The sporting weekend
The sporting weekend exposed many clichés and platitudes.
In beating fancied Australia in the ICC Trophy South Africa proved that they are not chokers and the quota system has produced successful captains in the Springboks and Proteans.
England rugby union’s Gallagher Premiership Final was a dull attritional match with Finn Russell the only spark of creativity.
“Moving day” at the US Open witnessed two relative unknowns – J.J. Spain and Sam Burns – at the head of the leaderboard.
Up until Australia’s defeat on Saturday I had thought England had little chance in the forthcoming Ashes but now I am not so sure. The Aussies are an ageing side: all of their bowling attack is over 30 , as is replacement spinner Scott Boland. Steve Smith is 35 and Marcus Labuschagne will be 31 this month. Ageing cricketers are susceptible to injury – as Smith has proved. There are further problems at 1/2/3 in the batting order. Usman Kwarajah (39) is out of form and (separately) pushing Labuschagne up the order has not worked.
Young Sam Konstas is inexperienced.
The Aussies go to the Caribbean next and do they stick with the old order or introduce a new generation?
The only current youngster is all-rounder Cameron Green who has yet to impress.
Of course it will not be easy for England to win “Down Under” with an inexperienced (though more youthful) side and a pace attack without Mark Wood and Jofra Archer [albeit that the latter has recently been added to the squad] lacking hostility and continuing doubts about the fitness of Ben Stokes on hard pitches, but it certainly does not look a walkover.
