Toward the end of the English summer after England’s men had played all their home cricket Test matches, I wrote my  “Before then; A Summer (2024) of Men’s English Test Cricket; After then” article where I considered English Men’s Test Cricket prior to then and after then.

 

I expressed the forlorn hope that I would see a great English Test Cricket team emerge in my lifetime, beginning with the customary Winter Tours that as far as 2024/25 goes have now ended and now the Summer visit to England of India and the Australian Winter 2025/26 tour to look forward to do. Without wanting to appear too grumpy, with this winter’s tour of Pakistan and now New Zealand (ending earlier today), concerning Test Cricket, England have once again flattered to deceive and I have to wait (likely indefinitely) for the greatness, I saw in the West Indies and Australian teams, ever since I began following Test Cricket, in the early 1960’s, to emerge.

But there have been many highlights and lots of positives, especially concerning emerging talents, which in this Bazball era promised has much and has delivered an extent, albeit not enough for hopefuls like me to award England’s cricketers the greatness accolade. It all began with the three test series in Pakistan in October. England won the first test, emphatically, but then lost the next two. A lot of that could be attributed to spinning wickets more suited to the Pakistanis but England made many mistakes and while a great side might have struggled in unfavourable conditions they would have at least held their own. Then it was onto New Zealand in November, who were riding high after their 3-0 Test series win in India. It looked good for England with resounding wins and outstanding performances in the first two tests but they were absolutely trounced in the final test.

I will continue to follow Test cricket thanks to the modern era of BBC TMS commentators in particular (although I do miss Johnners) (ODI and T20 have their place but that format is not for me) and while I am interested in what other men Test playing countries are up to, both the strong and especially weak ones, it is with a particular eye on the English lads, at least until I am past it or dead. As for 2025, there are the Indians coming over to England in the summer to look forward to, followed by the biggie, the Ashes tour, down under, starting at the end of the year. I will continue to watch the emerging talent continuing to emerge, hopefully performing exploits on the field. As for greatness, I have no doubt there will be patches to relish and performances to cherish but I do not expect the consistent team greatness I have long hoped for. I hope I’m wrong!