It’s common knowledge that a good, strong start to an innings is paramount to scoring a competitive total in t20 cricket.
That said, attempting an expansive pull shot off the second ball of an innings is a trifle risky even in this format.
Craig Kieswetter attempted just that in Pellekele yesterday, and succeeded only in top-edging Ravi Rampaul straight down Kieron Pollard’s throat at third man. England crashed to 80 all out in their last group match against India last Sunday, and their kamikaze shot selection seems to have remained intact – sadly.
With England 0 for 1 after two balls, Luke Wright came to the crease and managed to fend Rampaul's next delivery straight to Chris Gayle at first slip. Catching practice this was not, but it might as well have been. England have been accused of not playing spin particularly well again on this tour, but when a team loses two wickets in the first three balls of an innings, the subsequent batsmen will struggle against any bowling.
England’s match with the West Indies had been delayed by the over-running preceding match between tournament hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand, which had gone into a super over, the scores tied after 40 overs. England and West Indies players took to the pitch at the end of the regulation overs to warm up, before being ushered off for the tie-breaker which Sri Lanka won. It had the making of a slightly off-piste evening thereafter, a point personified by Rapaul’s double wicket maiden first up.
The fact that Eoin Morgan produced an innings of real quality, scoring an unbeaten 71 off 36 balls and taking England to within 15 runs of what always seemed an unlikely victory, was sadly lost as concern around the rest of the batting line-up took centre stage.
Morgan, batting at five, had to wait his turn as Jonny Bairstow toiled to 18 off 29 balls. England look to Morgan to see the team home in the later overs and whilst Bairstow is not usually one to get stuck at the crease, but his slow strike rate meant Morgan and England ran out of time in their chase of West Indies total of 179.
One of England’s biggest problems in Sri Lanka is that apart from Morgan, they lack proven world-class batsmen. Hales, Bairstow are Buttler are all still learning their trade and whilst they have the potential to produce match-winning performances, cannot yet be relied upon to do so.
An Ian Bell or Matthew Prior up top might just have given the batting line-up that little bit of experience they need. And looking at the squad that travelled to Sri Lanka, there aren’t too many batting alternatives, other than the much discussed Ravi Bopara of course, so perhaps England’s only option is to change the order rather than the personnel, if indeed the selectors decide changes are required at all?
With games against New Zealand and Sri Lanka still to come for England, a turn-around in fortunes is required immediately if they are to hold any hope of progressing to the World t20 knock-out stages.
The bowling, save for captain Stuart Broad, was expensive yesterday. Again Bopara could help out there, but other than Bresnan, few others have tournament experience in this squad. I had high hopes that Danny Briggs would make a mark on this tournament. England had the chance to get him involved in the group stages; he could have played against Afghanistan or India, getting himself used to conditions and tournament cricket at the highest level.
The fact he wasn’t used then means that it would be a tall-order for him and a massive gamble for the selectors for him to come in now.
That said Briggs, who took 3 for 15 against Pakistan in a pre-tournament warm up match earlier this month, would provide a threat with the ball, and with victory against New Zealand in their next super 8’s match tomorrow now imperative, England could take the view that Briggs’ inclusion is a risk worth taking.
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