da betcris： The manner in which England sealed their second successive seriesvictory over New Zealand at Trent Bridge was nothing less thanemphatic
Will Luke at Trent Bridge08-Jun-2008
A stroll in the park: The final day of England’s series with New Zealand was child’s play for Michael Vaughan’s men, but South Africa will be a sterner test © Getty Images
The manner in which England sealed their second successive seriesvictory over New Zealand at Trent Bridge was nothing less thanemphatic. Sixty-three minutes of clinical cricket condemned their opponents toan innings-and-nine-run loss, removing their last five wickets for 35runs in 40 balls. All is not quite as rosy in England’s garden as thescoreline might suggest, however, and Michael Vaughan sounded a noteof hesitation when looking ahead to the South Africa series nextmonth.”I think the result suggests we still had to get out of a trickyposition at 86 for 5. It was a position we would not like to have beenin, but the partnership between Kevin Pietersen and Tim Ambrose set usup for a good score,” he said. “And of course the partnership betweenStuart Broad and James Anderson on the second morning seemed to knockthe stuffing out of New Zealand, because we always knew that the ballwas going to swing around and our bowlers would’ve been suited.”We’ve won four out of five Tests now and I think in every one ofthose wins, we’ve got better and better in each game. And you do startto get better the more you play together. I think what pleases me mostis it’s not been the same people. Every bowler has stuck his hand upat certain times and every batsman has got us through some trickypositions, whether it was in New Zealand or over here.”Every batsman? Well, not quite. Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood may have played their parts in New Zealand, but they havebeen the pair most in the firing line and the least profitable ofEngland’s top six. Bell scratched 45 runs in four innings in this series; Collingwood31. As a point of comparison, Ryan Sidebottom reached the loftyheights of 27 while James Anderson swished 31, although 28 of thosecame in one innings. And yet. Peter Moores, the England coach,together with an assortment of team-mates, continue to believe thepair have a big innings just around the corner.”They’re working as hard as they always do,” Vaughan said. “I knowit’s a saying, but they’re hitting it very well in practice. It’svery much an individual thing, batting, and each of those guys willknow exactly what to do to go out and get that trot. The one-dayseries which starts later on in the week…sometimes that’s a good thingto just get into another form of the game. One quick 50 or 60 couldget themselves back into form.”The word hung echoingly. Form – that elusive intangible – has utterlyevaded the pair. And, yes, the one-day series – beginning with aTwenty20 against New Zealand on Friday – does indeed offer them achance to regain confidence. However, the ODIs will also represent agolden opportunity for some of England’s younger bucks to stand talland prove their worth, not least Ravi Bopara, the Essex allrounder inscintillating form for his county this season. It is also expectedthat Luke Wright, Sussex’s bullish batsman, will get a chance in theone-dayers. Bell and Collingwood beware: for all Moores’ loyalty,England cannot carry passengers if they are to beat a confident SouthAfrica side with arguably the best fast bowling attack in the world.This was a series in which England twice collapsed, recovered anddominated. At Old Trafford, Daniel Vettori’s five wickets rolled themfor a poor 202 to concede a first-innings deficit of 179. Then, NewZealand’s confidence got the better of them to allow England back intothe game. Likewise here at Trent Bridge, England’s middle-order lackedsubstance to leave them critically exposed at 86 for 5. Only amasterful 115 from Pietersen and gutsy 60s from Ambrose and Broadbailed them out, generously assisted by New Zealand’s own lack ofself-belief. South Africa will not be so easily overturned.We’ve won four out of five Tests now and I think in every one ofthose wins, we’ve got better and better in each game – Michael Vaughan on England’s form”I’d like to not get in those positions,” Vaughan said, “and you knowa sign of a good team is getting out of them. But a sign of a reallygood team is not getting into them in the first place. That’s where wecan improve. We’re a pretty young side, developing. The likes of Broadhaven’t played many games and he’s showing a lot of maturity – I lovethe way he bats at No. 8: he actually has the mentality of a batsman. Andagain they’re good signs for the team in the future.”I guess the win here suggests we’ve got better as the series has gonealong. There are ways to improve and the South Africa series will bethe ultimate test to see where we’re at as a Test team.”If he’s honest, Vaughan will admit that the South Africans have beenlooming in his mind for quite some time. New Zealand were but astepping-stone for England, albeit a slippery one which needed carefulfooting, before they take on the more cumbersome boulder of SouthAfrica in July. Metaphors aside, Vaughan singled out James Anderson ashis key bowler in the hunt for his 10th series win as England captain.”He’s very exciting, Jimmy. He’s great to have in the team becauseeven when he’s inconsistent he gets wickets, and as a captain youalways want guys who can take wickets. He seems to have that knack ofgetting wickets out of nothing. Last night, Brendon McCullum andDaniel Flynn were batting very well and, out of nowhere, he getsMcCullum out. He’s got this record which suggests he’s inconsistentbut when he’s swinging it, there’s not many better around than him.”It is all too easy for laurels to be rested, particular after aseries win, and yet the manner in which Vaughan spoke at Trent Bridgeimplied his eyes have been firmly fixated on the South Africa seriesfor some time. England’s summer begins now.