The bemusement of Liam Plunkett and co is understandable – their glory bid should be available to all on free-to-air TVThere has been a buzz around the England camp as well as a sense of puzzlement. They are in the semi-finals; they are playing well, though not flawlessly. Two victories over India and New Zealand, both easier than expected, have boosted confidence and clarified what they believe to be their best team in most conditions. Now they are kicking their heels until their semi-final at Edgbaston comes around on Thursday. It will be a long wait, though Jason Roy and Jofra Archer may welcome an opportunity to rest aching bodies.And the puzzlement? Well, like everyone else, the players have been...
Jason Roy is on form, Jofra Archer indispensable, so India and Australia want group wins to miss World Cup hosts in the semisSuddenly the square pegs are fitting into square holes. England have their semi-final at Edgbaston, where they like playing, and when Eoin Morgan said he was not bothered which side he would be playing against, it felt as if he was telling the truth rather than dutifully spinning. Their opponents will be India or Australia.England are starting to play with confidence and captain Morgan now seems to know his preferred team; it is the one that played in the last two games. Unless conditions dictate otherwise – and this would only happen if there is a very dry,...
Bairstow is arguably England’s finest ever ODI batsman and if you do not agree then ask the question, who has been better?What’s eating Jonny Bairstow? And whatever it is, can we have some more please? Preferably in large doses by the middle of next week.On a lovely soft summer day in Chester-le-Street England’s opening pair were once again the difference. At 10 o’clock Eoin Morgan had won the toss and chosen to bat. From there it took just 18 overs of regal, muscular violence against the hard white ball from Bairstow and Jason Roy to all-but decide this de facto World Cup quarter-final before the scoreboard clock had passed midday. Related: Mark Wood’s lucky touch symbolises England’s change in fortune...
Ever since the sun broke out in Birmingham prior to the India game, things have been going the way of Eoin Morgan’s sideEngland would have spent plenty of time in the lead-up to their encounter with New Zealand pondering the best way to winkle out Kane Williamson.The Black Caps’ captain had been averaging 113 in the tournament, with match-winning centuries against South Africa and West Indies that had once again underlined his status among the world’s elite batsmen. Related: England dispatch New Zealand to seal Cricket World Cup semi-final spot Related: MCC urges members to buy tickets for Pakistan-Bangladesh World Cup match Continue reading...
Since final defeat to Pakistan 27 years ago, England have given fans and writers little but frustration at the one-day showpieceThere was a time, just a few days ago, when it felt like this week’s Spin was destined to be a wake, a coming-to-terms with another unexpectedly premature World Cup departure for an England team completely and thrillingly restyled since their last such failure, but still unable to escape the same miserable fate. Sunday’s victory over India has at the very least postponed such soul-searching, and it could yet be that the competition will culminate in the English not drowning sorrows but downing champagne.Whether it helps them into the semi-finals or simply precurses fresh disappointment, England’s victory over India –...