England's recent return to power has been great, but have some bad habits from the Atherton/Hussain era carried over? And by that i reckon that despite all of England's recent success, especially in tests, they have a problem with finishing games off. Here's a recent list that reflects this:
*Edgbaston vs Australia when we nearly lost the unloseable
*Old Trafford vs Aus - 30 overs left and 3 wickets to get but somehow couldnt reach the finishing line
*Trent Bridge vs Aus- nearly choked chasing 130 odd
*The Oval vs Aus - one day to go with a lead and nine wickets in hand, and had it not been for KP we probably would have lost that test. We should have closed that test out.
*1st Test vs Pakistan - chasing 197 odd and were cruising but somehow managed to blow it.
*3rd Test vs Pakistan - 2 down after tea on the last day and lose 8 wickets in no time to lose the unloseable
*2nd test vs India - skittled for 170 odd in the 2nd dig when a draw should have been very achievable.
*1st ODI vs India - cruising with less than 100 to get and with 7 wickets in hand but end up losing by 30-40 runs.
*2nd ODI vs India - had India 5 down with 130 to get but India get home with 4 wickets to spare.
Is this a concern? I reckon it is because a really good team such as England should be finishing most of these games off in more impressive fashion.
6 of those 9 above matches involved batting collapses which is an area i still have concerns for England. Bell (or whoever) and Pietersen are abit wobbly at 4 & 5. And i dont reckon Jones is good enough to be a no.7. Could be a problem during the Ashes if England lose early wickets, something they didnt really do with Tresco/Strauss putting on a few good opening partnerships.
*Edgbaston vs Australia when we nearly lost the unloseable
*Old Trafford vs Aus - 30 overs left and 3 wickets to get but somehow couldnt reach the finishing line
*Trent Bridge vs Aus- nearly choked chasing 130 odd
*The Oval vs Aus - one day to go with a lead and nine wickets in hand, and had it not been for KP we probably would have lost that test. We should have closed that test out.
*1st Test vs Pakistan - chasing 197 odd and were cruising but somehow managed to blow it.
*3rd Test vs Pakistan - 2 down after tea on the last day and lose 8 wickets in no time to lose the unloseable
*2nd test vs India - skittled for 170 odd in the 2nd dig when a draw should have been very achievable.
*1st ODI vs India - cruising with less than 100 to get and with 7 wickets in hand but end up losing by 30-40 runs.
*2nd ODI vs India - had India 5 down with 130 to get but India get home with 4 wickets to spare.
Is this a concern? I reckon it is because a really good team such as England should be finishing most of these games off in more impressive fashion.
6 of those 9 above matches involved batting collapses which is an area i still have concerns for England. Bell (or whoever) and Pietersen are abit wobbly at 4 & 5. And i dont reckon Jones is good enough to be a no.7. Could be a problem during the Ashes if England lose early wickets, something they didnt really do with Tresco/Strauss putting on a few good opening partnerships.