Life is a Rollercoaster - England Story

[Chasjs]

This story picks up in April 2009. I am playing as England as they started the 2009 season. The game is played on Normal difficulty.

For those of you not familiar with the position of English cricket at this time here are a few details. In 2005 England won the Ashes 2-1 at home in what has been named the greatest series of all time.

This was hailed as a new dawn for English Cricket, but as always with England things took a turn for the worst, injuries hit the side denying the team of it's captain Michael Vaughan and breaking up the Ashes bowling attack that performed so well with the losses of Jones and Flintoff. Then Marcus Trescothick retired from International Cricket due to stress related problems. This left the team with numerous cracks which needed to be filled. Even so, the team headed down-under with high hopes of retaining the Ashes under the captaincy of Freddie Flintoff.

Those hopes were quickly dashed by an emphatic, and embarrassing, 5-0 whitewash by Australia. Among the casualties is the coach Duncan Fletcher with Peter Moores installed as his successor.

In 2008 after losing the Test Series at home against South Africa an emotional Michael Vaughan steps down as England captain and went back to his county and try to find some form.

[Chasjs]

Kevin Pietersen is quickly installed as a replacement and gets off to a good start.

But then it all goes horribly wrong, Pietersen and Moores have a big fallout. Moores was sacked and Pietersen resigned.

Andrew Strauss was quickly made captain for the Test Series in the West Indies and Andy Flower was given the England coaching role.

After a batting collapse in the first Test and 2 near victories in those that followed England lost the series. With the the West Indies touring England at the start of the summer can England get revenge for what happened in the Caribbean in the build up to the Ashes in England.

The last few years have been a real rollercoaster of ups and downs but can Flower and Strauss add some much needed stability.
Bring on the Aussies

[Chasjs]

The ECB Selection Committee announced a 14 man provisional squad for the Test Series at home to the West Indies:

ECB Selection Committee
A Strauss*
J Anderson
I Bell
R Bopara
S Broad
P Collingwood
A Cook
A Flintoff
J Foster^
S Harmison
G Onions
M Panasar
K Pietersen
G Swann

This squad gives variety in the bowling attack and a good mix of Aggressions. The main surprise is Foster being chosen ahead of Prior to balance this and should fill the number 6 spot leaving Flintoff to hit runs quickly with the tail down in 7.

[Straight Drive]

Nice start. Foster though? Big mistake.

[Chasjs]

First Test

With Flintoff injured for the first Test, though he should be fine for the second, the main concern was the make up of the bowling attack.

A 4 man attack was prefered with 3 pace bowlers and 1 spinner. Anderson and Broad were joined by Harmison to add variety to the attack while Swann got the nod ahead of Panasar. The other decision to be made was the batting order. In the end Bopara got the number 3 spot while Bell got number 6, although this may change depending on the circumstances of the game.

England lost the toss the the West Indies chose to bat.
It was a good decision as after a few early problems they raced to 583 with Chanderpaul(115) and Deonarine sharing a 226 paternership followed by a 221 partnership between Deonarine and Bravo.
England, realising they had little chance of a win with such a big total to chase down went out to get as close as possible. Strauss(17), Bopara(66), Pietersen(35), Bell(53) and Foster(23) had starts but couldn't get on to those big scores. Cook did and reached an impressive 100. Swann batting amazingly with the tail being very aggressive as he was runing out of partners quickly with his 97 coming off 126 balls.

The West Indies declared early on the last day leaving England chasing 358. Keen to push for a win the England batsmen went out and got runs at an impressive rate. But after a good start the worn pitch began to tell and wickets started to fall, only Bopara offering some resistance. The West Indies made no mistake in finishing off the tail to take a 135 run win.

England Man of the Match - Cook for his centruy.
Other notable mentions:
Swann, Bopara
Poor Game:
Strauss, Harmison, Broad, Collingwood

[Chasjs]

Nice start. Foster though? Big mistake.

Yeah, it was more to do with balance, good form and he's done well for me in other games. Plus he's regarded as the best keeper England have. I was thinking about Ambrose instead but I've never really used him before.

And I haven't started yet .

[Chasjs]

Second Test

Faith is kept in the batting lineup and only 4 bowlers are chosen again. If 5 were chosen then Collingwood probably would've been dropped. With Flintoff fit again he comes back into the side to replace Harmison. Onions replaces Broad. Flintoff bats down in 8 after the keeper to do a similar job to what Swann did in the last test.

England again lose the toss and the West Indies chose to bat.
That's more like it. The England bowlers carve trough the West Indies batting order.

A good start to the innings as Strauss hits a 6 off the first ball straight over the bowlers head. But Englands batting order crumbles again with only Bopara impressing while Strauss(23), Cook(24), Bell(27), Flintoff and Swann(20) added small contributions.

