Though England’s players will be rusty after a long lay-off the best have enough self-belief to resist any suggestion of frailty
RC Robertson-Glasgow, cricket writer nonpareil, once famously asked: “Who ever hoped like a cricketer?” As England’s chosen 30 prepare to pack their bags for the monastic retreat that is now the Hilton hotel at the Ageas Bowl, they will be full of hope after a prolonged absence from the game.
Both Jimmy Anderson with his 151 caps and the eight players yet to make their debut will be bubbling with enthusiasm as they start to hone their skills again. But they will also wonder whether the magic is still there after their lay-off. In their quieter moments they will be all too aware that the runs and wickets do not come automatically. In their nightmares they might not come at all.
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