Rob Key, the new managing director of England cricket, has already sent a message with real clarity to the players. They are looking ahead to the next Ashes tour down in Australia. He focused on being very intelligent, not getting out over your skis, keeping the distractions to a minimum so they can go perform. Key’s remarks come in light of previous incidents that have marred England’s reputation while touring Australia, including a notable incident in 2017-18 when Jonny Bairstow was accused of “headbutting” Cameron Bancroft in a Perth bar. To make matters worse, Ben Duckett came under fire for pouring a drink over team-mate James Anderson in the same city.
Speaking on the “For The Love Of Cricket” podcast, Key cautioned the players, stating, “They’ve got to be smart, right? I hope they’re all listening to this, players, because it saves me sending a WhatsApp or an email and telling them ‘you’ve got to be smart’ – because when they get there, they’re not going to be anonymous.” His remarks further illustrate the intimidating environment that England sides often face when visiting Australia. Over the years this country has developed a pretty awful reputation for how we treat opposition players.
Key’s call for caution is underscored by a very real recent historical context. There was one other thing that former captain Nasser Hussain said back in 2002 that stuck with him. “I remember in 2002 Nasser Hussain doing the first press conference saying ‘we’ve got to catch all our catches, we can’t afford to be having to make 15, 20 opportunities an innings’, which is absolutely right,” he said. The Ashes series is as much important in sporting terms. England hope to record their first victory since 2015 and their first win down under in 14 years.
In addition to his tactical planning, Key has made room for changes, both in the squad and in the typical progression on the pitch. Ollie Pope is our number three batter at the moment, but Jacob Bethell has come through as a great prospect with replacement potential. Key called Bethell a “generational talent,” showcasing the young talent pool that the team now possesses. Final decisions on the England XI should go all the way down to just before the first Test. We expect the case to begin on November 21.
Key remains hopeful about the upcoming series, stating, “Our players need to be smart and not get caught doing stupid things and just be aware that this is going to potentially be one of the best series of all time.” He thinks that given the huge interest in this Ashes tour, there’s a big opportunity to raise the profile and excitement about cricket.
Reflecting on past experiences, Key noted, “We did that before and we made a mistake.” He stressed the importance of careful deliberation and planning, especially in terms of making player choices at crucial junctures.
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