Whatever happened to a blank sheet of paper? (16 August 1999)

16 August 1999

Whatever happened to a blank sheet of paper?

David Lloyd

I watched the Ruth Rendell Mystery last week and Inspector Wexford, rather profoundly, stated that "things just are not what they appear to be here".

I have holidayed in north Wales these last few days and have followed the week's activities with regard to England cricket with great interest. The "few drinks with friends" meeting in Manchester must have had Queen playing in the background because another two (not one) bit the dust.

Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting are the latest in an increasingly long line to fall foul of the dreaded England management advisory committee. First there was John Barclay, England's manager to Zimbabwe and New Zealand. Players "too surly, aloof and slovenly", EMAC said.

Then there was Bob Bennett, the former chairman of EMAC and manager of the tour to the West Indies. "Too soft," EMAC said.

My own position prompted me to jump before I was pushed. The World Cup meant that any decision on my future would be made at its completion. Win it, or else, was very much on my mind.

Wayne Morton, the team physiotherapist, was next. "We need a new face in the dressing room," was offered by EMAC. Morton was actually lured away from his contractual obligations at Yorkshire to be full-time with England. He is as good as any in the world at his job but he was sacked and this is just not the way to treat people of his calibre.

Dean Riddle, the team fitness trainer, has also left of his own accord, but there were rumblings. "Another new face required, the dressing room gets so congested and is it really necessary?" came out of EMAC. Cricket's loss is football's gain because Riddle has taken on two football clubs.

John Emburey has been on two senior tours and three A tours. Emburey is another dedicated, no-nonsense character and is good at his job. He has been sidelined with the EMAC explanation "we want to try someone else".

Gooch and Gatting have gone swiftly and have been portrayed as main offenders in the demise of the England team. Are we seriously to believe that because of them the team have been performing poorly and are we to believe that with their removal the team will perform well?

They have been a party to selection over the past two or three years along with others and it is worth recording that we have been told that Nasser Hussain gets the team he wants and new coach Duncan Fletcher has an influence on team selection, and that goes for the last three Tests.

Hussain talks of starting again with a blank sheet of paper. Can I suggest that the same applies higher up the scale. A lot of people have come and gone in terms of influential positions within the team management structure, from Peter May, Ted Dexter, Ray Illingworth and Keith Fletcher to the recent casualties, but in broad principle the ones who put them in those positions remain in place. Yes, a blank sheet of paper would do nicely.

Hussain has been totally honest in assessing the performance of the team. He is an impressive man who knows the size of the task. He is also quick to point out that players play and the responsibility is firmly with them. Not many people would disagree that the seven or so batsmen selected on a regular basis are the best players in the country, but the fact remains that as a unit they do not get together.

The players themselves will fully expect that something has to give and Hussain will be fully aware of the great groundswell of public opinion that is saying enough is enough and there is a demand for change.

The new regime of Hussain and Fletcher will never be as strong as now, and a public statement to the effect that "we are going with younger players and there may be a barren period but we need everyone's understanding and support" would be welcomed.

Do not assume, either, that younger players will be the cure to all ills. Through the under-19s and A-team tours an underlying theme has been the poor attitude of certain players and a general malaise portrayed by individuals from time to time.

We all have a duty to see that instant stardom does not affect younger players. Whether we like it or not, agents are part of the scene but we must ensure that the player's focus is very firmly on his performance and the playing of the game, and not on peripheral incidentals such as watches, sunglasses and earrings.

Brian Clough is reported as shouting to a visiting team at Nottingham Forest: "Please don't walk on the field in high heels." The offending youngster replied: "I haven't got high heels on." Cloughie's retort was: "I'm sorry but they usually do go with earrings." My sentiments entirely.

Two key words for sportsmen are attitude and impression. The attitude you portray and the impression that you give are detected quickly by spectators, and our cricketing public demand more from our international team.

Hussain deserves a team around him who give their all for the country - in modern parlance, a team who will die for the cause, win, lose or draw.

The team for the Oval shows five changes from Old Trafford, Dean Headley is an enforced change; he is not fit. Chris Read makes way for Alec Stewart behind the stumps. Cul-de-sacs, roundabouts and dead ends come to mind here. No 1 Read was the bright young thing three matches ago but he has has been traumatised by the dressing-room atmosphere, as has Aftab Habib. No 2 Stewart sees himself purely as an opening batsman. Graeme Swann is a window-dressing selection; let's get a young 'un in.

Ronnie Irani is from Essex; one championship hundred all season and a few wickets on lousy pitches. Chris Silverwood, Ed Giddins and Alan Mullally are all good news.

The big sell from EMAC now is that Hussain, Fletcher and David Graveney will be responsible for selection, and do not forget the influence of the two official observers, Ian Botham and Jack Birkenshaw. But who has actually been the main player in this latest selection? Who has the biggest say? Again, a matter for the public to ponder.

The blank sheet of paper with regard to selection has not developed so spare a thought for players like Piran Holloway, Chris Adams and Mark Alleyne, who had every right to think they had a chance.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)