And the winner is...
Scroll down to check out my end-of-tour award winners and read my answers to your questions
Two words can sum up our , I think, 'job done'.
The sense of achievement amongst the squad is great. While it wasn鈥檛 a five-Test series or the Ashes, this was a tough tour against a good side - and to come from behind to win 2-1 was absolutely fantastic.
It鈥檚 fair to say we were caught napping in the first Test in Hamilton, and with such a poor performance was hugely disappointing.
We took a lot of stick after that match, with one or two players singled out very unfairly, but we stuck together as a squad, kept the belief and came back fighting to highlight the character and quality that runs deep in this squad.
After we got to McLean Park and, on a wicket that was so flat and true, it would鈥檝e been easy for us to sit back, play out a draw, and come back home from the Test series unbeaten.
But that鈥檚 not what this side is about 鈥 we don鈥檛 take anything for granted and won鈥檛 settle for second best 鈥 and the way Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad bowled in the first innings allowed us to win the match and series in style.
It鈥檇 be nice to think that those who were so constructive in their criticism when things didn鈥檛 go well in Hamilton will be equally constructive in their praise now we鈥檝e won.
Of course we have had spells in this series where we have not played such good cricket, and are going some way to ensuring those spells become less and less frequent.
The most pleasing thing that we will take away from this tour, I鈥檇 say, is the fact that we took near enough 60 wickets in three matches and the key to that has obviously been Sidebottom who, once again, had a stunning series.
To take 24 wickets was a fabulous effort and if he keeps doing what he鈥檚 been doing, sticking it in the right areas at a fair old lick and with a bit of swing, he can be the lynchpin of this attack for many years to come.
He is one of the most consistent performers in world cricket at the moment and, while it鈥檚 hard to say where he stands among the world鈥檚 best, there are very few who know their art better than Sid.
It couldn鈥檛 happen to a nicer bloke either. He thoroughly deserves all the plaudits heading his way and I鈥檓 stoked for him 鈥 his fame appears even to be outgrowing his hair which, let鈥檚 be honest, is saying something!
It has often been said, too, that you can judge a lot about a side when they are winning if you look at the players not involved and we have won the last two Tests with the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones on the sidelines.
Those who have come in have done brilliantly 鈥 Anderson in Wellington was superb, Broady has been brilliant in the last two, and Timmy Ambrose produced the innings of the tour in turning things around for us in the second Test.
That kind of competition for places bodes very well for the future and those in possession of the shirt know they must keep performing Test after Test because there are some huge talents waiting in the wings.
That starts with this summer. We must build on this series win and beat New Zealand at home ahead of what is sure to be a really tough series against South Africa 鈥 the talent and potential in this squad is such that we can certainly win both of those.
On a personal level, I am obviously looking forward to the one-day series against New Zealand whatever happens with the Tests and playing a big role in those.
Before that, I just have to go back to Nottinghamshire, work on my art and my consistency, and keep doing my best to remind the selectors what I can offer an England side in the Test arena.
In the meantime, I have a 26-hour flight to get through. After sitting with Liam Gallagher and chatting up Denise van Outen on the flight out, I have my best aftershave on in anticipation of whatever celebrity I鈥檓 going to meet on the way back.
I have my fingers crossed for Yasmine Bleeth. Even though I鈥檓 a taken man, as I鈥檝e said many times before 鈥 she鈥檚 famous, so it鈥檚 allowed鈥
To mark our return home, I thought I鈥檇 hand out my end-of-tour awards. See what you think鈥
Tour Winner Monty Panesar. Whilst celebrating over a few jars with the Barmy Army following the Napier Test, Monty was called upon to give the lads a song. We all suspected he鈥檇 go into his shell and refuse but, lo and behold, he belted out a cracking rendition of the National Anthem and it went down an absolute treat. A joy to behold.
Tour Loser Jesse Ryder. After bursting onto the scene in the one-dayers and smashing us to all parts he decided the best way to celebrate was to . Nice one.
Most Improved Jimmy Anderson. On guitar. He only picked it up in Sri Lanka, but can almost do a passable 鈥榃onderwall鈥 now.
Tour Entertainer Phil Mustard, without a doubt. He always sounds like that one out of Police Academy with the funny voice (Cadet Zed 鈥 Bobcat Goldthwait) and is forever making people laugh with how daft he is and the things he says. Top, top value.
