da bet nacional： Cricket was the winner is the usual platitude trotted out when you have justlost a great game, but I think it might be apt in the case of the NatWestSeries final at Lord’s last Saturday
da lvbet： Phil Tufnell17-Jul-2002Cricket was the winner is the usual platitude trotted out when you have justlost a great game, but I think it might be apt in the case of the NatWestSeries final at Lord’s last Saturday. It’s never good to lose matches likethat, but I reckon it has to be said that India won it rather than Englandlosing and, as a result, it was a fantastic game to watch. So India won,cricket won, and the England boys will be pig-sick that they didn’t winhaving put 325 on the board.It has to be said that England had got into a great position to win, butthen were undone by that partnership between Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif.England might be a bit worried that they couldn’t defend that huge total butsometimes it’s just the way the game goes. You’d like to think that we coulddefend 325 so perhaps there are one or two things to be looked at but ingeneral I thought England put in a good performance throughout the series.There have been a lot of good qualities to be seen. England’s fielding hasbeen great, Ronnie Irani has come in and done well, the batting has alwayslooked as if it was going to get runs, so I think we can take a bit ofcomfort from the last couple of weeks. If there is a little cause forconcern it’s getting the right balance and formula on the bowling side.What really impressed me about the Indians in that match was the fact thatthey did it without a major contribution from Sachin Tendulkar. It was a lotof runs to get without a ton from the little genius, but they kept theirbelief right down the order. I did like the look of Yuvraj Singh. I was gladit wasn’t my bowling he was smacking around because he looks a real find forthem.Now attention turns to the Test series where I think it will be the same oldstory. I think we can get plenty of runs against India but it’s just aquestion as to whether we can break down a very strong batting line-up. Ithink it should be a good series with the bat prevailing. Four high-scoringdraws could be the order of the day unless there’s a little flash ofinspiration from someone to unlock the door.England have claimed a powerful batting line-up for some time but now it’sperforming well on a regular basis. You’ve got the likes of Mark Butcher andGraham Thorpe to come back in, so it’s shaping up rather promisingly.Hopefully those who have done well during the NatWest will be able to takeform and confidence with them to the different type of cricket.I know it’s always said that there is little connection between the twoforms of the game, but in some ways I reckon the gap is getting smaller. AndI don’t think there’ll be much of a gap between the two sides. We should winat Headingley, they might start favourites at The Oval; Trent Bridge andLord’s will likely be flat. But it should be a great spectacle to watch withthe batting power around, meaning that the bowlers could take a bit of apounding.I always enjoy watching the Indian batsmen, apart from when I’m bowling atthem, because there’s something really appealing about their wristystrokeplay. England’s bowlers will have a real test on their hands to combatthem but, as I say, someone nips in with a five for 30 out of the blue andsuddenly we could be in the guinea seats.
Phil Tufnell appears courtesy
of Paragon Sports Management
