Lack of competition

David Wiseman20-Nov-2002Lack of competition. That’s all you hear when people are talking about theAshes. It’s true. Where has the bark of the British bulldog gone?Why is it Australia can produce world-class cricketers while Englandstruggles to assemble 11 to put on the field?Casting an eye down the Australian team list reveals some names who historywill record with reverence. Names like Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath,Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting.Not one player in the English side fills you with confidence. For somereason, the English system has stopped producing world-class cricketers.From 1959 to 1971, Australia held the Ashes. But it wasn’t like it is now.The 1958/9 series was won 4-0, 1961 2-1, 1962/3 was a 1-1 draw. Australiawon 1964 1-0 and the next two series were 1-1 draws.Australia had to fight and scrap to keep hold of the most famous prize inworld cricket. The players England had playing for them in that era willstand the test of time. Players such as Trevor Bailey, Colin Cowdrey, Ted Dexter, Godfrey Evans,Jim Laker, Frank Tyson, Fred Trueman, Brian Statham, Ray Illingworth, John Edrich, Ken Barrington and Peter May.Contrast to this esteemed list not so well known names like Alan Igglesden,Tim Curtis, Kim Barnett, Mark Lathwell, Martin Bicknell, Steve Watkin and John Stephenson. Players Englandtried to take on Australia with.If a World XI was picked today and tried to select at least one player fromevery Test nation, you would be hard pressed to choose an Englishman. Theircurrent crop of cricketers pale into insignificance when compared to theirpredecessors like Alan Knott, Geoff Boycott, Allan Lamb, David Gower, Bob Willis or Derek Randall.With so much interest in the current series, imagine how much more therewould be if the cricket was close?