Fighting spirit of new generation

Stephen Brenkley meets a victorious side staking claims in England's future

When England's cricketers flew into Gatwick Airport on Friday, spontaneous applause broke out from those waiting to greet them. It fair tingled the spine as the players, blazer buttons bursting with pride, strode into the arrivals hall to meet their well-wishers.

Here were members of a touring party who had gone abroad to play in conditions alien to them. Often they found themselves up against it in low- scoring contests, but they had consistently rallied and won the Test rubber, 1-0 with two draws, and the limited overs series, 2-1. Their efforts provided the game in this country with fresh hope.

The players in question were the England Under-19 team, who one day are likely to form the nucleus of the senior Test side. Their resilience, allied to their success in Pakistan over the past two months, demonstrates that not everything in English cricket is either misconceived or badly executed. The team spanned age-groups - Ian Flanagan, the Essex left-handed batsman, is only 16 - and demonstrated how talent is being unearthed in schools and clubs.

"For the past five years or so there has been a concerted effort to make sure that young players here are better prepared," said Mickey Stewart, the England and Wales Cricket Board's director of coaching and excellence. "This doesn't involve simply spotting them young, though that is important, but in giving players the chance to perform regularly against their equals and betters. It isn't participation that we have a problem with, but standards."

When Stewart assumed his role after retiring as manager of the England senior side, he was determined to bring more cohesion to the development of youth cricket. Figures may not be everything in cricket but these are impressive. Before 1991 England had played 42 Under-19 Tests, won five, drawn 24 and lost 13. Since then they have played 36, won 12, drawn 17 and lost only seven. The cricketers have not necessarily been more talented, but better honed and more aware of what is expected of them.

As Phil Neale, manager of the tour to Pakistan, said: "We stressed and stressed again how hard it is to make your living out of the game. Lots may want to do it but they must be aware of the fitness and application needed, not just when they are with a squad but at home. This was a low- scoring tour and both sides maybe didn't get the runs they'd have liked to have done. You could say it shows some weakness but our side kept coming back and that shows fighting spirit."

Stewart and Neale emphasised the early learning of good habits in technique and mental attitude. Stewart said: "One of the big changes in the last four years is that more lads have got the opportunity of playing first- class cricket for their counties before they are 20. That has got to be good for their development." To support this point, David Sales wheeled out his trolley. Last summer, Sales of Northamptonshire became the first player to make a double-century on his County Championship debut.

But as Sales and his colleagues emerged, it was not their estimable under- 19 triumphs which seemed significant, nor even their chances of making it as county players. Would they make Test cricketers? The answer is a definite affirmative because 51 England under-19 players have gone on to win full Test caps. Of the 15 players with England this winter, 10 played for the under-19s. So the real question is, Will they make decent Test cricketers?

Stewart is convinced that a better youth system - this one is being co- ordinated with long-term sponsorship from NatWest - will create better senior players. Neale estimated four or five of those on this tour would soon be contending for England A honours. Coaches are reluctant to name names, for forecasting is a fraught business. But the players who, with the ball, led England into a position from which they won a Test in Pakistan and, a few weeks later, with the bat, helped to save one they might have lost, were Alex Tudor and Ben Hollioake, both of whom have already played for Surrey.

There was but one warning note sounded at Gatwick. "The biggest drawback is that the gap between our domestic first-class game and Tests is the biggest in the world," Stewart said.

Too many inferior players, he suggested, and too much cricket. It means that however much they learn at under-15, under-17 and under-19, they still have it all to do.