The Socialite鈥檚 鈥楳ust Try Harder鈥 Award That鈥檚 a hard one. We鈥檝e only two chances to go out and have a drink this tour, after the two Test wins, and let me assure you every man did his duty for Queen and country so no-one springs to mind鈥 I can鈥檛 say anyone didn鈥檛 pull out all the stops.
The Teacher鈥檚 Pet Award Again, a tough one, but I鈥檒l say Matthew Hoggard, for no other reason than the fact he always has to get a mention, somewhere, somehow鈥
The Ladies鈥 Choice Award Myself, obviously. *Cough*.
Unsung Hero Tim Ambrose. Although, he鈥檚 not so unsung anymore because the 鈥 get yourselves out on tour and check it out.
The David Boon Award for Best Drinker This one can鈥檛 be given out. In this day and age of us athletes eating, drinking and living the sport the right way, sports drinks are our equivalent of beer and wine. Honest.
Most likely to win the lottery and then lose the ticket (From Annie) Haha, Phil Mustard, no question.
Let me know your suggestions below...
Thanks again for your comments and questions. Here are my answers to a selection...
Can you talk us through your 4 overthrows at Wellington? (Anthony)
One thing we talk about with the sports psychologists is making your mark and really stamping your authority on games, so I thought the best way to do that was to wing it right over the keeper鈥檚 head and cost us four runs. Ridiculously embarrassing, especially getting the mickey ripped out of me by the likes of David Lloyd afterwards and being called a rude word by Ryan Sidebottom. But, in the knowledge that we still came away with the win, blooming hilarious too. Ouch.
Who is the most romantic member of the squad and who is the least? (Sarah)
It鈥檚 between myself and Alastair Cook for the least romantic, I鈥檇 say - we鈥檙e slightly more Victorian in our outlook, I guess. Most romantic? KP throws the affection out there a lot for Jessica and has organised a few helicopter trips for her and things like that, so I guess he鈥檚 good value.
Who's got the worst habit(s) out of all the lads in the team? (Kerry)
Well, I can鈥檛 get too personal here, so I鈥檒l say Ian Bell. Only because he鈥檚 a massive prankster and yet he keeps getting away with it, which is doubly annoying. I must be honest and say I find them highly entertaining, though鈥
Whilst on tour do you play on any consoles or computer games? (Craig)
Quite a few have the portable handhelds 鈥 in fact, Sid鈥檚 in a mood right now because he鈥檚 just realised he鈥檚 put his in his suitcase not his hand luggage and can鈥檛 play it on the flight home. He claims he was on level 10 of Super Mario World or something, whatever that is. Harmy鈥檚 another who won鈥檛 go out on tour without PGA golf or something so it鈥檚 all good.
Personally I rely more on the guitar to keep me occupied, but there鈥檚 space in my world for a bit of Tiger Woods golf, it鈥檚 genius.
Can you please confirm if Stuart Broad has insecurities about his legs? I noticed he is always in tracksuit bottoms, even in the unbearable heat of Sri Lanka. (Imi)
I think he must do, come to think of it. I should imagine he has ridiculously sparrow-like legs judging by the length of the fella, he鈥檚 like a golf club with ears. When we get him down to Notts we鈥檒l pin him down and check em out, no worries. It鈥檚 the sort of thing we do down at Trent Bridge鈥
That鈥檚 all for now folks!
Cheers,
Graeme
Graeme Swann was talking to Sam Lyon
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I find it really pathetic to read, once again, about how the team "answered their critics" following the abysmal display in Hamilton. Defeating a poor NZ team in the final two tests simply confirms the deserved criticism that was dished out after the first test. It would be nice to think that the team are mature enough to take such criticism and move on, rather than constantly carping on about their critics and "answering them back". It smetimes appears that this is the main motivation for the England team these days, rather than the more obvious aim of winning tests and being successful for the nation and their supporters. I find it depressing to read about games consoles, nights out and the other touring cliches included here, with no mention of how lucky crickters are to be playing in such a wonderful country and at such attractive grounds. The England squad come across as being very insular and sensitive to any criticism (justified or not). No wonder we are rapidly falling down the test rankings.
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Well Tim, at the end of the day if the England team went around saying "we are rubbish" all the time, they wouldnt get anywhere. It's always good to see a series win, regardless
Nice to see that the England squad has a good bit of banter going around as well, nothing beats a happy changing room
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I have to say, an enjoyable read from Swanny. However, I feel the first comment's a tad harsh.
