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If I’m reading the schedule correctly, the next time Australia face England in the Ashes is in 18 months.
Given the hectic nature of the international calendar these days that is a fair way off and there is plenty of water to flow under the proverbial bridge before swords are drawn at the Gabba next November.
But you wouldn’t think it if you study any of the comment surrounding England’s return to the Test fray against Sri Lanka this week. Not all as, in the main, those who follow Alastair Cook et al around will place the various goings on in the context of the present but without fail there are those who simply cannot fail to link everything to the most famous cricketing contest of them all.
Scyld Berry of the Daily Telegraph was the one who couldn’t help himself this time around when he opined that: ‘But instead of chugging along with the existing top order, England’s selectors should be building for the next Ashes series in 18 months’ time.
When England face the greatest pressure they ever encounter in red-ball cricket, going out to bat at the Gabba in Brisbane, is this the best-equipped batting line-up? Perhaps not – and if or when the selectors do decide to revert to Sam Robson of Middlesex, or blood Alex Lees of Yorkshire, he will have that much less time to bed down.’
Berry’s beef, in a nutshell, surrounded the inclusion of Alex Hales at the top of the order and Nick Compton at first wicket down with a particular emphasis on the latter.
Too conservative Berry stated and while he may well have a point – and it’s one I agree with, especially when it comes to Compton – I don’t really see what the Ashes have to do with it.
After facing the Sri Lankans, England host Pakistan, travel to Bangladesh then India and entertain West Indies and South Africa and all of that is before setting sail for Australia.
If ‘taking one game at a time’ is indeed a mantra followed by the 21st century sportsman rather than just a line unthinkingly trotted out at every press conference then surely the 20 Tests prior to Brisbane are deserving of something resembling a proper focus.
If you follow Berry’s logic then virtually every series England contest is basically a build up to the next Ashes. How about India on the subcontinent? Or maybe South Africa on home soil?
These aren’t trifling matters, they are big series that are difficult to win and it’s doing them a disservice to pretend otherwise.
The Ashes is, no doubt, a big deal and you’d have to your head up in the clouds to not register that fact but until the day comes when it is the only show in town – not quite yet regardless of what the glass half empty brigade would have you think – then I’d rather not see the time wished away too readily.
I read enough about other sports and can’t recall every selection Liverpool make being contextualised with the Merseyside derby in mind or each result Northampton Saints achieve having much relevance with any forthcoming clash against Leicester Tigers.
A game or series at a time is cliché but there is some truth in there.
I won’t be holding my breath though and should Hales or Compton have a poor Test at Headlingley then you can set your alarm clock by the certainty of their misfortune being a harbinger of doom should they have to face Mitchell Starc and co in the future.
Is this purely an English phenomenon or does the same attitude exist throughout the Australian cricketing psyche? Is every move Steve Smith makes analysed with how he’ll react when the Three Lions, rather than the Proteas, are in his sights?
I’m intrigued to find out because there is a bigger picture to take a look at and the cricketing world doesn’t, or shouldn’t, revolve around one series. And as much as the Ashes stirs the soul, if it does come to that then the sport has got a problem.