Testing Times
‘YESTERDAY England surrendered the momentum built up at Trent Bridge and lost the third Test of the summer series against South Africa by 191 runs.
|
| England are looking down and out |
The Times was there to see England fail, looking on through parted fingers as the home side lost their final five wickets for 40 runs in 11 overs.
You can change the captain and tinker with the team but England retain the right to collapse like a pack of wet cards.
The paper suggests that Michael Vaughan is a naïve captain and was resorting to type when he repeated what the paper calls tired clichés about the excess of county cricket, its lack of competitiveness and…the fear factor.
What England are fearful of is anyones guess. But favourites are: a) winning, b) concentrating, and c) getting nasty grass stains on those nice clean whites.
Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri is looking over his shoulder at the looming shadow being cast by Sven Goran Eriksson.
The Express says that the Chelsea manager is agitated that the current England coach is still being tipped as his successor.
I will have to live with this soap opera, says Ranieri. There is nothing I can do if the name of Eriksson comes out of every corner. Between myself and Mr Abramovich there is a total feeling but its obvious that this feeling must be fed with victories.
Its a good job Ranieri and the Chelsea chairman can communicate by feel, because if the Italians language was the only conduit between pitch and boardroom the Blues would soon be staring relegation in the face.
One man who spoke loud and clear last night was Darren Campbell. His performance in the 100m final at the athletic world championships in Paris earned him a bronze medal.
More important, though, is the Suns reminder that Campbell once played football in the same youth team as Ryan Giggs.
He might never reach such dizzy heights again, but at least the knowledge that he is the third quickest man on earth will give Campbell some consolation.
Chin up, Darren…’
Posted: 26th, August 2003 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
