While my colleague remains on hiatus in the balmy summer sunshine, collecting his thoughts while preparing a ten-point plan to save British football, I am reminded of that famous Times obituary from 1882, which stated that English cricket was dead, that the body would be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia.
Ironic then that English cricket had never seemed so alive as in the last few weeks, with resounding test victories over Bangladesh, victory over Scotland and the emphatic capture of the Natwest series against Australia with two games still to play. And yet, for all that, clouds may just be gathering as the domestic season gathers pace.
Today has seen the end of England's unbeaten record against Bangladesh, the Tigers scraping home with a five run win in the second one-day international at Bristol. It has seen the end of Ian Bell's chances of playing in the forthcoming Pakistan tests, as he limped from the field with a broken foot after earlier theatrics in the field. These are things that add to the uncertainty surrounding England after they unaccountably took their foot off the pedal in that Australia series.
Credit must undoubtedly be given to Bangladesh for their victory, and questions will be asked about the England bowling attack, not least the selection of the wayward James Anderson and the toothless medium pace of Luke Wright. Stuart Broad too does most of his talking without the ball these days, a shame given his early promise. The England coaching staff will still have plenty to think about when selecting a touring party for the Ashes series, which begins in November.
From looking forward to looking back, this summer will likely see the final pages in an epic test career spanning nearly 20 years as mercurial off-spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan, tests his wrist in the competitive five-day game for what will surely be the final time.
It says something for the man (who prefers to spell his name Muralidaran) that while he is test cricket's highest ever wicket-taker and the only man of Tamil origin to represent Sri Lanka in the test arena, he is known mostly in England for his genial good nature and ever-present smile.
Awarded the Wisden Cricketers Almanac 2002 accolade of 'Greatest Test Bowler Ever', only Shane Warne can come close to Murali in terms of the quality of his spin action and the fearsome reputation that has followed him in the test arena. He averages six wickets a test and has taken a total of 792 test victims, accounting for most of the world's top batsmen at one time or another. In addition to his bowling, he has proven to be a competent county captain and a lower-order batsman of carefree abandon. Furthermore, apart from the occasional supporting action from countryman Chaminda Vaas, he has spent much of his career carrying his test side virutally single-handedly. On occasion, he has bowled half of his side's available innings in a day.
Mention will invariably be given to the concerns over his action, which have been tested no less than five times by the ICC over the course of his career. However, for him to be remembered in such a way does not do justice to a man whose infectious warmth and sublime talent stand out in whatever company he finds himself.
Farewell then to the smiling assassin, and with Warne now retired too we wait for the world to throw up another world-class spinner to fox batsmen and entertain the rest of us. Before Xmas we have the spectacle of another Ashes series to come, and while the names may not be so well known as they have been in years past, we will be hoping for England to resurrect the ghosts laid to rest so comprehensively in 1882.
-J
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