Pakistan v England: Second Test odds are all wrong, folks...

Pakistan v England / Frank Gregan / 23 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower arrive for a nets session at Sheikh Zayed Stadium

"Put England on an aeroplane and you've no idea what is going to walk through immigration at the another end, a competitive well organised unit or the Dog and Duck of world cricket."

Homesick England looked all at sea in the desert yet, somehow, the tourists are marginal favourites ahead of Pakistan in the second Test betting. Frank Gregan is amazed

This had been a great time to be an England cricket supporter. They've been able to lie back over the long Christmas break continually refreshing the Test world rankings page and basking in the reflected glory of following the world's number one team. It's sad but I confess that when England first got to the top of the rankings I took a screenshot and mailed it to many different parts of the globe. It was a very nice feeling.

All good things come to an end and the only problem with supporting the best Test team in the world is that occasionally they have to take the field and justify their ranking. In England's case that is never a problem, providing the matches take place somewhere between Durham and Cardiff. Put them on an aeroplane and you've no idea what is going to walk through immigration at the another end, a competitive well organised unit or the Dog and Duck of world cricket.

It gets you thinking is there nothing they can do to avoid travelling and get the percentage of their home games increased? There has to be a way, perhaps confront the ICC with statistical data that proves England is one of the few places in the world where Test cricket is well supported and deserves to host more tours. Or perhaps go down the cunning route and get a letter from the team doctor saying that the England team is unfit to travel. Given their performances in India and their first one in the UAE that's probably pretty close to the mark.

If only things were as simple as they were back in the day. Remember the kids at school who hated sport but still had a bit about them? When the notes from their parents excusing them from physical education were wearing thin they would come up with some ingenious excuses. They only had to mention the word 'verruca' within a mile of the swimming pool to be excused for a year.

We've got fielding coaches, bowling coaches, nutrition experts et al. Perhaps it's time we appointed a specialist who can find a reason to keep the team in England or sort them out mentally so that they can handle overseas conditions.

Cricket betting markets never cease to amaze. Pakistan mullered England last week, so much so that if the second Test was a horse race the Pakistanis would be long odds on. But this is cricket and logic and the form-book seem to count for nothing because England go into the second Test at [3.35] to back with Pakistan a whopping [3.7].

The draw is favourite at [2.3] because a flat track is expected but let's not forget that was the case for the first Test and it was over in the blink of an eye. While it's true that England can't play any worse than they did in the first Test there's probably still some improvement to come from Pakistan which makes a mockery of the prices and a victory for Misbah-ul-Haq's team is the recommendation.

The reaction to England's latest defeat has been what you would expect. The English players and coaching staff are saying all the right things and promising improvement. It needs to happen, it's bad enough being the subject of mockery when you are mediocre, being a laughing stock when you are supposedly the best team in the world is hard to take.

The time for excuses has gone. Sometimes you've got to look in the mirror and say that a performance was not acceptable. Andy Flower is at that juncture, one more sub-standard performance and this Test series will be lost. It's no good saying the team doesn't travel well or has difficulty adapting to foreign climes. It's their job and they are currently the world's number one - it's time they started to play like it!