While I agree there is a time and place for so-called experts (as well as us mere mortals) to air our points of view on performances etc, the British sporting press is ridiculously fickle and, to be honest, if it gives the lads some impetus to put in a series-winning performance a l脿 NZ, I'm all for it.
As for 'hand-held consoles' and 'nights out' - they can't win. If they talk about the inevitable trappings of a luxurious lifestyle, they'd be accused of betraying their roots or not being in touch with the people who watch them.
Why not let them celebrate winning a test series having lost the first test so miserably?
I just hope that Yasmine was on the flight back next to Graeme....
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I have to say I agree with Tim - sorry but winning this series papers over the cracks and if you think beating New Zealand (and allowing them 431 in the 4th innings) is a sign of progress then we're going to come up short against South Africa this summer. English cricket needs to get over winning the Ashes in 2005 and try and discover the hunger that made England so good in the years leading up to that series. If a few of the players felt they were unfairly singled out for their performances in the 1st test - that's tough I'm afraid - what do they expect if they get bowled our for 110? As someone else mentioned in the comments on this blog after that truly pathetic defeat, you never here complaints about the media when England are winning - only when they lose. If you play like that for your country - what do you expectt? Criticism is what goes hand in hand with playing for your country at the highest level - and why the players are so well rewarded as a result.
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Well Tim, at the end of the day if the England team went around saying "we are rubbish" all the time, they wouldnt get anywhere. It's always good to see a series win, regardless
Nice to see that the England squad has a good bit of banter going around as well, nothing beats a happy changing room
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If England's first innings at Napier was answering their critics then I'm sure the critics will be back for more. But for KP it would have been embarrassing and we could easily have ended up losing the series. England's batting collapses show no sign of going away.
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I wonder if Tim or Chris put their money where their mouth is and spent hard-earned cash travelling down to NZ to support the team? I did, have just got back, and think the team did well to recover from the pasting at Hamilton, where only Ryan Sidebottom's hatrick dispelled my gloom. Easy to criticise the England players, but for my money the administrators should carry some blame for the ludicrously short warm up schedule in NZ (just like the Ashes debacle last year- yes I was there too). When will they learn and insist on proper games before the test series starts? The fact that performance got better as time went on should tell them something surely?
Anyway, well done, boys. The end result, on very flat pitches with amazingly short boundaries, was a credit to your efforts, whatever the carping brigade above may think.
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The results came at the end of the series and that's what counts, it's important to consider as well that New Zealand are by no means the worst team around, the middle order is one of the strongest around with Taylor, Oram, McCullum etc.
If we are to enjoy the successes of series' such as the Ashes of 2005 and that long unbeaten run, then we have to be patient while the young team settle into the game. To come back from 1-0 down whilst the team is in a transitional period is no easy task. And if the players want to enjoy themselves, why not? They can't be on tour for over a month and be expected not to do regular things.
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I thought the teams respect towards I Fleming both on entering the field and leaving spoke volumes for English sportsmen, well done lads. Exile pom.
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think long term this series may scuttle england's ashes chances.
Weak players who have and will crumble against the best teams have done just enough against a woeful NZ(weakest kiwi side in decades) to stay in the side.
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Sir
A very good read: thank you.
Congratulations to England for winning the series. I am sure that the skipper's appeal for everyone to not become complacent and to recognise that there is still more potential to fulfill must be taken seriously if we are to rebuild an Ashes-winning side. That said: let's remember the value of praise and encouragement in the learning process.
Watching from afar, it seemed that our biggest problem as a side is inconsistency. "Human error" will never be eradicated but the pursuit of perfect performance must remain the goal of every individual and every team performance if the team is to achieve its potential.
Thanks.
Felix Rigg
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Hi Graeme,
Nice to see you're upbeat after your win. I am very relieved England finally won the series and particularly that we won the final test on a wicket that tends to produce draws, however I choose the word 'relieved' specifically. The truth is that the NZ side was critically weakened by the loss of Bond, Styris and potentially Ryder and yet we still had a terrible struggle to put the games to bed - particularly in the final test where a No. 10 (Southee) in his first test managed to smash 77 not out! I understand that England had their own problems with Harmy and Hoggy not playing, but despite the consistency of Colly, Sidey, Broad and possibly Bell there was quite a bit of underachieving on the part of the other players and that gives me cause for concern. On the bright side Monty got wickets in the end, Pietersen, Bell and Strauss (thank the Lord!) got tons and we have some consistent performers as mentioned above. Well done on winning the series and let's hope the team can build into a force to be reckoned with.
