WHEN it comes to going overseas, England’s Test cricketers seem to leave their skill, nous and brains at the departure gate.
Their recent record away from home is so bad as almost to beggar belief.
They have lost ten of their last 12 Tests — and five of the last eight by innings.
This is not mere travel sickness. It is a contagious disease, infecting batsmen and bowlers alike, with the cure looking increasingly like a change of personnel.
There is no question that, if England lose again in the Second Test against New Zealand starting on Thursday night, there will be loud calls for head coach Trevor Bayliss to quit Test duties and concentrate on white-ball cricket.
But team supremo Andrew Strauss appears to retain faith in Bayliss and the Aussie is likely to retain all facets of his job until he stands down in September 2019.
Ironically, Australia’s ball-tampering scandal — and likely removal of their coach Darren Lehmann — makes it more likely Bayliss will stay. But the likes of Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Moeen Ali and maybe even Chris Woakes are starting to feel some heat.
If he plays in Christchurch, James Vince is another in desperate need of a performance.
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Since England beat Bangladesh in Chittagong in October 2016, their sorry Test sequence through Bangladesh, India, Australia and New Zealand reads LDLLLLLLLDLL.
It equals England’s longest run with no away win, set either side of the Second World War from 1939-48.
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New Zealand had beaten England by an innings just once before — in Christchurch in 1984. Yet, sure enough, the tourists plummeted to defeat by an innings and 49 runs in the First Test yesterday.
Even the near-complete washout of days two and three could not save them after being routed for just 58 all out in their first innings.
Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes mounted decent rearguard actions and defied New Zealand for more than 100 balls — but nobody could find a match-saving innings.
Stokes (66) and Woakes (52) both fell to short balls from aggressive left-arm paceman Neil Wagner, whose tactics involve a big heart, boundless stamina and a non-stop barrage of bouncers.
Captain Joe Root claimed he was pleased with the fight England showed on the final day. But it did not wash — and it certainly could not make up for the terrible batting on day one.
Root said: “I asked the guys at the start to show everyone how much it means to play for England and to represent your country. I thought we got that today.
“It’s obviously a massive task coming back from the start we had in that first innings, which was bitterly disappointing, and we were always fighting back in the game.
“But the character we showed was a step forward.
“We know our record overseas is not good enough. We’re always looking at ways of improving, it’s not for lack of trying. We must continue that work ethic and do some soul-searching.
“We must make sure a couple of guys stand up and take it on themselves to put in that match-winning performance.
“We do it quite frequently in our own conditions.”
Stokes suffered from a sore back in the later stages of his innings — the problem that prevented him bowling — and twice needed treatment.
Root added: “It’s a day-to-day thing with Ben. We’ll decide nearer the time if he is fit to play in Christchurch.
“But I thought he showed great control and restraint from his natural game.”
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