Cricket 2014
Tales of the Unexpected
September 7th 2014
Just when you thought that things could not possibly get any worse, England have come up with a new trick to disconcert their fans: they have won back-to-back games! The 5th and final ODI could be regarded as an aberration: India had won the series with three smashing victories and had demonstrated that they were ridiculously superior in the format. They could be forgiven for relaxing a little, even in front of their adoring fans and letting Joe Root, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes – making a welcome return to form with the bat – set a target that even the Indian batsmen could not chase, despite a desperate and spectacular late thrash from Ravi Jadeja as the innings disintegrated around him. You can almost believe that MS Dhoni was manifesting his wish to see his side challenged by allowing England to accelerate in their last 15 overs from what was looking likely to be a mediocre total to one that would require a real effort to chase.
Despite India being well ahead on runs at 30 overs and even at 35 overs, the England bowlers were able to create increasing pressure to take critical wickets and suffocate the scoring. Forty runs in nine overs for the loss of three wickets saw the Indian chase go off the rails in spectacular fashion. From 132-4 and cruising, the score staggered to 209-9 and imminent defeat.
How much we should read into England batting far better at the death than India is open to debate. England lost early wickets and appeared to be losing their way as thoroughly as they had in the previous three matches before the final assault, orquestrated by Joe Root. After a good start in his first two matches, Alex Hales has lost his way a little with two low scores and seems uncertain whether to block or blast. Alistair Cook still cannot make a big score: 46 from 64 balls will not convince his critics, although the win has relieved the pressure a little.
The temptation will be not to make drastic changes after this win, dead rubber against a relaxed side or not. Peter Moores though has very carefully not given clear backing to Alistair Cook and the latter has appeared to suggest that a change in captain is possible for the winter campaign.
Even if India were not switched-on for the final ODI, surely they would be for the T20? IPL stars versus the cricketing equivalent of Orphan Annie? India’s #1 ranking in the format at stake.
What we saw was a repeat of the 5th ODI: England struggling in the middle overs to put up any kind of score, 99-4 after 15 overs, the partisan crowd asking if England should continue to play T20. This time it was Eoin Morgan, who broke his dismal streak with some brutal hitting, followed up by Ravi Bopara – 81 from the last 5 overs and, suddenly, India were again facing a decent total. A fast start that seemed to be setting up an easy win. 130-2 after 14 overs, 34 runs ahead of England at the same stage and two fewer wickets lost. How could India lose?
Incredibly, the IPL stars, the self-confessed experts in the format, panicked. Only 47 runs and 3 wickets from the last 6 overs and MS Dhoni turning down singles in the final over because he thought that he could win the match himself. Dhoni panicked. Chris Woakes did not. Thanks very much! Two precious dot balls where Dhoni refused easy singles and England won by three runs.
Hubris indeed.
You could not have made it up.
Two days running England’s attack strangled India when the match seemed lost. Two days running India panicked under pressure. If there was a suggestion in the ODI that Ravi Jadeja’s assault led to some loss of idea how to bowl at him, there was not too much that could be faulted in the efforts of Tredwell, Gurney, Finn and Woakes in the last six overs today, even when MS Dhoni made his final effort. It has not converted England into a good limited overs side, but it has at least shown that the elements for a successful side are there, if they are properly harnessed.
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