Astonishing. Incredible. Dumbfounding. Just some of the adjectives that could be used to describe the nature of England's last three World Cup games.
First there was the amazing, topsy-turvy tie with India in Bangalore, followed by a cock-up of South African proportions against the boys from the Emerald Isle at the same ground, and then, yesterday, another astoundingly good ODI encounter against the South Africans at Chennai.
All three games were replete with tension, jaw-dropping moments and pure cricketing entertainment. Even England's first game against the Netherlands was a tad too close for comfort from an England perspective and contained sackloads of entertaining cricket.
Yet despite England's matches providing the highlights of this World Cup so far and the team having gained a pretty respectable points haul of five from eight, the entertainment factor cannot mask the severe deficiencies that infest England's performances.
On the pancake-style tracks of Nagpur and Bangalore, the bowling attack has looked confused and nonplussed as to how to bowl dot balls and create pressure, which in turn will produce wickets. To do that you need to be disciplined and concentrated, but England's bowlers can rarely be said to have exhibited those attributes during the tournament thus far.
Then, once on the bowler-conducive pitch at Chennai, they conspire to lose the game within the first over of the match and demonstrate a complete lack of adaptability and know-how with the bat. After posting a paltry 171 it is a good job the bowlers produced for the first time in the competition. But if bowling on bowler-friendly pitches is the only time they are capable of producing, England do not have a cat in hell's chance of winning the trophy on 2 April.
The most worrying frailty within the England ranks is the lack of quality second spinner. It is vital to have at least two spinners who can take wickets and/or stem the flow of runs in the subcontinent, yet Michael Yardy is not a wicket-taker and top players have found it so easy to milk him for six an over in the middle overs of an innings. This is proven by his economy at the tournament being 6.11. Yardy has only taken 21 wickets in 28 ODIs with an average of 51.19. Without wishing to be disrespectful, I wonder if he goes to bed at night wishing his bowling and batting averages could be switched around? He averages 20.37 with the bat.
James Tredwell, England's third spinner in the squad has not taken a wicket in three ODIs and is unlikely to get another chance any time soon, which leads us to the conclusion that the selectors got the spinning options wrong. And that is a pretty big wrong in the context of this World Cup.
With England nowadays, in this age of professionalism, their selection policy has become streamlined and seemingly quite exclusive. There is no doubt that with the introduction of central contracts and players now being ever more professional and supremely fit, there has come increased success for the England team. Three Ashes wins out of four and a first ICC world trophy is testament to that. However, I cannot help think the selection of Samit Patel in place of Michael Yardy would have been a more positive step at this World Cup.
Patel is a better left-arm spin bowler as well as a better batsman. His inclusion would have strengthened England's batting and wicket-taking possibilities. Patel's flight, guile and spin would have been more valuable than Yardy's non-turning darts. Even on the spin-helpful Chennai track against South Africa I saw Yardy turn just one ball during his nine overs.
The lack of a top spinner to support Graeme Swann is the biggest worry and main reason why I believe England will not win the World Cup despite beating one of the favourites South Africa yesterday. I could also cite England's lack of execution when bowling at the death, Jimmy Anderson's confidence stores being disturbingly fragile, listless fielding performances against India and Ireland or even Andrew Strauss' decision-making as captain as to why England will fail to succeed at the tournament.
Call me a party pooper or a miserable so-and-so, but if England somehow manage to win the World Cup I will be the most astonished I have ever been. Fortunately, if that were to occur, I will also be the most entertained I have ever been.
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