OPINION
Follow UsThe rule of the thumb is that one gets better at a particular job if one does it again and again. But that’s not the case with the English batsmen in Test cricket. Since the start of 2018, no team has played more Test matches, overall as well as at home, than England. Yet, their batsmen continue to put on a substandard show.
Nasser Hussain was unpleased with the unsatisfactory performance of Joe Root and co. Criticizing their batting techniques on Sky Sports, the former English captain said, “It was just an abject batting performance. It is like they are reinventing the wheel. They have all these odd techniques and idiosyncratic movements.”
Nasser further compared English batters with their Kiwi counterparts. He explained that the visiting batsmen were much more patient and batted with the correct technique. Nasser was quite unimpressed as the regular top-five batsmen failed to step up in the absence of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler.
England’s batting unit: dismal at home
Players are used to their home conditions and are expected to perform better. While England’s home record is good, their batting unit has been disappointing. It is obviously hard for a Test batter to succeed in England, but that can’t be an excuse to justify their mediocre returns.
Also, England’s batsmen are not vastly superior in home Tests in comparison to the visiting batsmen. On the other hand, the batsmen of the other top sides as India, Australia, and New Zealand are comfortably much better than the visiting batsmen. The overall batting average and balls-per-dismissal (BpD) ratio of top-order batsmen at home since 2018 are 37.94 and 74 respectively. England’s batting line-up is well behind the average; competing with top-tier sides is a far cry for them.
Since the international bowling quality is a huge upgrade over the domestic level, the young batters might initially find it difficult to adjust at the highest level. However, Joe Root’s downfall can’t be disregarded and should be scrutinized. While Root averaged 59.46 with a BpD ratio of about 100 at home till 2017, the numbers since 2018 have fallen to 32.79 and 68 respectively.
The English skipper’s poor conversion rate is often talked about, but his frequency of 50+ scores has also taken a hit since 2018. Before 2018, Root used to register a 50+ score in about two innings in England, and it has risen to once in 4.5 innings since then.
Root’s game-play and technique against quality pace-bowling in testing conditions has been under scanner. Being an important part of England’s batting line-up, the 30-year-old must sort out his issues. Big scores are required to achieve success in Tests and the captain needs to play big knocks for the sake of his side.
Partnerships and collapses
The seven most capable batsmen of the side contribute to the first five partnerships, and England’s numbers are far from impressive for a top side. Admittedly, the conditions aren’t easy in England but nothing is a cakewalk in the longest format. While England have found themselves in the bottom three, the other top-tier sides — India, New Zealand, and Australia — are at the opposite end of the spectrum.
England have been bowled out under 125 on three occasions at home since 2018, only the West Indies are worse. Also, their top-order (1-7) has added less than 100 runs in as many as five team innings, the most for any side in this duration. They definitely need to raise the bar higher!
While speaking to the BBC, Sir Alastair Cook also affirmed that England have a high tendency of collapsing. The former English opener said, “You always watch England thinking that if they lose one wicket then they could easily lose two, three, or four. When the pressure comes on, whether it's inexperience or the players just aren't good enough, they can't withstand the opposition's bowling.”
England have suffered some collapses in home matches recently. They were all-out for just 85 runs against Ireland at Lord’s and 67 all-out at Headingly in the Ashes 2019. In the first Test of the Ashes, they collapsed from 80/2 to 97/7 in the fourth innings. The hosts slipped from 70/3 to 87/7 against India at Edgbaston, however, Sam Curran rescued them later. They also found themselves at 76/7 in the second Test of this series against New Zealand.
There have been several other mini-collapses as well, and England aren’t a great touring side either. The English batsmen struggle against the swinging, seaming, turning, and drifting ball, and also struggle in bouncy conditions. All batsmen find it tough in such conditions, but England need to master some conditions at least.
The story of the lower-order
England’s lower-order (8-11) is among the best in the world, particularly in home conditions. Since 2018 in England, their tailenders have contributed over 40 runs in 24 out of 33 (72.73%) team innings. They might not be very skilled but they find a way to chip in fairly. The other tailenders may not get as many chances as England’s tailenders; anyway, the latter’s performance is praiseworthy.
The robust batting line-ups get solid contributions from their recognised batsmen. Avoiding many wickets to fall in bunches and form partnerships is the key in Test cricket. However, this is yet another aspect at which the English batsmen falter.
Having handy tailenders is a good luxury in such tough conditions. The lower-order batsmen can build some useful partnerships, especially with a full-time batsman as their partner. Just facing balls to stay on the crease and going for runs later can be a really fun exercise with some luck.
The partnerships for the last four wickets have been match-defining for England at times. Since 2018 in home Tests, England have enjoyed nine such century stands including two over 150, three in the 90s, and fifteen other half-century partnerships. Only thrice have they failed to have a tailender partnership of at least 40 runs in this duration.
In the series against India in 2018, the English batters added over 150 runs for the last four wickets in two innings, four such stands within 75-100 range, and two other 50+ stands. In this series against the Blackcaps as well, the hosts stitched two such partnerships of over 125 runs.
While England’s tailenders should be applauded, this also highlights the incompetency of their recognised batsmen. They should focus on improving their techniques to sharpen their skills. The tailenders don’t offer reliability and if the opposition gets it right with some luck, England won’t end on the right side always like this second Test.
