Sport is adept at finding positives among defeat and England’s One Day cricketers are masters of securing plucky losses against better opposition. Moeen Ali’s first ODI hundred and Ravi Bopara’s 65 gave supporters some hope for the rest of the long Sri Lankan series but with Alastair Cook and Eoin Morgan failing, there are evident problems regarding team selection.
Nailing down a crucial slot
Prior to these seven games in Sri Lanka, it had been widely assumed that Alex Hales would be the one to partner Cook at the top of the order and go on to become a key performer in the run in to the World Cup. In their warm up match with Sri Lanka A however, the selectors produced a surprise by including Moeen who hit six straight fours from the first six legitimate deliveries that he faced.
From that moment, the Worcestershire player’s inclusion in the side for the first ODI in Colombo was assured and the decision was vindicated as the 27 year old went on to make 119 in quick time. However, while Moeen flayed 11 fours and five maximums in a rapid knock, his skipper crawled to 10 from 17 deliveries before a straight one from Dilshan put us all out of our misery.
Striking the balance
Any good one day side needs a balance between the biffers and the patient accumulators but in recent times, England’s approach to the 50 over format has been a little too pedestrian. With Alastair Cook and Ian Bell opening the innings, the team lacked an explosive start and the impetus required to accelerate through the middle overs when required.
Alex Hales could have provided that impetus and despite a subdued opening to his international one day career, the Notts Outlaw deserves another chance at this level, even with Moeen Ali in the side. The selectors have given backing to their skipper but surely Cook’s position at the top of the order will become untenable if he makes seven low scores in this protracted series.
Bell’s position at number three could be another concern if Moeen falls early, leaving the Warwickshire man to renew his pairing with the skipper. If England are to compete at the World Cup, they need to recognise that team scores in excess of 300 are now the norm rather than the exception and they need to decide how they can approach that level in every game.
Contenders
England have a number of players ready to step in if the established men continue to struggle. Alongside Hales, Nottinghamshire team mate James Taylor is with the squad in Sri Lanka and ready to step in and have another crack at international cricket.
Meanwhile, Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance is not with the touring party but many will argue that he should be, after a stunning year in test cricket. The Zimbabwe born left hander can be a natural number 3 at this level and can arguably play the Bell role of controlled aggression far more effectively.
Elsewhere, Jason Roy, James Vince and even forgotten man Luke Wright are all fast scorers who could lift the tempo of this side and create some momentum as the team gets ready for the big event Down Under next February.
As of now, England look hopelessly unprepared for next year’s World Cup and although Sri Lanka’s winning margin of 25 runs may seem narrow, the home side were in control throughout the game. Moeen Ali’s emergence as an international one day opener is a definite positive but elsewhere, serious issues remain throughout this side.
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