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A week is a short time in sport As anyone in any sport will confirm, you’re only as good as your last match, last innings or last putt. The extreme fortunes of the England cricket team in the space of a handful of days exaggerates that belief, although the criticism of the performance of the squad came from a corner that was least expected. Current skipper Joe Root was stunned by former England captain Michael Vaughan's comments that his side had failed to respect the traditions of Test Cricket during their humbling 340-run defeat by South Africa at Trent Bridge. Vaughan, now a commentator with BBC Radio's Test Match Special, made his comments as England lost seven first-innings wickets for 62 runs to be bowled out in just a little more than 50 overs for 205 in reply to the visitors’ 335. Root's 78 was the only half-century in a disappointing total that left England always chasing the game. "The England batting has been appalling," said Vaughan. "Maybe it's a lack of respect about what the game is. They look like they are playing a Twenty20 game. They have this approach of attack, attack, attack. There is no thought or feeling of seeing off a bowler or wearing a team down." England's second innings in pursuit of a world-record target of 474 fared little better, with the home side bowled out for just 133 with more than a day to spare on the fourth day and for the second match in a row leaving holders of fifth day tickets
more than short changed. South Africa have now levelled the series 1-0. As the test series began later than usual this season, it’s been forgotten, perhaps, that following on from the disappointment in the winter this was England's sixth defeat in their last eight tests. Root, the new captain and in his second test in charge was more than taken aback by his mentor and family friend Michael Vaughan. "I think that's very unfair – I can't believe he's actually said that. We pride ourselves on winning series like this, and unfortunately we've played poorly this week," Root said. But the Yorkshire batting star did accept that his side ought to be able to bat in different styles according to the match situation, whatever the individual preferences of members of his team. "We need to make sure we learn quickly ... (so that) if we are in a similar situation (in the third test) at The Oval, for example, we play it slightly smarter," said Root. "Part of test cricket is trying to find a balance of both (attack and defence) – and even if it's not your strength, you build it into your natural game. You have periods where you can absorb a bit of pressure and find the right moment to apply it when chances come along. We are capable of doing it and have done it previously, but this wasn't a very good example of it."
Garcia looking to add to his first Major The Open at Royal Birkdale is today (Friday) into its second day having teed off at sunrise yesterday morning, and there is one person looking to prove that his recent success isn’t just a one-majorwonder. Spain’s very own and popular Sergio Garcia is the current Masters champion and one of his famous sayings, when translated from his native tongue is, “the more sugar, the sweeter it is”. There is no doubt that 2017 so far is his sweetest year and he has used more idioms to describe his approach to The Open, describing the choice between wearing the much-sought-after Green Jacket or holding the famous Claret Jug aloft during a Sunday evening sunset as “like saying, who do you love more, your dad or your mum?” Sergio has a more than consistent history at The Open, as he confirmed just a short distance along the coast from Royal Birkdale in Hoylake in 2014 when he challenged eventual winner Rory McIlroy all the way into the final holes. Even though he’s among the early favourites for the tournament, he has promised, irrespective of his upcoming wedding, to keep his focus on the prize. “My mind is on the Open, don’t worry,” he said, laughing. “It’s going to be where it needs to be. Angela has been doing a great job of getting everything ready for the wedding.” Next week, he is marrying Angela Akins, his fiancée from Texas and a former Golf Channel presenter who has been at the forefront of his resurgence. They were recently seen together in the Royal Box at Wimbledon wearing his prized Green Jacket that fitted perfectly with the traditional colours of the All England Club. Spanish sport in general is enjoying a remarkable summer. Apart from Rafael Nadal winning his 10th French Open at Roland Garros, Garbine Muguruza adding her name to the honours board for the Women’s Singles champion at the weekend, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina from Malaga winning the Boy’s Singles at the age of 18 – Boris Becker won the Men’s in 1985 at the age of 17 for reference – Jon Rahm won the Irish Open golf title and Rafael Cabrera-Bello the Scottish version. Will there be a UK hat-trick for Spain? “It’s very exciting to see guys you’re friendly with, fellow countrymen, doing great things,” Sergio said. “We’re going to try to keep it going as much as possible.” When a young Garcia was growing up in rural Castellon in the Eighties, the Open, which at that time featured the still much-loved and much-missed Seve Ballesteros, was only on Spanish TV now and then. Thirty years on, the Spanish, and Seve’s academy, are on the verge of bringing back those great days.