Roger Alton Roger Alton

My one to watch at the French Open

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The timing of Brendon McCullum’s appointment as England’s Test match coach couldn’t be better for him, or for the matey but very canny Rob Key, cricket’s managing director. Had they taken over their jobs when England were at or near the top of the world rankings, things would have been a lot tougher. Getting to the top might be hard, but staying there is a nightmare. Now, with England well and truly in the basement, McCullum’s only way is up. And he kicks off with a Test against his homeland, New Zealand, at Lord’s next month.

You hope that sooner or later he finds room for the wonderfully talented if momentarily confused (about Test cricket anyway) Jos Buttler. McCullum might also ask why so many English pace bowlers are crocked (Wood, Archer, Mahmood, Woakes, Fisher, assorted Currans) and what should be done about it. Ironically, the two oldest – Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson – haven’t pulled up lame. At this rate Darren Gough might want to start polishing his boots.

At this rate Darren Gough might want to start polishing his boots

McCullum might be slightly unproven as a red-ball coach (to the extent that he has never taken charge of a first-class match) but by all accounts he is, like any Kiwi worth his salt, a first-class boozer, which should have been qualification enough for Key and captain Ben Stokes, who has considerable form in that regard. So no wonder that one of the first items on the agenda at their recent get-together was the abolition of the players’ midnight curfew. Watch this space, even if with some apprehension.

With the start of the French Open this weekend, it’s going to be possible for the wider tennis world to check out the lavishly talented Carlos Alcaraz, the 19-year-old Spaniard who those in the know say is even better than Rafa Nadal.

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