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Sam Robson’s gritty first Test hundred epitomises England’s new approach Sam Robson’s gritty first Test hundred epitomises England’s new approach
(about 3 hours later)
The use of euphemism is, or at least was, an important part of writing obituaries: “didn’t suffer fools gladly”, for example, was a stock term applied to a cantankerous old sod that few cared for very much. Perhaps these days it would be called as it is. There is another phrase from a similar stable, and much used by cricket writers down the years, which describes a day’s cricket as “one for the connoisseur”. No need to embellish this any further, but for much of the second day of this Test, as England carefully established the foundations of what ought eventually to be a commanding total, the cricket would have had connoisseurs salivating. The use of euphemism is, or at least was, an important part of writing obituaries: “didn’t suffer fools gladly”, for example, was a stock term applied to a cantankerous old sod that few cared for very much. Perhaps these days it would be called as it is. There is another phrase from a similar stable, and much used by cricket writers down the years, which describes a day’s cricket as “one for the connoisseur”. No need to embellish this any further, but for much of the second day of this Test, as England carefully established the foundations of what ought eventually to be a commanding total, the cricket would have had connoisseurs salivating.
This seemed like the longest day in more ways than one. Only in the latter stages, after tea, when England had their noses in front, did the overall run rate creep up beyond three runs per over, although by this time Sam Robson had registered his first Test century in his second match, and Ian Bell, 98 Test matches further down the line, was playing as silkily as ever. Bowlers, those in the dressing room that is to say, love days such as this.This seemed like the longest day in more ways than one. Only in the latter stages, after tea, when England had their noses in front, did the overall run rate creep up beyond three runs per over, although by this time Sam Robson had registered his first Test century in his second match, and Ian Bell, 98 Test matches further down the line, was playing as silkily as ever. Bowlers, those in the dressing room that is to say, love days such as this.
If there was some frustration on the first day, as Kumar Sangakkara rode his luck, in dismissing Sri Lanka for 257, they had still done the job that had been expected of them when Alastair Cook won the toss and asked the opposition to bat. In this, they had earned the right to put the bowling boots away for a day or more, put the feet up and just enjoy the sight of England batsmen giving them their down-time knowing that in the master plan this is the only opportunity they will get. England will want to bat only the once.If there was some frustration on the first day, as Kumar Sangakkara rode his luck, in dismissing Sri Lanka for 257, they had still done the job that had been expected of them when Alastair Cook won the toss and asked the opposition to bat. In this, they had earned the right to put the bowling boots away for a day or more, put the feet up and just enjoy the sight of England batsmen giving them their down-time knowing that in the master plan this is the only opportunity they will get. England will want to bat only the once.
This series has given a shop window for the next generation of England batsmen to show their credentials. At Lord’s it had been Joe Root, first of all, (not strictly a new face but no veteran either) who re-established himself with a double century; and Gary Ballance who underpinned the trust placed in him at No3, with an invigorating second-innings hundred in his second Test. Now Robson, twice nervous on debut at Lord’s, has added to that, in a relentless display of concentration of a kind that was in no small way reminiscent of watching Nick Compton, only without the angst. It is telling that the past four England Test centuries have come from Ben Stokes, against Australia in Perth, and now these three.This series has given a shop window for the next generation of England batsmen to show their credentials. At Lord’s it had been Joe Root, first of all, (not strictly a new face but no veteran either) who re-established himself with a double century; and Gary Ballance who underpinned the trust placed in him at No3, with an invigorating second-innings hundred in his second Test. Now Robson, twice nervous on debut at Lord’s, has added to that, in a relentless display of concentration of a kind that was in no small way reminiscent of watching Nick Compton, only without the angst. It is telling that the past four England Test centuries have come from Ben Stokes, against Australia in Perth, and now these three.
It was not until after tea, with the second new ball all but due, that Robson was able to flat-bat a wide ball through the covers for the two runs he needed to complete his hundred. For more than five hours he had played a straightforward textbook game with few fripperies or enhancements.It was not until after tea, with the second new ball all but due, that Robson was able to flat-bat a wide ball through the covers for the two runs he needed to complete his hundred. For more than five hours he had played a straightforward textbook game with few fripperies or enhancements.
