BAZBALL disappoints with bat and ball

Defending champions get a taste of own medicine on World cup Day 1

October 5, 2023: Playing aggressive brand of cricket is a double-edged sword, because you need to be prepared with the answers to the questions opponents will throw at you. England were at the receiving end of a wonderful serving of their medicine back to them.

England today looked woefully underprepared with a young Rachin Ravindra with the whistlepodu darling Devon Conway relishing the club level bowling. It looked as though they prepared for a test in Geography and were given a paper in anthropology.

It is surprising that the skipper behind the wickets has not understood that both these players have been very strong square of the wicket. Delightful square cuts garnished well with lusty blows were signature of 2 innings that took the fabled English bowling to the cleaners. In the absence of Kane Williamson, it was refreshing to see the aggressive approach to killing a below par target.

To be able to surrender in that fashion under 40 overs only shows the arrogance and inability to think cricket. English bowlers have bowled poor lengths and lines serving occasional half volleys and wide short balls. The bowling lacked even the schoolboy cricketing sense.

On an important day in his cricketing career, Rachin Ravindra looked possessed with clean hitting predominantly square of the wicket and Devon Conway showcased his class with some clean drives down the wicket. Chris Woakes and Mark Wood have erred in whatever was possible in the bowling department and were given the treatment square of the wicket. Wrist spinners like Adil Rashid should understand how to induce an edge; bowling over the wicket to south paws is a sure shot formula to giving away runs. He leaked at nearly 10 an over when he was bowling over the wicket.

Earlier in the day, the English batting lacked inspiration and purpose barring Joe Root who went around with his business. None of the partnerships took off courtesy elementary mistakes and overconfident stroke play.

All in all, England never looked like taking off and the kiwis have found flight.

Quick Stat – before today, both teams were equal on the number of victories face to face - in World-cup encounters, in all ODIs, today New Zealand are one up.

-Sairam, Team Pure Cricket

--------------------------
Pics: Internet