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I'm pleased you wrote this blog, because as a Kiwi, I wouldn't have even known you were on the tour if you hadn't. Well done.
I look forward to your next spell to Jesse Ryder with interest.
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Good article and a funny read. Congratulations on winning the series in the middle of what has been some BRUTAL press. Obviously NZ are a test side and have certain quality but surely there must have been times in the series where you really felt they let you off the hook.
Congratulations once more and hopefully ALL the players can find the consistency to perform at the high levels they have shown intermittently on this tour!
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Congratulations to England for a comprehensive win. The win is even more important considering that they have done it without the services of Flintoff, their best player.
As per my estimate, England is about the 5th strongest team now (My Rating:87.1%) and New Zealand the 6th (My Rating: 85.4%). First four teams appear to be Sri Lanka (100), Australia (98.5), South Africa (98.4) and India (92). Seventh, Eighth and ninth places should go to Pakistan (78.9), West Indies (75.4) and Bangladesh (61.2).
As for the players, the form of some of the current English players is quite bad. Amongst batsmen, I feel that the current form of all the batsmen is modest, inspite of the odd centuries and fifties here and there. Pietersen (47.2), Cook (43.4), Collingwood (38.8), Vaughan (38.4), Bell (37.8) Strauss (32.8) - all need to tone up their batting ability and rise above 50 marks level.
Amongst bowlers, I would rate Chris Tremlett at 74.8, Sidebottom at 61.1, Anderson at 60.3, Panesar at 54.7, Harmison at 44.5, Broad at 41.1, Hoggard at 37.9, Plunkett at 30.8, Collingwood at 14.7, Bopara at 5.8, Pietersen at 2.3, Vaughan at 0.1 marks out of 100. Specialist bowlers who are at below 50 marks level have to make way to the new finds, if any.
The fielding of Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Pietersen, Vaughan, Anderson, Bopara, Tremlett, Plunkett, Panesar, Sidebottom, Hoggard and Harmison is not good enough.
Overall - I feel that Sidebottom, Pietersen and Collingwood are at a good level now. Vaughan, Plunkett, Strauss, Hoggard and Bopara have to move out of test match scene in favour of fresh faces.
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Congratulations to England for a comprehensive win. The win is even more important considering that they have done it without the services of Flintoff, their best player.
As per my estimate, England is about the 5th strongest team now (My Rating:87.1%) and New Zealand the 6th (My Rating: 85.4%). First four teams appear to be Sri Lanka (100), Australia (98.5), South Africa (98.4) and India (92). Seventh, Eighth and ninth places should go to Pakistan (78.9), West Indies (75.4) and Bangladesh (61.2).
As for the players, the form of some of the current English players is quite bad. Amongst batsmen, I feel that the current form of all the batsmen is modest, inspite of the odd centuries and fifties here and there. Pietersen (47.2), Cook (43.4), Collingwood (38.8), Vaughan (38.4), Bell (37.8) Strauss (32.8) - all need to tone up their batting ability and rise above 50 marks level.
Amongst bowlers, I would rate Chris Tremlett at 74.8, Sidebottom at 61.1, Anderson at 60.3, Panesar at 54.7, Harmison at 44.5, Broad at 41.1, Hoggard at 37.9, Plunkett at 30.8, Collingwood at 14.7, Bopara at 5.8, Pietersen at 2.3, Vaughan at 0.1 marks out of 100. Specialist bowlers who are at below 50 marks level have to make way to the new finds, if any.
The fielding of Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Pietersen, Vaughan, Anderson, Bopara, Tremlett, Plunkett, Panesar, Sidebottom, Hoggard and Harmison is not good enough.
Overall - I feel that Sidebottom, Pietersen and Collingwood are at a good level now. Vaughan, Plunkett, Strauss, Hoggard and Bopara have to move out of test match scene in favour of fresh faces.
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Hey.Leave Monty alone - if he doesnt want to sing no need to force him!
As long as he keeps taking wickets that is...
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"this was a tough tour against a good side"
Sorry mate, but this was the second easiest tour in World Cricket against one of the worst sides in the world.
Not being harsh on NZ, I'm sure they will be back, but the side for the last test was well below average.
It could have only been easier against Bangladesh (and even then the conditions wouldn't have been so benign).
