The greatest challenge for the England team on a balmy practice day at Lord’s was to concentrate on Saturday’s one-day international against Pakistan rather than the anxieties raised by the England and Wales Cricket Board’s decision to go ahead with the tour to Bangladesh this autumn.
Most of the relevant England players attended a meeting on Thursday night, where Reg Dickason, the ECB’s security expert, outlined the findings of his trip to Bangladesh. The advice was that it was safe to tour. Jos Buttler, a discreet man, was never going to share much of the contents of that meeting. In contrast to his preferred mode of operating at the crease, Buttler politely dead-batted questions about the discussion.
“It was a positive meeting last night with lots of information to digest,” said Buttler. “It’s tricky for us at the moment. We’ve got a game tomorrow.”
In fact what Buttler declined to say was more revealing. He could not confirm that the squad were four-square behind the decision to tour. Nor would he give an indication of his own view. “I’ve said plenty, thanks,” he added, before speaking with greater enthusiasm about his recovery from a broken thumb and the exceptional pace generated by Mark Wood in the first ODI against Pakistan. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that there are significant reservations among the players about the tour to Bangladesh.
Andrew Strauss, England’s cricket director, was more precise. “I’m 100% convinced that it is safe to tour,” he said. “I have the utmost confidence in Reg Dickason. I respect the fact that you can’t force anyone to tour but it is my job to assure the players that it is safe and that there is no reason to pull out.”
“It is not easy for the players. I appreciate what they are going through [he experienced something similar in 2008 when England returned to India for two Tests after terrorist attacks in Mumbai].” The purpose of the meeting was not to ask whether the players were available but to share information, but Strauss said he was hopeful that he would be able to convince them to tour and that all would be willing to travel.
He could not provide the same assurances to any England supporters who are contemplating following the team in Bangladesh. That was beyond the ECB’s remit: “They must do their own assessments and refer to Foreign Office advice.”
The problems posed for England’s cricketers by Pakistan in the Lord’s ODI seem minor by comparison and this even seems to be the view of the Pakistan coach, Mickey Arthur, who is more candid than many of his peers. The loss at Southampton was the first witnessed by Arthur as coach and he said: “Everything I’ve heard about this side was on view.”
Pakistan languish at No9 in the ODI table and the impression is that they play the game in an old-fashioned, risk-averse way, familiar to England supporters until about 18 months ago. “We have had a good chat,” said Arthur, “and I’ve told the players that there is nothing to lose. I want them to play with freedom. We do not want to be left behind.”
By the same token Arthur also issued a warning. “Nobody’s place is safe in this side. Especially the over-30s have to carry out their jobs more often than not. Everyone knows that they are on notice.”
Arthur felt that his team needed “to attack a bit more” and he indicated that the strange decision at Southampton to omit the wrist-spinner Yasir Shah, so influential throughout the Test series, was likely to be reversed. “Without a doubt we have got to find a way to get Yasir in,” he said. This is not a straightforward operation since Pakistan do not possess as many all-round cricketers as England. To add to their concerns there is a doubt about Mohammad Amir’s fitness.
So England remain favourites. Buttler, in particular, is hungry for action after his enforced absence. He was not needed with the bat at Southampton and he acknowledges that runs might enhance his chances of being considered as a possible Test batsman in the future. But like the impending decision over Bangladesh he is sensibly pushing such thoughts to the back of his mind.
“I don’t want to be stood in the middle thinking: ‘Get some runs here and get picked for the winter tours.’ It’s about playing the game as it is and trying to win a game of cricket. I feel the less I think about that stuff, the better.”
Yet beyond the boundary some hard thinking remains for the England players before the squads for Bangladesh and beyond are announced soon after the summer’s internationals are completed.
