The 'Heads must roll' brigade are out in force.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

England's cricket team collapsed like a pack of cards this morning and no doubt the inquests on their sorry performance during the Australian tour will continue for quite a while. Before the game we had already seen headlines suggesting that Root, Silverwood, Giles, Anderson etc should be sacked from their current roles. It is a 'Heads must roll' syndrome that we have long associated with Association Football managers, one of whom, Mr Benitez of Everton, was sacked today. There seems no limit to this 'sack the lot' principle, although it never seems to apply to the many grossly overpaid performers on the soccer field of play.

However I wish to draw your attention to someone else who used this phrase, even before Azeem Rafiq gave evidence to his parliamentary select committee. Mr Julian Knight M.P., chair of the DCMS committee, rather pre-judged the matter saying 'Heads must roll' even before the hearing started. Sure enough heads did roll in profusion with sixteen good men and true sacked by Lord Patel before you could blink.

On searching the internet for 'Heads must roll' quotes I came across the Munro review of child protection from 2011. Rather obscure perhaps, but very much to the point  as Munro explicitly highlights the need for politicians and other public figures to avoid 'Knee-jerk reactions and conclusions' and for actions to be thoughtfully reviewed. Don't think Mr Knight can have ever read this.

A more recent development in this sad saga has now seen former Yorkshire Chairman, Robin Smith, enter the debate, questioning the process by which Lord Patel was so rapidly installed as Chairman of the club and recommending that members should vote against his proposals for changes in the constitution of the board. No doubt we are in for rather an interesting members forum in a week's time.

Enough of that for now and let us return to matters on the field of play. Fortunately as an antidote to the Ashes series Sky Sports are covering the Under 19 World Cup which started in the West Indies this week. After their first warm-up match with Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain, England had an easy victory over Papua New Guinea in another warm-up game.

Tom Prest of Hampshire, England Under 19s captain, who scored 303 for Hampshire seconds against Sussex in May 2021.

 

This proved to be good batting practice for the top three, George Thomas of Somerset (90), Jacob Bethell of Warwickshire (78) and skipper Tom Prest of Hampshire (91). James Sales of Northants, son of the county's former leading batsman David Sales, also made a useful 46. Yorkshire's sole representative, Will Luxton, made only six as the middle order somewhat collapsed, but a total of 359-7 in 50 overs was more than adequate.

Papua New Guinea were bowled out fairly rapidly for only 78 without really putting England's bowlers to the test, but Sales with 3-14, Coles of Sussex with 2-13 and left arm spinner Fateh Singh from Notts 2-2 all had good figures.

The first match of the competition proper took place this afternoon and Bangladesh, the current holders of the Under 19 World Cup, were soon in trouble against the left arm opening bowler Josh Boyden from Wigan cricket club in Lancashire. Bangladesh were 8-4 at one stage and staggered to 51-9 before a last wicket partnership of 46, which included 33 from number 11 Ripon Mondol, took them to 97 all out.

Boyden had 4-16 and fellow Lancastrian Tom Aspinwall 2-18, while Glamorgan wicket keeper Alex Horton excelled with six catches. England lost Thomas and Prest early on and had to graft hard for their runs before James Rew of Somerset cut loose and together with Bethell put on 65 for the third wicket. Some erratic running between wickets eventually led to Bethell being run out for 44, but Rew with 26 not out and Will Luxton, with a six from his only ball, saw England safely home with 25 overs to spare.

Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), who we remember seeing playing against Yorkshire seconds three years ago, when only 15 years old.

After the match it was announced that Somerset pace bowler Sonny Baker is returning home for treatment, having sustained a back injury in the warm-up game. His place in the squad with be taken by Yorkshire Academy player from Halifax, Ben Cliff, who is one of the two travelling reserves.

So a good win for England who seem to be in possibly the weakest group, with games against Canada and U.A.E. to come, which should see them comfortably through to the next stage. Perhaps the youngsters gave a message to the senior side, fielding as they did three Lancastrians. Some might think Livingstone and Parkinson should have been in the side in Australia. They could hardly have done worse.