December 25th. It’s the Big Birthday, right? Curiously it’s also the birthday of three of England’s finest cricketers from the past decade. I’d say the Three Wise Men only they didn’t turn up for another twelve days. Alastair Cook, Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones may not bring gold, frankincense and myrrh but in recent years have served up a large helping of grit, sparkle and pace.
Cook, of course, is very much the man of the moment. Leading England from the front to a memorable Test series victory in India is about as good as it gets. Ah, but you have to win the Ashes in Australia to be recognised as a true modern great. Tick! 766 runs at an average of 128 two winters ago says yes. Hmm, but does he make some really big scores? In evidence I offer the 294 scored against India at Edgbaston last year. Flat track bully? What, with 190 at Eden Gardens, India’s spin fortress, and five of his six highest Test innings have been achieved on tour.
Cook may be associated with Essex but he was born in Gloucester. Nine years earlier, just down the M5 and along the A4, Marcus Trescothick emerged into this world, Another left-hander, he started as a wicketkeeper but quickly concentrated on becoming one of the finest strokeplayers of his generation. A Somerset stalwart of almost twenty seasons, his mental illness may have deprived England of its best opening batsman, but he has continued to grace the county scene, excelling in all forms of cricket. He’s astute and articulate in the commentary box, too, especially when analysing one-day and T20 tactics. I just hope Banger’s serious ankle injury last summer isn’t a sign of failing form. Somerset would surely have secured an elusive title had he been around in the middle of the season.
The other member of the festive trio is Simon Jones. His list of sick notes would take up far more space than Trescothick’s but, approaching his 34th birthday, the man from Morriston near Swansea still harbours hopes of playing first-class cricket with Glamorgan next summer. He proved a revelation in 2004-6, including the 2005 Ashes, but subsequent knee injuries have severely restricted his appearances in any form of the game. A total of only 91 FC fixtures and 88 shorter matches in fifteen years tells the story. The Ashes victory at Trent Bridge proved to be his last in an England cap. Following a decisive first-innings 5-44, Jones broke down after bowling only four overs in the second, and that was that. He looked a shadow of his old sharp self in one-day games last year but he is clinging on to a career I thought had ended several years earlier. Good for him!
Cricket tends not to be played on Christmas Day itself but Cook did make a century three days later in an innings defeat of South Africa in 2009. Marcus Trescothick did the same five years earlier, and Jones took a wicket on the 27th, that of AB de Villiers, in that very same match. This year, I reckon all three have earned their right to putting their feet up at home for Christmas. Please, Marcus, don’t drop any turkeys on that ankle of yours!
