Saturday 9 December 2017

BEN DUCKETT : LATEST IN A LINE OF YOBS.

Following incidents in which Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow have found themselves in trouble in or near places in which alcohol is consumed, now it's the turn of Ben Duckett. The England Lions batsman has been suspended following 'an incident' in a bar in the Australian city of Perth.

It seems clear that there is a problem with discipline within the England cricket camp. Stokes remains suspended from England duty after he was filmed having a punch up outside of a bar in Bristol, while Bairstow apparently head-butted Australian Cameron Bancroft in another bar, claiming that this was his preferred method of greeting people. Duckett's transgression is reported to involve him pouring a glass of beer over the head of a member of the full England squad.

What on earth is going on ? Trevor Bayliss, the England manager, is reported to be 'apoplectic' over his players' lack of discipline and common sense though he must surely take much of the blame, along with the coach of the England Lions, Andy Flower. After all, aren't they the ones who set the tone and rules of behaviour for their players ? The trouble is that the players see themselves as celebrities who can do pretty much whatever they like. They behave like spoilt brats and the sanctions employed are little more than being sent to the 'naughty step' for a few minutes; Bayliss and Flower can be as apoplectic as they like, the truth is that they've been miserable failures as managers.

England's performances in the first two Ashes test matches have been poor and one is tempted to link the performances and behaviour together. While the Australians are a team of grown men, too many of the English are little more than children or, at best, difficult teenagers. They lack discipline and self-control but have all the confidence of the inexperienced; it is no wonder that they're being blown away by the Australians nor that they act like yobs when not on the field of play.

What they need is a Brian Clough to instil real discipline, self-control and pride.

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