Finally England have been able to throw off the shackles that have held them back for so long in one day cricket to produce a near perfect display in the recently completed World Twenty20 in the West Indies.
For years, England have been behind the rest of the world in the shorter forms of the game. They were laughed at during the last 50 over World Cup in 2007 for carefully going along at four runs an over in the powerplays whilst the likes of Australia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka were teeing off at eight an over from the start.
But that was nothing compared to the 1996 world cup in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, where a new level of farce was reached when their seamer Phil Defreitas was forced to turn himself into a spin bowler, such was the inadequacy of the squad selected for Sub Continental conditions.
For so long it was a case of England inventing the game, and the other teams grabbing the batton and taking it forward. But not anymore.
Here England were ahead of everyone else.
Other teams are now looking at what England are doing for new ideas. The new England in this tournament were going for their shots from ball one, bowling quickly, aggressively, and smartly, and fielding like panthers. It was very un-English.
And some people might say that’s because half the team is made up of players who weren’t born in England: Kevin Pietersen, Michael Lumb, and Craig Kieswetter were all born in South Africa, whilst Eoin Morgan was born in Ireland (yes, that cricketing hot-bed).
However, look at it this way.
We live in a very small world these days, and we all know at least one friend or family member who is working overseas because of a great job opportunity that came up.
Why can’t Pietersen and co do the same?
South Africa didn’t want to nurture their talent, so they went elsewhere in search of better opportunities.
And it’s not like they can just get straight off the plane from Johannesburg to London and stroll into the England team. There is a required five year qualification period before they are able to wear the three lions. They’ve worked hard and done their qualification period.
They deserve to play for England and be considered English.
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