The India fiasco has severely undermined the excitement created in English cricket by Brendon McCullum's Test approach. By Alex Davidson/Getty Images
The result of the match against Pakistan didn't matter. It didn't change anything. Winning doesn't matter when the pressure is off.
What's more important is where to go next? Among English cricket fans, much credit goes to Rob Key for asking Brendon McCullum to lead our Test match cricket when it was in decline.
It was a surprise choice that no one expected. and Brandon was a revelation. English cricket is enjoying a renaissance and we're all queuing up to watch it. It's fun, exciting and makes us look forward to what's next.
The defeat of the England cricket team in India did much to undermine this authority. I don't think anyone is confident in head coach Matthew Motte either. This is mainly because most people have never heard of it, so the jury is out. But he was Key's choice, so if he can't cut it, it will be on Rob's head.
The best thing these two can do is throw their hands up, admit they were wrong, and get down to business immediately. business planning for four years in South Africa.
Four years seems very far away. Let me tell you that there is never enough time for sports. If you don't plan right away, the years will fly by so quickly that the World Cup will come again before you're ready.
They need to look at a player's age and evaluate their talent based on how good they will be in four years. And accept that some will be looking at four more lucrative years playing in the IPL rather than the World Cup in South Africa. Make a decision and if it means that many of this team will have to say: “We really enjoyed you playing for England, but thank you.” Your time is up,” and so be it.
Matthew Mott's plans for the next World Cup in South Africa should start now . Photo: Getty Images/Alex Davidson
It's cruel? Yes. But there is no place for sentiment in sports. This is the nature of our work. We, athletes and sportswomen, have our own expiration date. Key can and should tell people the right way and always face to face, but this requires decisive action. It's annoying, but Rob isn't paid to be polite. He's paid to do things right, but this time he didn't do it. It was a mess.
Some players will wait to be replaced, some will retire before they are pushed, and others will be shocked and hurt, but with Rob Key “the answers will stop.”
Key and Mott have to conduct a confidential report, and the one who only scheduled two warm-up matches for the teams wants him off work. The top three teams in this competition ensured that they were able to play competitive matches on the fields and conditions they were going to get at this World Cup. Australia played India in India and New Zealand played Bangladesh in Bangladesh. They were battle-hardened. There were only two one-dayers in England. One was taken out completely, the other was reduced to 37 overs.
When England won the World Cup in England in 2019, they planned it for four years, starting immediately after our disastrous World Cup in Australia in 2015. This World Cup, like Australia's, saw turmoil in pre-planning and during matches.
Key and Mott are paid a lot of money to properly prepare players for competitive matches, as well as where England play them, on what surfaces and against top-class opposition. We don't want to hear that tired phrase “we will learn from our mistakes.” No excuses will be accepted. You had to get it right first and foremost.
England were defending their championship and the players deserved better. English cricket deserved better from the two guys in charge.
Jonny Bairstow was one of several English batsmen who fell on bad times in India. Photo: Getty Images/DIBYANGSHU SARKAR
On top, our choice was terrible. They were left with “old hands” who were either past their prime or were never good in Indian conditions. Two of our world-class stars – Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes – were never fit enough for a grueling tournament in sometimes excessive, sweltering heat.
Bairstow was a shadow of his best in the Ashes this summer and Stokes was unfit for the first three matches and when he played he couldn't bowl and barely ran. I understand Ben is a great batsman and talismanic figure due to past exploits, but can't bat and can't run? Seriously. In one-day cricket! In Test cricket matches, you can play on the slip and hit with a shaky knee. It's not easy to hide someone in white ball cricket.
One-day cricket is a game for young people, otherwise you need to be fit to do all the required running in the energy-draining sunlight . . Early on, Jos Butler continued to win the toss and put teams in position, meaning his boys had three and a half hours of relentless, draining sunshine. Unwise.
When England won the World Cup, we had an established team in which everyone knew their role, and we were focused and prepared for this World Cup for four years. This team or squad looked like a hodgepodge thrown together at the last minute based on past performances.
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