The fall of the English empire?

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 5:11 am

Kevin Pietersen and his boys have gone down in both the ODIs against India without putting up any fight. A 158 run loss in the first ODI followed by a 54 run loss at Indore has only reflected on a team performance that has lacked application, character and resolve.

Such has been the display of the touring party in the series so far, that it has only exposed the playing XI’s performance in the first 2 ODIs. Call it the lack of aggression in the bowling department or the failure of the English batsmen to bat big, England seem to be cracking at a time when India is peaking.

Andrew Flintoff has been England’s main-stay for quite sometime, but he too in this series has not been able to handle pressure. A total of 47 runs from two matches only reflect at the manner in which he has cracked under testing conditions. It was a big jolt for England as their experienced campaigners in Pietersen and Flintoff have failed to rise up to the occassion.

Paul Collingwod who gave up captaincy to focus on his batting has scored only 21 runs from 2 matches. An average of 10.59 only exposes the chinks in the England batting line up. The middle order batsmen crumbled under pressure not offering any resistance and Collingwood has lasted just 29 balls in the two matches.

However the area of concern or England has been the opening slot. Either of the two openers has always departed early and Ian Bell has been the biggest disappointment for the Visitors. 26 run in 2 matches at an average of 13 clearly means right on top England have allowed pressure to set in andwhat has followed has been a parade as batsmen have followed suit.

The English media has been scathing in its attack of the team with many predicting that it would be a whitewash. The Telegraph stated that England have gone from one-day renaissance to the dark ages after the losses in the first 2 one-dayers. It goes on to add that unless they can stop Yuvraj, England is heading towards a whitewash.

“England will find it difficult to work their way back into the series against a side far superior to them with bat, ball and in the field”, BBC.com read.

Even the ex-cricketers have come out to blast the ECB and said, “When you speak to other sports coaches and captains they say people have to know their roles. I don’t think England’s one-day side know their roles. Our one-day thinking for years has been behind others”

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

The fall of the English empire?

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