England / Ralph Ellis / 11 August 2010 /

Ralph Ellis tells us how David Saker got the nod ahead of the likes of Allan Donald and Craig McDermott for the position of England's bowling coach and why it won't be for want of discipline and attention to detail that England will fail in their bid to hold on to the Ashes.

One of the many excuses trotted out about England's dismal World Cup showing was their inability to master the Jabulani ball. While our poor darlings were still trying to work out what to do with the latest product to tumble out of the Adidas research centre, the Germans had been using it in their domestic games for six months.

So one of the little details that makes me rather keen on the England cricket team's new fast bowling coach David Saker is to learn that, as of next week, he'll be putting his charges to work in the nets with the same Kookaburra ball they will be bowling with in the Ashes this winter.

England's easy ride against Pakistan so far on the one hand appears to bode well for the attempt to win a Test series against Australia on their own patch for the first time since 1987. On the other, the dismal way that the tourists have so far batted has been no preparation at all for a far tougher series to come. Steven Finn, in particular, needed a hard series to get him used to the rigours of the five-day form of the game if he is to be the shock bowler coach Andy Flower will desperately need Down Under.

And while it's wonderful to have seen James Anderson swinging the Duke ball backwards and sideways at both Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, he can't expect gloomy, cloudy and overcast conditions if he's going to open the bowling at Brisbane on November 25. Wickets won't come cheaply there, the old ball won't swing too much, never mind the new one, and the standard will be that bit tougher.

England's price to win the series has now tumbled to [3.35] from the [4.0] I suggested backing it a month ago. They are [1.62] to win the Third Test at The Oval when it starts next week, and [2.62] to wrap up a 4-0 series victory after that, and barring bad weather, you can't see any reason not to support them, even at those tight prices.

Saker was selected for the job from a shortlist that included people with genuine top level track records like South African Allan Donald and Australian Craig McDermott. His record as a player was for getting the very best from average talent, and his job as coach is to do the same from young men like Stuart Broad and Finn, who are blessed with far more ability.

He's shown today that he'll set high standards, accusing his charges of complacency when they failed to bowl out Pakistan cheaply enough for an innings win at Edgbaston. He could have grabbed his bit of glory for the way England took their 20 wickets for a second successive match. Instead he's complaining they failed to really go for the jugular. "There were definitely signs that we were going through the motions and when we were put under pressure we didn't think that well on our feet".

England's cricket team have developed a culture that nothing but the best is good enough, and it's an attitude you'd like to see picked up by the footballers. Top level coaches take excuses away from players and give them no reason not to perform. Saker's plans for next week's nets mean you can also feel safe in laying the [1.83] for Australia to regain the Ashes.

Five things you might not know about David Saker

Born May 1966 in Melbourne he was far from a natural sporting talent - he was never picked for any junior representative sides during his schooldays

As a young player he had a reputation as a hothead. He was twice suspended form club cricket for bowling aggressive bouncers, and in a Sheffield Shield final got put on report for aiming a throw-in directly at an umpire

He ultimately played for both Victoria and Tasmania taking 247 first class wickets but never got near being picked for Australia.

He was coach for the Delhi Daredevils in the inaugural Champions League tournament

He was said to have been involved in an attempt to kidnap the Rajasthan Royals' teddy bear mascot during the most recent IPL

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