The West Indies get off to a good start but they collapsed pretty quickly. Leaving England chasing 197 with all of 2 days to do it in. Easy eh???
Well, ish. The chase went pretty well with Collingwood hitting the winning runs.

England Man of the Match - Anderson for some good bowling to put England into a good postion.
Other notable mentions:
Swann, Onions, Bopara, Strauss
Poor Game:
Nobody really, but I'f your really picky, Foster, Cook, Pietersen and Collingwood

Series Reaction
Series drawn 1-1.
Man of the Series - Ravi Bopara with an average of 68.25
Collingwood, Foster, Broad and Harmison all look in danger of not starting the first Ashes test.

Should've really won the series but as far as ranking points go, I'm not too bothered. the West Indies are touring us again next year.

[Chasjs]

The ECB Selection Committee announced a 15 man squad for the ODI series at home to the West Indies:

ECB Selection Committee
A Strauss*
J Anderson
I Bell
R Bopara
S Broad
J Clare
P Collingwood
A Flintoff
J Foster^
K Pietersen
A Rashid
O Shah
G Swann
M Vaughan
L Wright

Vaughan has been given a chance to stake his place for the Ashes after some good form for Yorkshire while Broad, Collingwood and Foster have been given a chance to prove themselves.

Other additions to the squad are Rashid, Wright, Clare and Shah who are all looking to impress to get a place in the T20 squad and maybe a Test call-up in the future.



The ECB Selection Committee also announced a 30 man provisional squad for the T20 World Cup in England:

ECB Selection Committee
A Strauss
T Ambrose
J Anderson
I Bell
R Bopara
T Bresnan
S Broad
J Clare
R Clarke
P Collingwood
S Davies
N Dexter
A Flintoff
J Foster
J Hildreth
R Key
D Malan
D Mascarenhas
E Morgan
G Napier
S Patel
M Pettini
K Pietersen
M Prior
A Rashid
O Shah
R Sidebottom
G Swann
M Yardy
L Wright

In not including Panasar, Onions, Vaughan and Cook it seems the ECB don't consider them T20 players while Strauss, although making the side, also could be put in that category. With Strauss possibly not featuring, speculation is on who might captain the side. Suggestions include Flintoff and Pietersen while the favourite is for Collingwood, the ex-one day captain, to take up the reins. Doubt is also put into S Harmison's England career after a poor performance in the First Test against the West Indies and now left out of the squad for the T20 World Cup.

The wicket keepeing slot is wide open though with Ambrose, Foster, Davies and Prior all competing for the role.

[Chasjs]

First ODI

Not many suprises here except from Collingwood missing out due to poor form in the Test Series, but he'll get his chance. As will Clare, Rashid and Shah.

Yet again England lose the toss but this time are put into bat under heavy cloud cover.
England started poorly losing early wickets and sometimes batted through rain, but by the time the clouds cleared Pietersen and Foster were settled and launched an assault on the bowling for a 132 partnership with Pietersen going along at almost a run a ball.

A fantastic late knock by Swann helps England to a respectable score. With the clouds forecast to come in again later the West Indies aren't dead certs to win.

But the cloud wasn't needed with England skittling the West Indies out for a 107 run victory taking the last wicket just as the clouds came in.

England win by 107 runs
Man of the Match - Pietersen
England Man of the Match - Pietersen for his 122 off 126
Other notable mentions:
Foster, Swann, Wright
Poor Game:
Anderson, Bopara, Vaughan, Strauss, Bell

[Chasjs]

Second ODI

The same XI were chosen for the 2nd ODI.

Andrew Strauss continues his bad luck with the toss and England are put in to bat in a very gloomy day.
Again England struggle to a sub par total in tough conditions but Bopara and Vaughan shared a 124 partnership to take the fight to the West Indies, with Bopara narrowly missing out on his first ODI century.

A good performance from Pietersen hitting some quick late runs they reach a defendable total.

England take some early wickets but Deonarine, Bravo and Ramdin help the West Indies to level the series despite some very economical bowling from Swann.

West Indies win by 5 wickets
Man of the Match - Bravo
England Man of the Match - Bopara for his 97
Other notable mentions:
Vaughan, Pietersen, Swann, Broad
Poor Game:
Wright, Flintoff, Foster, Bell, Strauss

[Chasjs]

Third ODI

The only change is Shah replacing the disappointing Bell. With a terrible afternoon forecast the toss is vitally important as you really want to be batting first.

And England eventually win the toss and decide to have a bat while the weather stays favourable.
But even after a good start England fail to push on to a good total with Bopara again impressing, but again fell in the 90s, and Strauss this time making a good score and providing useful support in the 103 run partnership the two shared.

Foster gets some good runs but Flintoff and Wright are thwarted by some good death bowling from the West Indies to see England reach their lowest ODI score of the series.

Despite the adverse conditions the West Indies make a great start and easily reach their target. The result was never really in doubt.

