Chris Tremlett: England’s bowlers are beginning to feel the pressure with World Cup edging closer
Having watched England push the boundaries of one-day cricket over the past four years it’s clear to me just how much the format has changed since I retired.
I used to bowl pretty much the same way with the red ball and the white ball. Like most seamers I tried to hit the classic Glenn McGrath good length, mixed it up with some bouncers and then used yorkers at the end of the innings.
I had little variation. I didn’t bowl slower balls; I tried to hit the deck hard and trouble batsmen with my pace.
Read more: Chris Tremlett: England must find room in their squad for Jofra Archer
That simple bowling plan wouldn’t work now because the game has evolved so much. Batsmen hit the ball further, have a wider array of shots and play a 360 degree game. Bowlers have therefore had to develop new skills to keep up.
Unless you have extreme pace like Australia’s Mitchell Starc, or England’s Jofra Archer, you need to think on your feet, assess the conditions quickly and use all your trickery to take wickets.
Chris Tremlett took 15 wickets in 15 ODIs for England (Source: Getty)
Whereas in Test cricket bowling is all about staying patient, hitting good areas and finding movement, one-day bowling is about adapting.
That’s why, for the most part, England use different players in the two formats. James Anderson and Stuart Broad would probably back themselves with the white ball, but their lack of involvement has worked well both ways, allowing others to become specialists and them to prolong their careers by focusing on Tests.
Pressure is on
With Archer and Chris Jordan now in the mix for a World Cup place, the pressure is on for England’s bowlers.
As I wrote last week, I think Archer offers England something they don’t already have and I expect him to impress over the next month and earn a place.
That squad depth and competition for places is of course desirable, but it means fitness and form is important with 36 days to go until the tournament opener against South Africa.
Liam Plunkett returned 0-67 and 1-57 in his first two one-day games for Surrey (Source: Getty)
Liam Plunkett admitted this week that he had put himself under pressure and tried to force it while playing for his new county Surrey in the One-Day Cup and that can happen.
Archer is breathing down people’s necks, but for me Plunkett’s spot is not under threat. He’s justified his selection by consistently performing with England over the past four years.
Block out the noise
When I came back from the 2010-11 Ashes I bowled poorly for Surrey, but I felt my England spot was safe because the selectors had seen what I could do in those three Tests against Australia.
I had to block out the noise from outside and believe I’d earned the right to play a few bad games.
I actually think Plunkett will be more comfortable once he joins up with England ahead of next week’s ODI against Ireland.
In that set-up he knows the coaches and his role in the side better. He will have a clear mindset and motivation to find rhythm and cement his place in the games against Pakistan.
Of course every other bowler will be keen to do the same thing, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out.