Posted by The Harry Brook era is underway! And we have deigned to write a few sentences about it!
New world, old men
When Eoin Morgan overhauled England’s ODI team after the 2015 World Cup, the top two performers in the next (completed) game were Joe Root and Jos Buttler, neither of whom were remotely new to the team.
Almost exactly a decade later, England’s bold new era of one-day cricket under Harry Brook has begun with Joe Root top-scoring by a mile and Adil Rashid taking more wickets than anyone else. (Rashid took four wickets in that 2015 match.)
Tomorrow is frequently not massively different from yesterday.
New world, new man
England’s second-highest scorer was Brook himself. ODIs have thus far been his crappiest format, but 131 runs for twice out means his average has now inched up to 36.42 – entirely acceptable given he scores at more than a run a ball.
Jamie Smith might work as ODI opener
Aaaand he might not. His first innings of 37 off 24 balls was encouraging – albeit most other England batters outscored him. He then followed that with a four-ball duck, which was less encouraging. But then in the third match, he cantered out and monstered 64 off 28 balls, so there’s definitely a potential upside in play here.
Our personal view is that Smith is a magnificent batter who’d do well in any position – provided they don’t drag him up and down the order precisely because of that fact.
Opener makes sense though. It gives England that helpful combination of big ganglatron right-hander and stumpy back foot left-hander but with the added and reassuring benefit of Zak Crawley not being in any way involved.
Jacksob Bethwill
We mentioned this after the first match: England’s fifth bowler is a bit of a cross-your-fingers, maybe-we-can-make-up-the-difference-elsewhere arrangement right now.
In the second match, Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks were obliged to bowl a few more overs than they had in the first. On a pitch where the Windies barely scraped 300, Bethell conceded 8.16 an over and Jacks 10.50.
It’s a weakness. If they stick with this line-up, it’ll be interesting to see what sort of mitigation tactics they come up with. Our vote is for Chris Harris style moon balls. (Not because it would work. Just because it would be fun.)
How long before someone suggests Smith as Test opener, thereby solving the Pope v Bethell Conundrum? (Which I believe is the working title of Dan Brown’s new novel.)
Smith as the new Moeen in the ‘would you mind…?’ role is definitely a possibility
Wiljac Bethjackz could surely be the finest all-round cricketer that Poland never produced, although far more convincing with the bat than with the ball – obvs.
Sounds like a 1930s dice game they’ve brought back and tried to make sound trendy.
Chris Harris moon balls? He was slow-medium – sometimes bowled with the keeper standing back.
Literally the only international cricketer ever to attract the ‘slow-medium’ designation.
Chris Harris bowled a lot of stuff. At one point he claimed to be purveying “fairly fast leg spin”. He definitely had a moon ball in his armoury.
Derek Underwood was designated “slow left arm orthodox” & “left arm medium”. He was possibly quicker than any other spinner I have seen. Contre-Harris I suppose, who was possibly slower than any other pace bowler I have seen play first class or international cricket.