England’s domination becoming almost predictable

Andrew Strauss

LONDON, (Reuters) – Once a word used to deride  England’s cricketers, “predictable” is fast becoming a badge of  honour that captain Andrew Strauss and his squad can wear with  pride.

Two crushing test victories over India, the second coming in  a rush of wickets at Trent Bridge on Monday, have put England on  the brink of the top ranking in the five-day format of the game  and talk of “domination” is in the air.

While there have been many false dawns, the momentous 2005  Ashes win over Australia being one of them, the riches available  to Strauss and manager Andy Flower suggest the D word is not out  of place.

In fast bowlers James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris  Tremlett and off-spinner Graeme Swann, England have an attack  full of potency while Tim Bresnan showed in taking five wickets  to skittle India for 158 that Strauss has the kind of back-up  options that are the envy of the world.

What India would have done for a bowler of Bresnan’s quality  as they toiled in the heat with the game slipping away from them  on Sunday afternoon.
Wicketkeeper Matt Prior has improved beyond measure with the  gloves and his batting is now approaching the heights reached by  great Australian Adam Gilchrist in the all-conquering sides  captained by Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.

Andrew Strauss

Although openers Strauss and Alastair Cook are struggling  for runs, the batting order rarely collapses like a house of  cards these days and the tailenders regularly score heavily.

Bresnan and Broad contributed 209 runs to England’s cause at  Trent Bridge, a key factor in the 319-run victory which left the  hosts 2-0 up and top-ranked India staring at a demoralising  rout.

COMMON CAUSE       

Kevin Pietersen has put his ego to one side and emerged as a  batsman who can dig in for the common cause while Ian Bell, with  a test average of 47, is world class.
Comparisons with the swaggering Australian teams for whom  victory was almost a pre-requisite are not misplaced, especially  when considering the fringe players who have proved consistently  that they can come in and feed off the confidence within the  ranks.

England have won seven of their last eight test series. That  should soon become eight from nine and although matching the  domination of Australia, who between 2000 and 2008 lost just two  series, is unlikely, they certainly look like the team to be  measured against for the forseeable future.

It is all a far cry from the days of tortoise-like scoring  rates followed by rapid collapses, scatter-gun bowling and  sloppy fielding which drew scorn from Down Under.
Shane Warne, once the tormentor of England’s batsman, sees  many similarities with the Australian sides he played in.

“When Australia were on top and dominating world cricket,  the things we wanted to do were score fast, take the game away  from the opposition and intimidate the tail,” Warne wrote in the  Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

“England are doing all those things and showing the  qualities that will make them No. 1.”
Warne said there were no obvious weaknesses in England’s  squad and like Australia of old, someone would make runs or take  wickets at the important moments.
“England are not carrying anyone,” he said. “When you become  No.1 side in the world it is all about depth.”
Former England captain Nasser Hussain heaped praise on  Strauss’s team.

“There is just no weak link,” he said. “They are the best  England team I have ever seen. They are an amazing set of  players….I think England are now realising that they are  embarking on what might become a very special journey.”