Synopsis
Nasser Hussain criticizes England's white-ball cricket, stating it has significantly declined since the leadership of Eoin Morgan and Trevor Bayliss. Following recent defeats against India, he emphasizes the need for improvement in handling spin and adapting to the 50-over format.Key Takeaways
- England's white-ball cricket is struggling compared to previous leadership.
- Losses to India highlight issues against spin bowling.
- Upcoming matches are crucial for England's morale.
- Participation in the Champions Trophy is on the horizon.
- Need to adapt their aggressive approach in the ODI format.
New Delhi, Feb 8 (NationPress) Former captain Nasser Hussain stated that for a significant period, England's white-ball cricket has been considerably below the standards set under Eoin Morgan and Trevor Bayliss, who guided the team to the 2019 Men’s ODI World Cup victory on home ground.
Following a 4-1 defeat in the T20I series against India, England faced a four-wicket loss in the first ODI and currently trails 1-0 in the three-match series. The team, led by Jos Buttler, must secure victories in the upcoming matches in Cuttack and Ahmedabad to conclude the tour of India positively.
Subsequently, England will participate in the Champions Trophy scheduled from February 19 to March 9, where they find themselves in Group B alongside Afghanistan, Australia, and South Africa in this eight-team 50-over tournament.
"It seems to have followed a similar trajectory, hasn’t it? Throughout most of the matches, even the T20s, there were phases where they were competitive, yet a silly error like the one around Phil Salt's run-out in the first ODI disrupted their flow. Additionally, Ravindra Jadeja bowled exceptionally well when the spin was introduced.
"The T20 matches they lost often stemmed from issues against spin bowling as well. India has proved to be a formidable white-ball team since their triumph in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad, showcasing the depth of their cricketing talent - Abhishek Sharma in those T20s was phenomenal.
“With Shubman Gill returning and Virat Kohli absent, whoever is selected, they remain a remarkable team. However, England's white-ball cricket has been consistently below par compared to the era under Morgan and Bayliss. Therefore, I believe these upcoming months are crucial," Hussain remarked on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
England's capacity to handle India's spinners has faced scrutiny, and Hussain emphasized the need for them to master the art of prolonged innings in the 50-over format. "It's not that they're being dismissed by substantial spin. It's more about failing to read the spin well.
"I recognize that Harry Brook has genuinely struggled, right? It’s about recognizing spin and maintaining that aggressive mindset. This England side often faces the question - are they being excessively aggressive? With Root stepping in to play a stabilizing role, he didn’t manage to bat long enough (in the first ODI).
“Yet, this aggressive approach remains pivotal. Eoin often stated that '50 overs isn’t a lengthy duration; just play aggressively for every ball and see where it takes you'. Perhaps that’s what McCullum is suggesting, that we need to endure some discomfort to establish the right tempo.
"Both of us have indicated that they don’t engage in much 50-over cricket. They’ve not participated significantly since the last World Cup and lack domestic 50-over matches. So, it's about understanding the length of that batting innings and determining when to be aggressive and when to hold back," he concluded.
