The decision of Andrew Strauss (although it was actually made by the selectors, not Strauss) not to tour Bangladesh was met with much wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Sky's Ian Botham was forthright as ever in decreeing that he should go, noting there is work to be done; his colleague Nasser Hussain said in the Daily Mail that he should not ask [others] to do something that he is not prepared to do himself. Perhaps only occasional Sky pundit Shane Warne (occasional because he has to fit it around his poker commitments) was more scathing than Beefy about Strauss' decision not to tour Bangladesh (not that this was actually Strauss' decision).
The BBC were more balanced in their summation of the situation although Jonathan Agnew suggested his absence could cause resentment whilst Christopher Martin-Jenkins said he could expect criticism although it might also provide useful experience for his successor.
So a month or two on England - minus captain Strauss - are in Bangladesh , but where are the likes of Ian Botham and Nasser Hussain in the Sky commentary team? Is there not commentary work to be done there Beefy? Surely Nasser wouldn't ask something of Strauss that he wasn't prepared to do by himself? Why is Warne deserting his team-mates (in the commentary box, rather than at Hampshire, although he has previous there as well) and playing IPL rather than giving his insight?
On the airwaves the story is the same: the BBC have sent out a TMS team lacking all its big hitters. Little danger of Agger's absence causing resentment amongst his colleagues - they aren't there either! CMJ is giving his younger rivals who might actually know what is going on some much needed experience. Sadly, Simon Mann aside, they are about as up to the task as the Bangladeshi seam attack. Simon Hughes is a top notch analyst but with a mic in his hand, Richie Benaud he ain't. Sir Geoffrey where are you? You wisely might not have made such hostage to fortune comments about touring Bangladesh as recent TMS recruit Michael Vaughan (location unknown, but not thought to be Chittagong), but your expert analysis is being sorely missed.
Only sportswriter of the year - an award FNK does not begrudge him one bit - Michael Atherton, appears to be there amongst the broadsheets, a particularly admirable gesture from a man who opposed Strauss sitting the tour out and whose appearances as Chief Cricket Correspondent in the Times seem about as frequent as England wins (more of both please). No sign of the likes of Vic Marks, Derek Pringle, Scyld Berry or Mike Selvey. Whilst England are coping fine without Strauss under Captain Cook - who led the way with 173 - the same can't be said of the media coverage of the tour*
*Although it could be that they are all there and I've just fallen asleep whenever they appear because of these 3:30am GMT starts.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment