Sports

Go Catch Your Stars

... they're falling. Tony Lewis' words of wisdom for Atherton's boys

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Go Catch Your Stars
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To many viewers this might appear harsh, but I must be hon-est—they looked exactly the same as they did in South Africa a few weeks ago when they lost by six one-day internationals to one. This is what makes me worry about our chances when I hear it said that we are certain to get to the quarter finals and from there it is only three good days to win it outright. I would be thrilled with just onegood day at the moment as long as it is against top class opposition.

Winning the World Cup will require every bit of Michael Atherton's judge-ment, a high level of professionalismfrom the players and a lot of luck. There is a lack of match-winners so it has to be a bits-and-pieces effort, played cannily to whatever the strengths are. In batting, I believe, it is getting a couple of left-handers—Graham Thorpe and Neil Fairbrother—between Mike

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Atherton, Graeme Hick and Robin Smith or Alec Stewart, giving Jack Russell the job of making the tail-end stretch and calling for lusty blows from Dominic Cork. Phil DeFreitas should play, all else being equal with other candidates, because he will save more runs in the field. And two spinners, Richard Illingworthand Neil Smith, should always be at the ready.

We have not come all this way to keep on losing and we need not, but to field anything like well enough we need to wear our England caps to bed and be prepared to do or die for the Queen.

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