Cricket: Missing spark threatens to turn Ashes to ashes

England's Stephen Harmison has been suffering a crisis of confidence. Picture / Reuters

JAIPUR - England must be relieved that the Ashes series starts in six weeks and not six days. They may even wish that the first ball was six months away to give them time to rediscover the menace that unhinged the Australians just over a year ago.

Andrew Flintoff's team played poorly in their opening match of the Champions Trophy against India yesterday, and the scars might take time to heal.

Ricky Ponting's side will be eager to rub salt into the wounds when the sides meet at the same venue later in the week.

England showed little in their four-wicket loss in New Delhi to suggest they are capable of reproducing the fire needed to retain a prize so memorably and deservedly secured last year.

The batsmen were unconvincing as they poked around and occasionally lashed out in search of a satisfactory score.

Indian pacemen Munaf Patel and Irfan Pathan tore through the top order to skittle England for 125, their lowest score against India in the opening group A tie.

The home team made heavy weather of the chase, reaching 126 for six in a group also featuring Australia and titleholders West Indies.

The England bowling was patchy. Alarmingly, the worst offender was the man supposed to provide the cutting edge Downunder.

Steve Harmison has been having problems with his action for some time. Plainly, the amiable northerner's struggles have left a mark on him. As numerous golfers can confirm, these internal collapses may start with a technical hitch, but they can rapidly become a mental block that leads to panic.

It is no easy thing for a man to walk on to a field when his brain is in turmoil. There is no hiding place in international cricket, not for a struggling bowler, not for an ailing batsman.

When a sportsman finds himself in an impasse, he needs to fall back on the basics of his game as revealed in years of toil. A lot goes awry in the formative years, and each time the player learns something about his craft.

It is this knowledge that guides an experienced cricketer as he tries to put Humpty Dumpty back together. Harmison does not seem to know his game as well as he might.

Happily, Harmison's second spell was much better, and brought the encouragement of a prized scalp.

Recalling him was a piece of thoughtful captaincy from Flintoff, and the lanky Durham paceman must have appreciated it. Dismissing Sachin Tendulkar must do wonders for a bowler's morale.

Further consolation could be found in the aggression shown by Sajid Mahmood and the liveliness of James Anderson.

England can only pray that their captain will be bowling at full steam when the first test starts in Brisbane next month. Many of the team's senior players are carrying injuries and the side may well limp into the Ashes series.

Among the batsmen, only James Dalrymple played gamely against India, but his services are not required in the test matches.

Paul Collingwood caught the eye as he placed the ball through the covers. Plainly, he has a quick mind, a large heart and a willingness to take the game to the opposition.

Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss, the team's best players, tried to cut loose only to edge to the slips.

Overall, it was not an effort calculated to leave the Australians quaking in their boots. Yes, it was only one match. But recovery must happen swiftly, or it will not happen at all. It is not wise to show Australia any hint of vulnerability.

- INDEPENDENT