Chris Tremlett: England could be peaking at the right time after coming through pressure situations July 3, 2019 What a difference a week makes. England have lifted the gloom that had begun to surround them following two poor performances by embracing the pressure and proving some people wrong. They got themselves into a position where they needed to win two World Cup matches and having come through them in impressive fashion, beating India [...]
Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow’s brilliant opening partnership the key to England’s World Cup chances July 3, 2019 The conduct of Ben Stokes and Alex Hales on 25 September 2017 outside a Bristol nightclub may have sent shockwaves through England’s cricket team, but it also had a knock-on effect which has played a huge part in making them the side they are today – a side in a World Cup semi-final for the [...]
Jonny Bairstow heeds his own advice as England beat India to keep their World Cup alive June 30, 2019 Jonny Bairstow’s tirade against the media last week caused quite a stir ahead of England’s must-win World Cup clash with India, but it also contained some sound advice. After lambasting former players Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen for their negative comments following damaging defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia the Yorkshireman pleaded with the cricketing [...]
Chris Tremlett: England should take Jason Roy gamble to turn around their World Cup against India June 26, 2019 Last week I defended the World Cup format in anticipation of the dead rubbers many believed would soon be on the horizon. A week on and there’s no such debate, with England’s defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia and Pakistan’s win over New Zealand today ensuring there’s plenty left to play for. England are feeling [...]
Eoin Morgan admits England are ‘struggling with the basics’ at the Cricket World Cup after damaging Australia defeat June 25, 2019 They say it’s the hope that kills you. When Mitchell Starc ran in and delivered a rapid, inch-perfect inswinging Yorker to hit the base of the off-stump, send the zing bails flying and send Ben Stokes trudging off to the pavilion that’s when most Englishmen inside Lord’s felt theirs’ slip away. Stokes was at the [...]
England v Australia: World Cup ante upped for hosts after defeat by Sri Lanka June 24, 2019 A week ago people were worried about dead rubbers. The International Cricket Council have Sri Lanka to thank for changing the conversation, because with England meeting Australia at Lord’s tomorrow that concern is nowhere near the top of the agenda. England’s defeat on Friday has put the cat amongst the pigeons, upping the ante and [...]
England v Sri Lanka: Headingley clash a must-win for side struggling with internal rifts at the World Cup June 20, 2019 The World Cup hasn’t quite gone to plan for Sri Lanka. A 34-run win over Afghanistan aside, the last three weeks have been an unhappy period for 1996 tournament winners, who meet England at Headingley tomorrow desperately needing a victory to revive faint hopes of a semi-final place. They began the competition with a 10-wicket [...]
Chris Tremlett: Eoin Morgan’s Afghanistan blitz showed England captain’s leadership skills as well as power June 19, 2019 Eoin Morgan has always been someone who cashes in when he gets on a roll, but even for him the World Cup performance against Afghanistan yesterday was special. As captain of the one-day side Morgan has tried to make England as dominant as possible and his innings of 148 from 77 balls, with an ODI [...]
Eoin Morgan makes a mockery of a bad back to smash astonishing century in World Cup win over Afghanistan June 18, 2019 Eoin Morgan was supposed to have a bad back. When England’s captain followed Jason Roy off the pitch, walking gingerly alongside the physio during Friday’s match against West Indies in Southampton, it looked like the favourites could be about to receive a hammer blow to their Cricket World Cup chances. When the news was relayed [...]
England v Afghanistan: Used Old Trafford pitch and Rashid Khan’s magic the key for visitors June 17, 2019 On the face of it England’s World Cup game against Afghanistan tomorrow comes at an opportune moment. With opener Jason Roy sidelined by a torn hamstring for a few games at least and captain Eoin Morgan recovering from a back spasm, it appears the perfect time to play the side bottom of the group table and without [...]