England beat India but lose to Scotland. I am talking cricket and rugby of course. Had you been bold enough to bet that as a double with the bookies you would have made a small fortune. India are the best team in the world at the moment and are hot after beating Australia in Oz. Scotland haven’t beaten England at Twickenham for 38 years. The wonderful vagaries of sport.
For the first time in awhile England have a head cricket coach who is English, Chris Silverwood and by all accounts he’s doing a great job. He is working with some greatly talented players and a lovely mix of vast experience and raw emerging talent. They have the potential to be one of the great English test teams. England’s rugby team is coached by Eddie Jones, an Australian with a reputation for no nonsense and getting things done. His win/loss ratio is more than acceptable but the nature of those wins leaves much to be desired. His dogmatic coaching style seems to be stripping a talented bunch of individuals of any creative flair and original thought. Their inability, or reluctance, to think on their feet and adapt if the pre-programmed plan isn’t working is proving catastrophic. Could it be that it’s all a dastardly plan by Rugby Australia? Have they infiltrated a double agent into the highest echelons of the English game? Is there a Brazilian vaccine for sportsmen?
I suppose it’s understandable the way that foreigners can accept the filthy lucre to come and manage Premier League football teams but how can they sell their souls to manage our National teams? How can Jacques Kallis, one of South Africa’s greatest all-rounders who’s presence in the England Squad hierarchy must be greatly welcomed, how can he give his all to England, especially when they come to take on South Africa?
Talking of that fair land, a medic friend tells me that they have just received a million doses of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine only to learn that it might be ineffective against the SA mutation. It’s distribution has been halted pending further investigation. They’ll need to be quick though; the vaccine is time expired in April! What a costly misfortune that might be.
Returning to sport, the papers have been drooling about Joe Root’s performance as England captain and batsmen extraordinaire, whilst delivering a shower of darts into Owen Farrell’s back for his lacklustre role as captain and player. Former England captain Michael Atherton’s excellent article in The Times today ends with these words: “This was a great victory for England’s players, but also for supporters too; locked down and miserable in the middle of a freezing snap, the country woke to a memorable story and to a group of young men playing with intelligence, skill, vision and charm”. One can only hope that such qualities will return soon to our national XV.
ADayInTheStrifeOf 