Rob Key on England's off-field problems, international cricket's underrated players and T10 cricket
Key on England's off-field problems: "The players are at fault for being out again as much as anything else but the management have got themselves into a bit of a muddle really since 'headbutt-gate'."
Wednesday 13 December 2017 13:10, UK
In the latest Hit for Six, Rob Key talks England's off-field problems; potential changes for Perth; international cricket's underrated players; and whether he is a fan of T10...
What did you make of the Ben Duckett incident? Are you a fan of curfews being imposed on teams?
In all honesty, I think the Duckett incident goes back to the handling of the Jonny Bairstow incident. Had England just batted that away, saying this is the Aussies being pathetic, then all of a sudden this Duckett situation is not so much of an issue. They've now got themselves in such a mess.
Alastair Cook said it brilliantly, since the Ben Stokes issue it has changed the way England cricketers have to live, especially out in Australia. The players are at fault for being out again as much as anything else but the management have got themselves into a bit of a muddle really since 'headbutt-gate'. Since that, the Aussies have played it pretty well and England have played into their hands by the way they've reacted. Now, every little thing an England player does is under massive scrutiny.
I was never a fan of curfews because I just don't think they are necessary. The players now must realise that even if they pop out for a meal they are going to be targets. People are going to try and get a rise out of them. With the rise of reality TV and celebrity culture, people will try anything to make themselves famous. The England team are a means for people doing that.
I feel for Duckett because he's going to carry the can for this. He's involved in something that has been built up because of what's gone on before, but at the same time he should have been aware of that. They've come down pretty hard on him for something that was pretty trivial and that's just a sign of the times unfortunately.
Is Trevor Bayliss under pressure following a number of off-the-field incidents on top of a couple of poor results?
I suppose he is under a bit more pressure now because of the results of the Ashes series so far. I would imagine he's fuming with what's going on off the field. Bayliss is an outstanding coach. Coaches aren't miracle workers and if you haven't got the tools that you need at your disposal, it's going to be hard work, especially on a tour to Australia.
Bayliss as a man manager, he's excellent. He's got a lot out of these players during his time, just look at where Ben Stokes was before Bayliss came around. A lot of players have really thrived during his time in charge and it's not a technical thing, it's down to his man management and his style. All the off-field stuff is unfairly putting him under more pressure but he should only be under pressure because of results. The players have to take responsibility for how they behave as adults, it's not the coach's fault.
Would you make any changes to England side for Perth? Will Australia be stronger if Mitchell Marsh plays?
If Mark Wood is fit and ready to go, I'd bring him into the side. Unfortunately, it'd probably be in place of Craig Overton, who was very impressive on debut at Adelaide. I would also have a serious look at Bairstow and how we get the best out of him.
I've always banged the drum for Jos Buttler to keep wicket for England to allow Bairstow to flourish as a batsman. Buttler's not in the squad so I would have a serious look at leaving out one of the batters, probably Dawid Malan or James Vince, and make Bairstow a batsman with Ben Foakes coming in as the wicketkeeper at No 7.
I've said all along that I think Bairstow is England's third best batsman behind Cook and Joe Root. I would go with Cook, Mark Stoneman, Root, Bairstow at four, Malan or Vince at five, the Moeen Ali with Foakes at seven. It's time for England to get the most out of Bairstow the batsman. It's hard on him as a keeper because he's excellent but we need his runs.
Australia are also worried about their batting but to be honest, bar Peter Handscomb, they've looked pretty good to me. If Mitchell Marsh comes in, his brother Shaun will move to five and he'll come in at six.
Mitchell is an impressive cricketer. I've played a fair bit against him and he's one of those rare talents that you thought would get better and better with exposure. The Australians could do with giving him a real run in the side and I think at some stage they'll get a real return on that as well as having a player that can make balancing the side so much easier.
What are you memories of the WACA? Is it your favourite Australian ground?
It's a fast, fast pitch but it's quite a nice pitch to play fast bowling on. The one thing you could guarantee was that the ball would bounce so you could get underneath the ball whereas at somewhere like Adelaide, you didn't know whether a short ball would get up around your waist or your head. That's the one saving grace regarding fast bowling at the WACA, you can watch the ball sail over your head.
On my favourite Aussie ground, I enjoyed Sydney because when I played there Steve Waugh got that brilliant hundred off the last ball of the day. The atmosphere was probably as good as anything I'd ever experienced and we went on to win the game!
All the grounds are unique and very different in their own ways. The WACA is a great Test match. It's a bit like going to Augusta as a golfer I imagine. You want to play Augusta with those fast greens and it's the same thing at the WACA. You want to play at the WACA on a lightning surface and be able to tell your grandchildren that you played at the WACA, one of the fastest pitches in world cricket, against some of the fastest bowlers in world cricket. Let's hope it's a rapid surface this week!
Ross Taylor scored his 17th Test hundred during New Zealand's victory over Windies - is he one of the most underrated players in Test cricket among current and former players?
He would be up there, that's for sure. His record is pretty good.
I'd say Ian Bell as a former player - Bell gets forgotten around the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Cook but he had an extraordinary record. He's right up there in amongst England's top run-scorers.
Around the world, I've always thought Ajinkya Rahane is an underrated player. When he's played well he's got runs all around the world, but he's very much on the undercard to players like Virat Kohli.
Afghanistan are set to play their first Test in 2010 - do you remember your first Test match? How were the nerves?
I remember it well! Mine was at Trent Bridge and it's like winning the lottery - everyone wants a piece of you. There are all the family members you haven't spoken to or heard from for years and then all your friends get in touch and you realise the scrutiny you are going to be under. You quickly understand what an opportunity you've got and you are just desperate to take it.
I remember Nasser Hussain throwing me my cap and saying "well done, Kent" and "well done, Durham" as myself and Steve Harmison made our debuts. I also remember almost clapping Sachin Tendulkar after every shot he played! I had to tell myself to calm down as I was thinking it was good to watch him bat. Apart from that most of it's a blur. You walk into a dressing room with people I watched as a kid, it was a very surreal thing.
With Afghanistan, you've got a whole country thinking about what an opportunity they've got. They'll want to show that they can play, not only as individuals, but they'll want to show they can play as a nation. Test cricket is about bowlers and they look like they have a few and have the potential to find a few more, which is not something that every country has.
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Finally, one extra question on T10 cricket, which is being played in the UAE this week? Are you a fan? Is it a good format for the Olympics?
I think T20 cricket is just fine! I don't really care for the T10 format.
If I've got to travel over 30 minutes to go and watch a T10 slog, I've got absolutely no interest in it. Twenty20 cricket works. It's a format that's absolutely booming and I don't see why we have to make it any shorter.
T20 cricket would be perfect for the Olympics. It's one of the most entertaining formats of sport for drama. You don't get much more drama than in a T20 game so I don't see any reason to move away from it.
