Adelaide ODI: Root, Morgan should have carried on

Tags: England tour of Australia 2013 - 14, England, Australia

Published on: Jan 28, 2014

The Adelaide ODI was England’s for the taking. After restricting the Aussies to a very gettable 217 for 9, the visitors were in command at 154 for 3.

The Adelaide ODI was England’s for the taking. After restricting the Aussies to a very gettable 217 for 9, the visitors were in command at 154 for 3. There was no pressure on them, but somehow they managed to find a way to lose that match as well, as a result of which they ended losing nine of the 10 international games on the Australian tour, five Ashes Tests and four ODIs. Poor batting was the cause of England’s downfall yet again, as some excellent bowling by England went in vain.

As it has often happened throughout the series, England batsmen’s inability to carry on after getting a start hurt their cause once again. Joe Root, who had been struggling throughout the tour, finally found some form and got a half-century. In the company of the in-form Eoin Morgan, he seemed to be taking England towards their second consecutive win of the series. But, just when it seemed that England were heading towards an easy victory, both departed. If at least one of the two had carried on England might still have got home. But, their combined dismissals led to a familiar collapse.

The latter English batsmen just could not stand up to the challenge as Australia fought back courtesy their bowlers. Ravi Bopara kept England in the hunt with some meaty blows, but the pressure of the run rate eventually got to him and the rest also perished unable to deal with the tight Aussie bowling. Like Root and Morgan, skipper Alastair Cook was also to blame for yet another England defeat. He got a composed 39, but just when the team needed him to carry on, he fell putting his side back in trouble. Clearly, he had failed to lead from the front.

In stark contrast, Australia fought back at numerous points in the game to stay alive and eventually outdo the Englishmen once again. After Australia got off to a poor start, George Bailey’s 56 ensured that Australia had something to bowl at even though the English were always favourites after the Aussies were restricted to 217. The Australian bowlers then came up with a highly penetrative effort, which kept England on the back foot for most part. Clint McKay, Nathan Coulter- Nile and James Faulkner combined brilliantly to undo the good efforts of England’s bowlers and clinch a come from behind victory for Australia.

--By A Cricket Analyst

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