side. The only find of the summer has been Roland-Jones, who has certainly earned himself a trip to Australia, but the batting stocks remain thin at the top of the order beyond Root and Cook, who has consistency issues of his own.
On paper, England ought to be confident of at least a competitive series against an Australian side that is also quite flawed, and who they are ranked ahead of. So why do I have that sinking feeling that normal service (i.e. a thumping) will ensue in Brisbane?