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I think the groundsman who prepared the wicket for the Second Test needs congratulating. Having been told to prepare another soporific wicket by the NZ board he did his own thing and produced a wicket that contributed to a match that was worth watching and did not favour negative cricket. It would be nice if all curators produced wickets to encourage entertaining cricket especially as the masses seem to have gone twenty-twenty mad.
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If I were a member of the England team I think I'd be a bit disappointed by some of the comments above. If they lose, they are rubbished. If they win, their opponents are rubbished. Surely, to win a Test series is always an excellent achievement - especially away from home. I have travelled round the world for 25 years in my work as a film-maker and sometimes the excitement and sense of privilege have been eclipsed by depression and exhaustion. These are young men, on a long foreign shift deprived of the recharging powers of home. It is not surprising to me that even towering talents like Kevin Pietersen get tired and slightly distracted. Of course training and professionalism should counteract this but so too do practical jokes and childish fun. I remember some 5 years ago Paul Collingwood's place on a touring side for which he was a very peripheral performer was justified by the manager because of his high spirits and good influence. What a judicious choice that has proved now he has emerged as a fine, fine cricketer as well. All in all I think we have an interesting team with a mixture of characters and skills. Let's get on with enjoying them - and saying well done when they win.
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If I were a member of the England team I think I'd be a bit disappointed by some of the comments above. If they lose, they are rubbished. If they win, their opponents are rubbished. Surely, to win a Test series is always an excellent achievement - especially away from home. I have travelled round the world for 25 years in my work as a film-maker and sometimes the excitement and sense of privilege have been eclipsed by depression and exhaustion. These are young men, on a long foreign shift deprived of the recharging powers of home. It is not surprising to me that even towering talents like Kevin Pietersen get tired and slightly distracted. Of course training and professionalism should counteract this but so too do practical jokes and childish fun. I remember some 5 years ago Paul Collingwood's place on a touring side for which he was a very peripheral performer was justified by the manager because of his high spirits and good influence. What a judicious choice that has proved now he has emerged as a fine, fine cricketer as well. All in all I think we have an interesting team with a mixture of characters and skills. Let's get on with enjoying them - and saying well done when they win.
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If I were a member of the England team I think I'd be a bit disappointed by some of the comments above. If they lose, they are rubbished. If they win, their opponents are rubbished. Surely, to win a Test series is always an excellent achievement - especially away from home. I have travelled round the world for 25 years in my work as a film-maker and sometimes the excitement and sense of privilege have been eclipsed by depression and exhaustion. These are young men, on a long foreign shift deprived of the recharging powers of home. It is not surprising to me that even towering talents like Kevin Pietersen get tired and slightly distracted. Of course training and professionalism should counteract this but so too do practical jokes and childish fun. I remember some 5 years ago Paul Collingwood's place on a touring side for which he was a very peripheral performer was justified by the manager because of his high spirits and good influence. What a judicious choice that has proved now he has emerged as a fine, fine cricketer as well. All in all I think we have an interesting team with a mixture of characters and skills. Let's get on with enjoying them - and saying well done when they win.
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Bit late but happy 29th birthday! Guess it got overshadowed with Strauss' 177!
The David Boon Award for Best Drinker - No one won this? Common Swanny be honest someone has got to drink! Let me guess you were the winner of this contest but you don't want to admit it! Don't worry you have a decent excuse it was your birthday...
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Bit late but happy 29th birthday! Guess it got overshadowed with Strauss' 177!
The David Boon Award for Best Drinker - No one won this? Come on Swanny be honest someone has got to drink! Let me guess you were the winner of this contest but you don't want to admit it! Don't worry you have a decent excuse it was your birthday...
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Out here for the NZ series, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done lads on turning it round and winning the series. Some of the comments on here are ridiculous, we won yet people still want to have a go..no doubt all the way from their armchairs. Good win which puts us in good stead for the two series against NZ and SA, fancy us to beat them both. Special mention to Ryan Sidebottom who was magnificent throughout the series, and also a massive thanks to the players for coming down and celebrating with the Barmy Army..it was a fantastic evening.
P.S: Tim Ambrose is a legend - nicest bloke you could ever meet.
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Out here for the NZ series, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done lads on turning it round and winning the series. Some of the comments on here are ridiculous, we won yet people still want to have a go..no doubt all the way from their armchairs. Good win which puts us in good stead for the two series against NZ and SA, fancy us to beat them both. Special mention to Ryan Sidebottom who was magnificent throughout the series, and also a massive thanks to the players for coming down and celebrating with the Barmy Army..it was a fantastic evening.
