When compared to Australia, English cricket has become something of a joke
Ralph Dellor18-Dec-2002When compared to Australia, English cricket has become something of a joke. At least, that was the way it was portrayed on the BBC Sports Review of the Year programme. The steady improvement in performances before the start of the Ashes campaign was dismissed in a sentence by the presenter, former footballer Gary Lineker, who finished an interview with Darren Gough by claiming there was better news because England had just lost by only 23 runs against Australia A. That was a cue for weak laughter in the studio while ECB chairman Lord MacLaurin looked on stony-faced.This was the same programme that proclaimed a 17-year-old Everton footballer as “Young Sports Personality of the Year” based on the fact that he had scored a couple of good goals. As he shuffled up to receive his award, Wayne Rooney was furiously chewing gum, had his tie at half-mast and collar undone, and was unable even to mumble the words “thank you.”The contrast between what football has to offer by way of burgeoning talent and the way young cricketers present themselves was brought into stark contrast when the England Under-19 team met the media prior to their forthcoming tour of Australia. Furthermore, they are confident that they have the ability and presence to ensure that English cricket is no longer considered a joke Down Under, or even within the BBC.The captain, for instance, is an articulate young man just a year older than Rooney. Asked if he thought this young England team might be able to beat their Australian counterparts, Bilal Shafayat was forthright in his reply.”They are a very good side and they’re going to come hard at us, but there’s no question as to whether we might beat them – we will beat them.”Pressed on what he bases that prediction, he does not have to struggle for a reply. “On our squad,” he says. “I’m one of the oldest and I’m only 18, and although it’s a young squad, it’s also experienced and very talented. As long as they’re prepared to give 110% for England, I’m sure we’ll have good results.”I think everyone goes to Australia with a positive attitude to win, but the way I’ve been brought up is to be very aggressive. I’ve played a lot of club cricket where we always won. The way Australia is at the moment is the way my club cricket was and I’ve always looked at the winning side of it. You have ups and downs, but providing we do give 110% I can’t see any way that we’re going to lose.”With all the problems supposedly facing English cricket at the moment, it takes time to adjust to this stark confidence. It is like walking into the bright sunlight from a darkened room. No question of hoping to compete. Not a suggestion that everything has to be right before we stand a chance of upsetting all known form. “We will beat them.”Does tour manager Graham Saville share this optimism that his side will win? “Of course I do – I think they’re a good side. They are a young side but they’ve got some tremendous talent so why not? At this level we’re as good as any other country so I’m very optimistic.”Saville is not blinded by youthful enthusiasm and realises that there is a hard task facing the team. “We know that and we’ve told the boys that. We know it’s going to be hard and we know the cricket will be intense but it’s about time some English cricketers stood up and show that they can be as hard as the Australians and these lads tell me they’re going to do that. I’ve got no reason to doubt them.”Shafayat is one of the players Saville picks out for special mention when asked about the strengths of the side. “The captain is a very good player – he’s had some ten games for Nottinghamshire. Ravinder Bopara had several games for Essex last season and impressed some good judges. We have a very talented young wicket-keeper in Andrew Hodd from Sussex.”Our bowling attack is very Yorkshire-based with David Stiff and Nick Thorneycroft. Last season Thorneycroft played in their first team. We have a leg-spinner in Mark Lawson who is only 17 but that is good news for a lot of people. There’s Samit Patel from Nottinghamshire who bowls slow left arm and bats well. And, of course, Tim Bresnan played most of the one-day season for Yorkshire and is a very useful all-rounder.”Shafayat is well aware of the track record of former England Under-19 captains when it comes to going on to the full Test team. At the moment, however, he just relishes the responsibilities of leading this team and further recognition is something for the future.”It is an honour and a privilege to be the Under-19 captain. It’s something that I’ve really looked forward to. And I’ve seen what’s happened to others who have done the job before.”There’s not really added pressure on me to do well as captain. It’s just part of being the captain and it’s a challenge I look forward to. But if the team does well and I make good decisions and we win, I’ll be happy.”Just playing for England is a privilege as it is and if I do score runs you never know where I might end up in the near future. It could be a stepping stone, as it has been for many cricketers in the past. I don’t see why that should not be the case for all the players on the trip.”As for the manager, he has his own clear objectives for the tour. “I’m hoping that these youngsters will come back much better cricketers for the experience. I’m hoping that we’ll win, I’m hoping that some of them will go on and be in the next academy squad and that will count as a success. We’ve got to keep producing them and then England can decide if they’re good enough.”With the scorn and ridicule being heaped upon English cricketers at home and abroad, it would be easy to try hiding as a Pommie Down Under. That is not Shafayat’s style. Does he regard it as a psychological disadvantage from the outset to be an English cricketer in Australia? “No. I’d like to turn it into an advantage to prove that the stereotypical view is wrong.”No dishevelled young gum-chewing footballing megastar could have put it better.