http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 - England’s professionalism and India’s complacency (Part 1) - Opinion
Two teams were pitted up against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 were a far more superior outfit then India in each of their three departments, and it terms of conventional strength.
When England started their World T20 campaign against 11 buoyant men, much was expected from the minnows after they pushed http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 right down to the wire in the previous game. A spirited performance from the Afghans managed to castle the best batting line-up in the tournament, and the chances of a famous upset loomed high against England, after the team came agonizingly close to overhauling India’s 159 for 5 in 20 overs. The minnows eventually succumbed to the guile and zip of the Indian bowlers, yet questions began to emerge over India’s ability to bowl in the death overs and the overall potency of their attack.
The Poms on the other hand, went out against Afghanistan on Friday the 21st of September, aiming to pound the opposition into submission, and they did that in style. It felt as if the possibilities of yet another impressive show by the Afghans bordered on the preposterous, despite their opponents boasting a fiery fast bowling attack and spinners who could bowl with an impressive control over their line and lengths. Frightening thoughts of struggling like India did; however, were shunned away by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LJ-Wright-c1841. The 27-year-old carried out a blitzkrieg after surviving the initial onslaught by the Afghan pacers, and finished on 99 with 6 towering sixes. In a blink of an eye, Afghanistan was under pressure and there was nothing that their Captain Nawroz Mangal could do to stop Wright’s belligerence. He was simply unstoppable as he carved the discipline exhibited by Afghanistan in their encounter with the Indians into bits and pieces.
Wright’s approach in that innings stood in stark contrast to the one dimensional batting effort of the Men in Blue against the same opposition. Pokes outside of the off stump by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Eoin-Joseph-Gerard-Morgan-c56032, both of whom put on decent partnerships to steer England into a commanding position. The end result was a resounding 196 for five in 20 overs, which was also a product of hapless fielding by the Afghans towards the very end of the innings. From an Indian perspective, it can be argued that occasional batting collapses are a part of the game and India had a bad day against their opposition. However, the manner in which England restrained and pounded the minnows into submission by defending their total was something that India had failed to do.
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