West Indies win by 7 wickets
Man of the Match - Gayle
England Man of the Match - Bopara for his 90
Other notable mentions - Strauss
Poor Game - Vaughan, Pietersen, Shah, Swann, Flintoff, Wright, Anderson, Broad

Series reaction
West Indies win ODI Series 2-1
England Man of the Series - Bopara with an average of 63.67
Swann and Broad both finished with averages of 19.00 though Swann was more economical. The biggest let down was Anderson, who despite bowling 20 overs (at 5 RPO), failed to take a wicket in any of the 3 games.
After a good start with the win in the first game the last 2 games were disappointing, especially the last game where the majority of the team performed below par.

[Chasjs]

Series Highlights

4 - Swann's 97 from 126 balls in the first innings of the First Test


3 - Pietersen's century in the first ODI, scoring 122 off 126 balls


2 - Swann taking the last wicket in the first ODI to set up a 107 run win for England. He finished with figures of 4-34.


1 - Collingwood hitting the winning runs in the Second Test after a tough series.

[Chasjs]

The ECB Selection Committee has announced the final 15 man squad for the T20 World Cup in England:

ECB Selection Committee
A Flintoff*
J Anderson
R Bopara
S Broad
P Collingwood
J Foster^
D Malan
D Mascarenhas
E Morgan
K Pietersen
A Rashid
O Shah
R Sidebottom
G Swann
L Wright

In a controversial move the ECB has appointed Flintoff captain of the squad ahead of Pietersen and Collingwood.

Foster retains the keepers role due to good domestic T20 form. Good form has also earned Rashid, Malan and Morgan their first England call-up. Anderson, Flintoff, Broad and Sidebottom have also done very well with the ball in this years domestic competition.

Pietersen, Bopara and Swann hope to carry their good form from the ODIs through into the competition with Wright, Collingwood and Shah hoping to improve on their recent England performances.

Clare was in line for a callup due to some great domestic form but missed out due to a knee injury. Mascarenhas was called up instead.

[Chasjs]

Netherlands Game (Group Stage)

Wright opens the batting as the more aggressive batsman looking to hit boundaries from the first over allowing Morgan to play his shots at the other end and hopefully build an innings. Collingwood plays ahead of Shah to add an extra bowling option. Malan bats at 6 to keep the batting order strong while Flintoff might float up the order if required. Rashid was left out as only one spinner should be required, if not then Pietersen could take a few overs. This team effectively has 8 bowling options but Broad, Swann, Anderson and Flintoff should take 16 of the overs.

England win the toss and elect to bat.
England got off to a great start despite the overcast/gloomy conditions with a 49 run opening partnership, followed by a 106 run partnership by Bopara and Morgan.

With Bopara and Wright with strike rates of around the 150 mark that went quite well. Would've like to get a few more but 165 should be a good score.

In very cloudy conditions Broad struck first over removing the opener T de Grooth and all rounder R ten Doeschate in consectutive balls. The field close in for the final ball of the over but Bukhari denied Broad a hat-trick by hitting a 4. Flintoff then removed Zuiderent and Borran in his first 2 balls. The field closed in yet again but the hat trick was again avoided with Kervezee swatting the ball away for the second 4 of the innings. These early wickest prompted a collapse by the Netherlands with Swann taking the last wicket in the 12th over.

England win by 80 runs
Man of the Match - Broad
England Man of the Match - Morgan for his 74 off 63
Other notable mentions:
Wright, Bopara, Broad, Flintoff, Swann
Poor Game:
No one really, maybe Anderson for his expensive 2 overs but even he managed to pick up the important wicket of Nijman, who was looking dangerous.

[Chasjs]

Pakistan Game (Group Stage)

All change. With such a huge win in the first game there's not much chance of me missing out on qualification, so it was as good a time as any to rest players with low fitness and give players who missed out on the first game a go. With the clouds coming in in the afternoon you would really want to be batting in the morning.

However, England lose the toss and Pakistan chose to bat first.
The bowling was pretty poor from start to finish with Alam and Ul-Haq batting really well and shared an unbroken 122 run partnership to see Pakistan to a big total that should be hard to chase down.

The innings didn't start well with Morgan getting a first baller and Wright swinging at everything, missing almost all the time before being bowled by Gul. With only Shah and Mascarenhas getting any notable runs, although both scored less than a run a ball, and wickets falling consistently England fell to an embarrassing, dissappointing loss.

The only positive to take from the dismal batting performance was that the batting lineup, somehow, survived all 20 overs.

Pakistan win by 82 runs
Man of the Match - Alam
England Man of the Match - Shah for holding the innings together. Without him it could be much worse.
Other notable mentions:
Anderson, Mascarenhas
Poor Game:
Flintoff, Rashid, Pietersen, Morgan, Foster