England's WT20 Campaign - Marred by an unconvincing batting lineup? - Part 1 - Opinion
England entered the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 with the weight of the world on their shoulders. They are desperate to make a mark in this tournament, and defend their title as world champions after their heroics in the 2010 edition. Stuart Broad’s
team however, is packed with individuals who are dynamic, dexterous, yet erratic in their approach. Regular detonators such as Jonny Bairstow and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jos-Buttler-c1733 for example, may have been included to add a bit of spice in the batting, but the sad part is that
most of the experienced players have been omitted. England as a side however, has historically had a batting line up which has been known for its doggedness and defiance. Yet this time around, the English selectors have preferred brawl over brain, in packing
the team with exciting young talent, which can openly be exploited by some of the most formidable bowling attacks in this tournament.
The current squad oozes with talent, yet lacks the maturity to well and truly go the distance in terms of securing games from precarious situations. Had it not been for Luke Wright’s sensational hitting against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745 for example, England would have
had to settle for a score which could have been in the minnows' reach. Beyond Wright’s dynamism in that game, England’s batting looks less than ordinary, where the mature heads of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/IJL-Trott-c1576 were being sorely missed. Both these players
are considered to be technicians, and inept for T20 cricket. Yet recent history has shown that players such as Cook could play an innings of substance when the going gets tough for them. In Sunday night’s fixture against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 however, the English batting
line up was not only blown away, but simply had no answer to the guile and zip of the Indian spinners. It was a shocking state of affairs for a team that can rightly be considered ‘Dark Horses’ in this year’s tournament, but the truth was that no English batsman
played an innings of substance or took it upon himself to go on a rescuing effort. The whippy wrists of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RS-Bopara-c2373 for example, could have ensured that the zip and turn could be negated and England could plunge out of trouble. It wasn’t to be, and despite
the stage being set for someone to rebuild the innings, the batsmen resorted to belting the ball instead. As a result, wickets tumbled continuously, and England had to settle for one of their lowest totals in T20 cricket. It was a night of utter shame. In
recent times, their T20 success has rested on the shoulders of a few players who have made a huge impact on the game. Bowlers such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ST-Finn-c2566 and Jade Dernbach for example, had managed to wreak havoc on opposition batting line ups, who had failed to come
to terms with their pace and variations.
In the field, the chutzpah of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 has relied
on the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Eoin-Joseph-Gerard-Morgan-c56032 in the middle, who has played some wonderful innings in the shortest format of the game. His ability to shift gears and play some outrageous strokes has not only been the difference between an England win and a loss in various encounters,
but also helped in ensuring that the rub of the green goes their way. For over two years, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Morgan-c77707 was England’s best T20 player and backed his billing with shots that left the opposition clueless and overawed.
Continued in Part 2...
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