Another abject display from England’s batsmen on Wednesday at the Rose Bowl condemned Andrew Strauss’ men to another defeat and they know find themselves 3-0 down in this best of seven series.
Do these players get sent out with the wrong game plan by the team management or do they just continually take it upon themselves to play rash loose shots and get themsevles out in such ridiculous circumstances.
Accepted, the nature of One Day International cricket means that you are going to – from time to time – make yourself look silly with an unconventional shot while trying to take the attack to your opponents or by trying to step up the run rate. England though, take this art to a new level.
To compound things in this latest fiasco the fielding seemed to be lowering itself to the same level of the batting and before long the bowling is going to crack under the strain of trying to carry the team as well.
At the top of the order you can accept that maybe one player (Bopara at the moment) has a licence to play some extravagant shots during the fielding restrictions, but the shot selection still has to be right and sensible. There are runs to be had in a less risky way than trying to hit Bracken back over his head for six, the fact he had done it once may lead people to say the shot works and produces runs and that he was unlucky, (in the mould of Kevin Pietersen) but I would suggest that Bracken is a canny customer who expected Bopara to be predictable and try it again and was ready and waiting for him the next time.
In the case of Matt Prior, what is he thinking in trying to pull Mitchell Johnson when he is only facing his 4th ball. Ok, I know you need to get on with things but at least have a look at the bowling and conditions for an over or two and try and play yourself in a bit before taking on bowlers of that pace and quality in such a manner.
The Aussie’s must be laughing at their English batting opponents knowing full well that they are stupid enough to walk into the simple traps set for them. And they are not exactly well thought out simple traps either.
Owais Shah maybe got a rough decision this time and was run out by Collingwood in the 2nd match but he has still failed in this series. Collingwood, well what can you say, did we not see that pathetic shot at Lord’s in the 2nd test. One common theme throughout England’s batting failures in Tests, ODI’s and T20 is Paul Collingwood, need I say more!
Eoin Morgan is a young man trying to find his way. In short the selectors are having a look at him. So far he has showed signs of promise but when you look at what Jonathon Trott achieved in test arena you have to say so far Morgan has come up short. Then you could argue that Trott’s international debut at ODI level wasn’t much better than what Morgan is doing now, maybe there is a lesson to be learnt there.
Luke Wright only knows one way to play and got out early on rather than later doing it. This isn’t meant as criticism but you know what your going to get with him, if you want a big hitter at number 7 then thats what you’ve got. If you want a more compossed finisher (Isn’t this supposed to be Collingwoods roll?) then play someone else there.
There was a chorus of boos that greeted Strauss when he went up to speak at the aftermatch presentation from those who had bothered to stay behind. I doubt it was meant as a personal attack on the man who has carried England’s batting this summer, but more a sign of displeasure at what is being served up by England at the moment.
When Nasser Hussain asked Strauss as to whether is it a lack of technique or confidence thats causing the batting failures and Strauss answered it is a confidence issue you could again hear the howls of derision ringing out around the ground.
The English public would seem to be running out of patience.
