New captain, a new coach, and almost a new-looking team but the results were the same for England at the Rose Bowl tonight. England made it to the semi-final of the T20 World Cup this year, but those without a memory loss know that their journey during the mega-event was not devoid of life-threatening bumps. At one point, the team was even threatened by being outdone by their Northern neighbor, Scotland. Months after they crashed out of the semi-final against India, the team finds itself in almost the same predicament; their white-ball form is dwindling and something needs to be done about it asap.
Against Australia in Southampton, the Phil Salt-led team was seriously miserable with the bat. Chasing 180 runs, none of the home team players barring Liam Livingston and Saqib Mahmood, could hit a single maximum. What’s more is that none could get past 40 runs, with Livingston being the top-scorer with a 37-run knock.
Australia’s game plan was simple; make the most of the powerplays and let the fun roll. This is exactly what England could not do. In comparison to Australia’s score of 86 at the loss of just one at the end of the powerplay, England were reduced to 46 at the expense of three wickets during the same time. The real game-changer was Sam Curran’s lousy over during the powerplay where he let Travis Head score 30 runs off his deliveries. It was a sheer massacre by Head who walloped the English all-rounder for three sixes and as many fours.
Reece Topley, who was supposed to be spearheading the bowling attack with Jofra Archer, conceded 15 runs in just one over thanks to two ruthless sixes by the debutant Matthew Short.
In order to dominate Australia, you either need to score some biggies in the powerplay or control the beast in the helmet, Travis Head, during the same time in the next innings. England, though bowled decently, failed to do both. Eventually ending up with the result that they dreaded so much.
They still have two matches to go but things look as gloomy as the weather in majority part of England. Even during the World Cup, it was Jos Buttler who did most of the work with the bat for England. In his absence, the team might get a similar kind of shelter in Salt’s part-time captaincy, but the hosts will dearly miss the quick starts he used to provide his teammates with.
Brendon McCullum, who will take over as England’s all-format coach starting next year, has a lot of work to do with the team here. He does have experience doing the mending task, having done the same to England’s red-ball team a couple of years ago.
England will play Australia in the second T20I at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. The last time England played a short-format game at the venue was almost two years ago when South Africa triumphed over the hosts by 58 runs. There is also a forecast for rain to be a spoilsport which will be frustrating for the fans as the game tickets have already been fully sold out.
