da aviator aposta： Hard on the heels of the Ashes triumph follows the fall, as England are dealt a great big spanking in Pakistan. A few delivered, many others didn’t. Andrew Flintoff, big hearted as always, was right there while the likes of Geriant Jones and debuta
Andrew Miller04-Dec-2005
Nobody poured more effort into England’s campaign than Andrew Flintoff © Getty Images
8 Andrew FlintoffNobody poured more effort into England’s campaign than Flintoff, and forthat reason his desperate display at Lahore deserves some mitigation.Utter exhaustion is forgivable in the circumstances, especially when it iscoupled with the sort of dejection he must have felt at finishing on thelosing side at Multan. In that match he produced a career-best haul of 8for 156 and looked the most complete fast bowler in the world. His battingsuffered as a side-effect, and he produced more than his fair share ofdumb dismissals. But he also produced a match-saving 56 at Faisalabad, notto mention more overs – 140.1 – than any other player on display.8 Ian BellEngland’s solitary success story in the batting ranks. A traumatic Ashesseries looked like extending into a tough winter of drinks-waitering whenhe was initially overlooked for Multan, but Vaughan’s knee offered areprieve that he gratefully accepted. Capped his series with a century atFaisalabad, and made big runs in each of the three matches. Still shows atendency to go missing when the stakes are at their highest, but has anappetite for accumulation that no England batsman has matched sinceMichael Atherton.7.5 Steve HarmisonWidely tipped to go missing mentally, given his previous problems withhomesickness in Pakistan, but instead hit a subcontinental length from hisfirst spell at Multan and stuck to it rigidly to the tune of 12 wickets -nine more than the great Dennis Lillee managed on these same pitches.Mohammad Yousuf described his spell on the third evening at Lahore as oneof the finest he had ever faced, and as if that was not inspirationalenough, Harmison, at No. 11, was one of the few English players to executethe sweep shot properly.7 Marcus TrescothickFaultless display as England’s stand-in captain at Multan, where his 193should have set up a memorable victory, and made important first-inningscontributions in the final two Tests as well. His second-innings statswere another thing entirely, however. He managed just five runs in threeinnings, including ducks at Faisalabad and Lahore as Shoaib Akhtar torechunks out of England’s resolve. Deserved better support from histeam-mates, but his struggles confirmed that the defeat was no fluke.7 Paul CollingwoodStuck at his task, but not even scores of 96 and 80 at Lahore could fullyconvince the doubters, who question whether Collingwood has the techniqueor temperament to thrive as a Test-class No. 4. As a team-man, hisattitude is unrivalled, and his disappointment at Lahore was keenly feltby all who have appreciated his uncomplaining approach, even whenopportunities have been hard to come by. His bowling was heralded as atrump card on these wickets, but it was his rival Bell who bagged the mostscalps – all one of them, and even that was dubious.7 Geraint JonesOne of the few players to make genuine strides on this tour. His battingwas solid without ever blooming into something spectacular, but it was hiswicketkeeping that caught the eye – or rather, didn’t, because he hardlyhad a blemish in all three matches. Crouching lower than in the summer,and with a wider cordon to allow him fuller expression with those divingchances in front of slip, he took 11 catches on the slow low strips andensured that Matt Prior remained nothing more than an eager understudy.7 Matthew HoggardLearned the ropes as a rookie on this tour in 2000-01, and proved that thelessons had sunk in with a disciplined and penetrative performance in allthree Tests. Consistently found swing with the new ball – if only ever fora couple of overs – and seemed set to rescue his batsmen’s blushes when hegrabbed two early wickets at Lahore. Did as much as could have been askedof him.6 Kevin PietersenA stylish hundred at Faisalabad, but it was the manner of his parting -caught slogging across the line one ball after raising his century with asix – that said the most about KP’s contribution to this series. Initiallyearmarked as England’s No. 4, Pietersen remained one place lowerthroughout, which was perhaps a hint that his application was noteverything that Duncan Fletcher had hoped. His talent is so intense thathe will always leave the fans wanting more. But in the second innings atboth Multan and Lahore, they deserved more as well.6 Liam PlunkettEngland’s youngest Test debutant since Ben Hollioake in 1997, Plunkettpassed his test with flying colours and confirmed that he has a brightfuture in the game. Batted with nerve and plucked an effortless catchbefore he was even called upon to perform his strongest suit, but hedidn’t disappoint with the ball either, generating pace and accuracy, andproviding England with two breakthroughs that, with a bit more of a totalto defend, might have given Pakistan greater cause for concern.
A tough tour for England’s semi-fit skipper © Getty Images
5 Michael VaughanA tough tour for England’s semi-fit skipper. His trip appeared to be overwhen his knee locked up at Bagh-e-Jinnah, and though he returned for thefinal two matches, his rehabilitation appeared rushed at best andfoolhardy at worst, especially when he mustered 11 runs at Faisalabad. Areturn to the top of the order heralded a late blossoming at Lahore, butit was all too brief. Fifty-eight sparkling runs in the first innings wererendered inconsequential by a rash sweep-shot, and his captaincy lackedthe imagination he had shown in the summer4 Andrew StraussUntil this series, Strauss hadn’t failed to score a century in a seriesagainst major opponents, but with fatherhood impending, he never lookedlike extending that proud record. His mind was back in England long beforethe rest of his body followed suit, as he proved by droppingInzamam-ul-Haq on the midwicket boundary in the closing stages atFaisalabad. Though he’s guaranteed an immediate return to the top of theorder for the India trip, there is some question as to whether he shouldhave come on this leg at all.4 Ashley GilesArrived in the country with a reputation to maintain, but was hampered bya hip injury that forced him to miss the final match, and remained ashadow of the man who took 17 wickets in the same series five years ago.Sent down too many full-tosses that destroyed his rhythm, and was unableto extract anything but the most negligible turn. But his full value wasonly recognised in his absence, as England toiled for three days at Lahorewith barely a sniff of salvation.4 Shaun UdalPromising beginnings at the end of a long, long wait, when he took hismaiden Test wicket at the age of 36. But Udal’s penetration receded as thetour progressed, as his economy-rate ballooned all the while. By the timehe was selected as the solitary spinner at Lahore, Pakistan had hisnumber, and cashed in with alacrity in their single mighty innings. ThatUdal bowled 18 overs in that innings, to Harmison’s 43 and Flintoff’s 36,was ample proof that he had failed his biggest test. His batting was abonus, mind you. Almost Gilesesque, in fact.