England’s Test attack from Antigua was given a day off on Sunday and the same quicks are likely to face more hard work in the second Test with them unable to find much movement
George Dobell in Grenada19-Apr-2015England’s bowlers could be forgiven for letting out a sigh of desperation when they arrived at the Grenada National Stadium on Monday.They will fear a repeat of Antigua. They will fear another flat track offering them little other than hours of toil. Little pace, little bounce, little movement. A tough week looms.Those England bowlers who took part in the first Test were given a day off on Sunday. In their absence, Liam Plunkett bowled with sharp pace in the nets – he clean-bowled Ian Bell at one stage – while Mark Wood continues to impress all who see him. With 16 more Tests to come over the next nine months or so, both are likely to win their chance sooner or later.It is unlikely to be here. This pitch may be a fraction quicker than Antigua, but it may still largely negate pace and, with Ben Stokes and Chris Jordan – who bowled the quickest delivery of the Antigua Test – already in the side, England have that base pretty much covered. However Plunkett, in particular, can expect to feature in the Ashes.While Bell suggested that England’s tactics in the remainder of the series would mirror those adopted in Asia, it seems unlikely they will field two specialist spinners. Instead, Moeen Ali is expected to come in to the side in place of the unfortunate James Tredwell, who picked up an arm injury towards the end of the first Test, with Joe Root used in support. The rest of the side is likely to remain unchanged.The lack of lateral movement is the most concerning aspect of England’s bowling performance in Antigua. While Jerome Taylor found extravagant swing and Jason Holder sharp seam, England’s seamers struggled to gain swing – conventional or reverse – and were reliant on cutters for several of their wickets.”If this pitch has the same characteristics, which I’m sure it will, we’re going to have come up with a lot of different ideas how to get those 20 wickets,” Bell said. “We’re going to have to change our plans. We’ll have to work out a formula in the next couple of days which helps us get 20 wickets.”There was actually quite a lot to admire about England’s performance in the first Test. The continued development of the young batsmen, the pace and consistency of the younger fast bowlers and the commitment in the field all promised better times ahead.But the problem for Peter Moores – and to a lesser extent Alastair Cook – is that they have little time. With Paul Downton sacked and the incoming chairman, Colin Graves, suggesting West Indies are a “mediocre” side against whom failure will be unacceptable, there is a sense of impatience for progress. As if there are those waiting for them to fail.In time, it may come to be that Graves’ comments – and his comments about Kevin Pietersen’s return, the future of domestic T20 cricket and four-day Tests – may come to reflect rather worse on Graves than anyone else. But for now they have just heaped pressure on Moores and co.”We’re not in control of those comments,” Bell said. “We know and respect this West Indies side. We knew the kind of attritional cricket we were going to be playing.”We didn’t turn up here expecting for them to roll over and this to be an easy series. You never expect that in any international cricket, let alone a Test team. I expected competition. To win this series we have to play very well.”The on-going speculation about the identity of the next director of England cricket is hardly helping, either. While there may well be a role for someone to plan overseas tours at age-group, Lions and England level, someone to negotiate central contracts and integrate the county and domestic programmes more successfully, there is little sense in adding another high-profile individual to the coaching or management unit. As Moores put it on Saturday: “When you coach, you watch a lot to say a little. You don’t want too many voices in the dressing room.”It probably didn’t help that Michael Vaughan was in the same hotel as the team last week. While Vaughan – who has recently called for Moores to be “removed” as coach – has a decent relationship with some of the younger players, some of the older ones are far less keen. It is understood his attempt to have a clear the air chat with Alastair Cook did not go well and his presence was interpreted, by some, as a constant reminder that the axe is hovering.With such turmoil in the background, England require stability and assurance from their senior players. And in Antigua Bell, playing his first Test as official vice-captain, answered the call with a century of high class.”I’ve been striving to be that player,” Bell said. “In a tough situation I want to get tough runs. I’ve always said that. In the second half of my career I’ve probably done that a lot more than I did at the start. It was nice to start the tour getting runs but in a tough situation it’s even more pleasing.”It’s nice to have the responsibility of vice-captaincy, officially as well. In the last 12 months of Test cricket I’ve tried to pass my experience on to young guys and be right there for Cookie when he needs it. It’s nice to get that responsibility confirmed.”So with change in the air, it is possible that Bell could be England’s Test captain by the end of the year?”I’ve not really thought about it,” he said. “For me it’s always been about performing as a batsman. It’s nice to be vice-captain, having good conversations about how we go forward. But for me it’s always been about scoring runs and trying to win games of cricket for England.”The last 12 months have been great in terms of preparation and practice. Our results, certainly in one-day cricket, haven’t been fantastic but the way we practice, talk in the nets and pass on information has been as good as I can ever remember in an England team.”All the indications are that what this England set-up requires more than anything is time. Whether they will be granted it remains to be seen.