There is economy of movement as he awaits the ball, head still, with no pronounced trigger movement although never static (old batsman will have nodded in approval at that). He has a very geometrically precise, rigid stance, head level and knees bent into a crouch, although no vertical bobbing up and down with it, the affliction that plagued Eoin Morgan. At face value it might seem too tense – mechanical even – to be able to sustain for the hours needed to succeed in Tests, but from his first ball to his last, as he drove all round a full ball from Nuwan Pradeep to be bowled, he never wavered. There were some pleasant drives too, through the offside, and clips off his toes. A couple of times, he leant back and either cuffed the ball delicately to third man or guided it there as if he had taken on the mantle of Bell, who is almost defined by the shot. There is economy of movement as he awaits the ball, head still, with no pronounced trigger movement although never static (old batsmen will have nodded in approval at that). He has a very geometrically precise, rigid stance, head level and knees bent into a crouch, although no vertical bobbing up and down with it, the affliction that plagued Eoin Morgan. At face value it might seem too tense – mechanical even – to be able to sustain for the hours needed to succeed in Tests, but from his first ball to his last, as he drove all round a full ball from Nuwan Pradeep to be bowled, he never wavered. There were some pleasant drives too, through the offside, and clips off his toes. A couple of times, he leant back and either cuffed the ball delicately to third man or guided it there as if he had taken on the mantle of Bell, who is almost defined by the shot.
Once, on his way to three figures, and for no apparent reason, he stepped from his crease and biffed the left arm spin of Rangana Herath over mid-off for four. Later, hundred secured, he did so again, this time carting him over long-on for an unlikely six, which is one more than Jonathan Trott, with whom there are obvious comparisons when it comes to steady accumulation, has managed in his Test career.Once, on his way to three figures, and for no apparent reason, he stepped from his crease and biffed the left arm spin of Rangana Herath over mid-off for four. Later, hundred secured, he did so again, this time carting him over long-on for an unlikely six, which is one more than Jonathan Trott, with whom there are obvious comparisons when it comes to steady accumulation, has managed in his Test career.
As the ball sped away in that defining moment, he sensed three runs, and scampered hard. He might have been right. Bell is an old hand though: two runs had completed his hundred and there was no need to chase a tight third. Instead, as all the Dickie Birds on the Western terrace, now called the White Rose stand, on one side of the ground rose to applaud, and the real one on the other side did likewise, Robson was able to savour the moment, acknowledge the acclaim in a nicely understated manner. Without his helmet, he looked ever so slightly vulnerable in a youthful way. As the ball sped away in that defining moment, he sensed three runs, and scampered hard. He might have been right. Bell is an old hand though: two runs had completed his hundred and there was no need to chase a tight third. Instead, as all the Dickie Birds on the Western Terrace, now called the White Rose Stand, on one side of the ground rose to applaud, and the real one on the other side did likewise, Robson was able to savour the moment, acknowledge the acclaim in a nicely understated manner. Without his helmet, he looked ever so slightly vulnerable in a youthful way.
It may be for others to assess how the performances in this series against an industrious but modest attack might translate against more challenging bowling. But it is also dangerous to hypothesise: a batsman can only play what is coming at him, and, Stokes, who with justification could claim to being England’s best batsman in Australia, made his runs against a brilliant bowling side.It may be for others to assess how the performances in this series against an industrious but modest attack might translate against more challenging bowling. But it is also dangerous to hypothesise: a batsman can only play what is coming at him, and, Stokes, who with justification could claim to being England’s best batsman in Australia, made his runs against a brilliant bowling side.
If much of cricket is played between the ears, then at the very least these four young batsmen have shown an appetite and temperament for the game at the top level and that is as good a start as can be expected.If much of cricket is played between the ears, then at the very least these four young batsmen have shown an appetite and temperament for the game at the top level and that is as good a start as can be expected.