P.S: Tim Ambrose is a legend - nicest bloke you could ever meet.
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If I were a member of the England team I think I'd be a bit disappointed by some of the comments above. If they lose, they are rubbished. If they win, their opponents are rubbished. Surely, to win a Test series is always an excellent achievement - especially away from home. I have travelled round the world for 25 years in my work as a film-maker and sometimes the excitement and sense of privilege have been eclipsed by depression and exhaustion. These are young men, on a long foreign shift deprived of the recharging powers of home. It is not surprising to me that even towering talents like Kevin Pietersen get tired and slightly distracted. Of course training and professionalism should counteract this but so too do practical jokes and childish fun. I remember some 5 years ago Paul Collingwood's place on a touring side for which he was a very peripheral performer was justified by the manager because of his high spirits and good influence. What a judicious choice that has proved now he has emerged as a fine, fine cricketer as well. All in all I think we have an interesting team with a mixture of characters and skills. Let's get on with enjoying them - and saying well done when they win.
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I must admit I find some of the comments above amazing. They won a test series away from home, Job Done! So the opposition wasn鈥檛 special, but they improved as the tour went on. But what most people seem to forget is that apart from Freddie replacing Anderson, IMHO this is the best 11 we can field at the moment. They will get better but it鈥檚 the best we have got! You can鈥檛 make a Sows ear out of a silk purse and all that! So get behind the team and sing your heart out. Yes they will beat NZ in England. I expect them to beat SA after a hard fought series, the winter of 2008/09 they should just scrape through, then the fun starts. Yes the team is not as talented in batting as India, though some would disagree, yes it doesn鈥檛 have a spinner who can turn vary etc. But it has 11 Whole hearted tryers! So when they win a series away from home! Say well done lads, room for improvement and keep going. And stop with the, the oppo are rubbish. When Auss thrashed us two years ago do you think the Auusies fans said 鈥淓ngland are rubbish鈥 did they hell they said well played Australia, why can鈥檛 us English fans do the same?
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England won the series. They did not win it well.
Let's put it in context. Anyone here fancy England to reduce India from 480-1 to 620-odd all out, as South Africa just have?
No, thought not.
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Yes, congratulations to the South Africans to restricting India to a mere 620..fine effort there!
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I remember Rob Key pouring scorn on your selection, Graeme at the 20/20 finals. I would now like to see James Tredwell given a chance after all you didnt do much on the tour did you? Blog or no blog wont keep you in the team!
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Unsung Hero, Tim Ambrose?
Has your County skipper read this? Someone's in for a head first ice bath when the County season starts...
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Broad should be in the team for a while now, he's got all the tools to be a top international bowler. Sidebottom is pretty much guarenteed his place, and the same can be said of Monty. If it was up to me, I'd leave Flintoff out of the NZ series at home, because England should win that quite easily, and let him get some match practice with Lancashire. Then if he proves he is fit, bring him in for the series against South Africa.
But who makes way for him? I think it'll be Jimmy Anderson who'll be left out if Fred is fit. Jimmy is great when the ball is swinging, but looks very average when it isn't
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Broad should be in the team for a while now, he's got all the tools to be a top international bowler. Sidebottom is pretty much guarenteed his place, and the same can be said of Monty. If it was up to me, I'd leave Flintoff out of the NZ series at home, because England should win that quite easily, and let him get some match practice with Lancashire. Then if he proves he is fit, bring him in for the series against South Africa.
But who makes way for him? I think it'll be Jimmy Anderson who'll be left out if Fred is fit. Jimmy is great when the ball is swinging, but looks very average when it isn't
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ABSOLUTE GARBAGE
WHY DOES THE 91热爆 PAY PEOPLE TO WRITE SUCH UTTER DRIVEL
WAS HE GIVEN A LIST OF CLICHES TO CHOOSE FROM?('GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION' ETC)
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I think all of the negative comments on here are utterly ridiculous. Graeme Swann has tried to write an insight into team life and people have slated him for it.All of the England players have strict rules to comply with regarding the media so i congratulate him on providing us with a more light-hearted inside view of the England squad.Also for people to say it was a bad win, it doesnt matter, we won the series and the squad can build on it.We have seen Moores is prepared to drop the "big" players if needs be and this is the starting point for a prosperous period for England. Everyone should stop being so critical the whole time.
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