From today’s Torygraph – Dan “the cuckoo” Hodges:
After Durham I wrote how this England side had built a shield of arrogance around themselves that had stood them in good stead during the pivotal moments of the series. But I also said they had a habit of letting that arrogance drift into boorishness. This week Stewart Broad and his team-mates,(I assume his interview was an accurate reflection of the prevailing team ethos) turned boorishness into an art form.
Arrogance is one thing. Petulance is another.
Before the series started, England were confronted with accusations of ball-tampering. They reacted with shock and indignation: “It’s come as a very unwelcome distraction and, frankly, we could do without allegations such as these,” said Jimmy Anderson.
After the Old Trafford Test they faced a new charge of putting tape on the edges of their bats to prevent the Hot Spot camera from detecting an edge. They responded by threatening legal action against the TV channel that had first broadcast the allegations.
But England can’t have it both ways. If they want to wander around parading their “win at all costs” attitude, they can’t then complain when people start accusing them of trying to win at all costs.
Andy Flower has built a very good cricket team. But his side is now in danger of letting their hubris outpace their talent. They have just bested Michael Clarke’s Australians, not Steve Waugh’s. They have only briefly managed to hold the world number one spot, and that at a time when the standard of Test cricket is lower than at any point in the past 50 years. If England want to be truly great then Stuart Broad and his colleagues have to realise one important thing: winning is no longer enough….
…Yes, glorious failure is meaningless. But so is inglorious success. England have to win. But to reach the pinnacle, they have to win with style and class. Great sportsman, great deeds. Not chippy prima donnas who can’t understand why they’re being criticised for knocking the cover off the ball and then standing there like butter wouldn’t melt in their mouth.
England had the chance of greatness this summer, and they squandered it. They won’t get many more.