What could have been a dull, dead-rubber match has been enlivened by a number of issues that continue to dominate the build-up to the third Investec Test at Edgbaston. No doubt that was far from Andy Flower’s motivation when he decided to enforce a rest upon James Anderson.
The series is in the bag and, according to Flower, his team have turned their thoughts to South Africa. Hubris has been known to affect England teams in the past — most recently in Dubai where Flower detected a lessening of intensity in practice in the wake of becoming the world’s No 1 — and his hope must be that the momentum gained in early summer is not derailed by the sideshows involving two key players, one of whom was at Edgbaston yesterday and one of whom was not.
Kevin Pietersen gave an early impression of Sir Tom Courtenay, the loneliness of his long-distance running around the outfield a coincidence for those who believe that he is becoming increasingly estranged from his international colleagues. There is no doubt that Pietersen is a man apart to some degree, and he has never been the most popular with his fellow players, but there have been plenty of examples in cricket, and other sports, of top-class performers who have not been very clubbable.
How far, given his recent change of heart, should punters hold store by Pietersen’s utterances is open to debate, but he has expressed a desire to score more than 10,000 Test runs — a modern-day marker that delineates the greats from the rest — and he is shrewd enough to know that his “brand” depends largely on his performances in the Test arena.
He should be doubly motivated and hungry to perform, and the Edgbaston crowd can be expected to endorse his recent decision to retire from international one-day cricket by giving him a good reception at a ground where, with a Test average of 60, he has excelled and entertained in equal measure.
Advertisement
While not wanting to put words into Pietersen’s mouth, Andrew Strauss felt that both sides were happier now that the issue had been “dealt with, done and dusted”, although Flower putting himself forward to various outlets yesterday to explain his reasoning over Anderson only suggests that the issue is still raw. The England team director is more comfortable defending his rotation policy in general, rather than Pietersen specifically.
In some ways, the Pietersen question has taken away attention from the only batsman, Jonny Bairstow, about whom there is a question mark before the South Africa series. With Ravi Bopara back and fresh from a hundred for Essex on Monday, Bairstow will need a score, or at least he will need to look less troubled by the short ball, to keep himself in the frame.
England have set great store by their harmony and team spirit, and there are those who will question how far Pietersen’s demands, and to a lesser degree the forced resting of Anderson, will stir those hitherto calm waters. But, in both instances, it was about Flower asserting his control and authority, and the players know that his decisions, historically, have been based not on any favouritism or animus but on what is best for the England team. He is highly respected because of it.
Strauss insisted that Anderson understood England’s rotation policy. Any disappointment publicly expressed by the bowler is best explained in the context that a principle generally stated is easier to accept than one that affects you personally, and Anderson is aggrieved that he is unable to massage his figures against a top order that has looked extremely fragile.
Because of that fragility, West Indies are considering changes. After his tour from hell, Kirk Edwards must be vulnerable at first drop, with Narsingh Deonarine and Assad Fudadin waiting in the wings.
Advertisement
Alternatively, they could play an extra bowler, pairing Fidel Edwards and Tino Best alongside Ravi Rampaul, although this policy, which they should have adopted during the long, hot days at Trent Bridge, would seem less logical now, given the forecast, which is exceedingly poor for the first two days.
England, too, have a difficult choice to make over whether Stuart Broad should join Anderson in the recovery room. Amid all the talk of resting, rotation and unwillingness to commit to all forms of the game, it is necessary to remember that there are players keen to play and to make their mark in international cricket. Steven Finn and Graham Onions are pawing the ground.