In peculiar times, it is mildly reassuring to escape the abnormality for a while and take refuge in a one-day international series, which will culminate in Cardiff on Saturday.
We are at last witnessing something familiar in an English summer as England and Sri Lanka prepare to contest yet another one-day match: there has been quite a lot of rain to disrupt proceedings. Against Asian opponents in damp, cold conditions England have prevailed, though this time they have not only won the series but also the Super Series. And there is the usual glum realisation that within a month most of us will be hard-pressed to remember the outcome of this clash (although the ICC, meeting in Edinburgh, is currently seeking greater “context” for our international cricket).
Here at least is a reversion to the cosy old days when no one knew that Iceland had the same population as Leicester and politics was sufficiently dull that references to Brutus and Lady Macbeth were seldom justified. Yet between the showers there has been some startling cricket and most of it has been played by England. And at Cardiff on Saturday there is the prospect of some sunshine and an enjoyable, forgettable finale to the 50-over series.
So far the most heartening game from an English perspective was the one in which they played the worst. To conjure a tie, when chasing 287 for victory from the depths of 82 for six at Trent Bridge, hints at the potential of this team. At Edgbaston they delivered an almost perfect game, which removed all tension from the contest; at The Oval, even when required to score 308 from 42 overs, there was no surprise when they knocked the runs off with 11 balls to spare. In white-ball cricket England, under Eoin Morgan, do not know when they are beaten.
Morgan has, however, inherited a problem that has plagued his predecessors as captain: a sudden dearth of runs. He has not passed 50 for a dozen games. Yet it would be foolish to fret too much about that. Morgan, as captain, has instigated the new freedom which has coincided with greater success. One of Trevor Bayliss’s several virtues is that he is eager to let his captain hold sway.
After the vote of confidence from Andrew Strauss more than a year ago, Morgan more than anyone else triggered the upheaval. A key principle to his regime is the freedom to fail and this now should be applied generously to Morgan himself.
The stats suggest that his problem recently has been primarily against spin bowlers, which seemed to be one of his strengths earlier in his career. He should be able to solve that.
Jason Roy is clearly a beneficiary of the fresh outlook. His second century of the series was a breathtaking affair. He relishes playing in this environment. After his Oval innings, he said: “Credit to the boys; they allow me to go out there and enjoy myself and play the way I play. I’ve got no worries about getting out in the first over because I know the guys are backing me. It’s an incredible dressing room to be part of at the moment.” And he is batting incredibly well.
His partner during much of that innings at The Oval was Joe Root, now a senior citizen despite his age and he was mightily impressed. “There was real thought and clarity in the way he went about his business, which previously you might not have associated with Jason,” the Yorkshireman said on Friday. “That shows how he’s developed during his time in an England shirt and where he wants to take his game.”
Inevitably, after a second hundred the question arises of whether Roy might benefit England’s Test team. After all, Alex Hales has just about made the transition. Roy has a special ability to hit a cricket ball, akin to Jos Buttler, and that is a handy starting point whatever form of the game you are about to play. A Test career should not be ruled out for Roy but it is not imminent.
This season Roy has been batting at five or six for Surrey and he is averaging 30. At some point quite soon he might try to persuade his county to send him in earlier because he needs more runs against a red ball to advance his cause. However, at the moment England are making a virtue of having specialist personnel for different forms of the game. So there is no rush.
Currently a majority of the England team can be regarded as one-day specialists. Hence they turn up at Cardiff with a spring in their step and eager to strut their stuff. They appear to be enjoying themselves too much to go through the motions. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, hampered by a growing list of injuries, are starting to fray and they are still pursuing their first victory in the moribund Super Series. The bookies have England as strong favourites in Cardiff. And in a summer of upsets, they are bound to get something right soon.
