Play hard, regardless of the score

Caribbean cricket fans would have been looking on with excitement in the third T20 of a five-match series with West Indies leading England 2-0. Having been sent in to bat by captain of England Jos Buttler after winning the toss, an excellent total of 222 runs was accumulated by the WI at the National Stadium in St George’s, Grenada, last Saturday. However, the Englishmen were not to be denied and made mincemeat of the total by some fantastic batting aided by an inept bowling performance.

Indeed, it would have been perfect to hammer the nail in the coffin of the England team and take the trophy home after this game. However, the Englishmen had their own ideas and pulled the match away from WI in a masterly fashion. It was an efficient exercise which could be a lesson to all cricketers, whether young or the more mature. They never gave up, playing confidently to all bowlers on a pluperfect pitch which demanded accuracy of line and length from all bowlers; it was not forthcoming.

Losing two wickets for eight runs in the first nine balls of the innings could have led WI to a disastrous total. Brandon King fell to the fifth ball of the first over and his opening partner, Kyle Mayers, was dismissed by the third ball of the second. King, who played so well in his player-of-the-match 82 unbeaten that helped WI take the lead to two-nil, was a big loss. He played so beautifully in that second game that it was sad to see him go; but the dismissal of the left-handed Barbadian so soon afterwards, was a serious blow to the team.

However, the recovery was swift off the bat of Nicholas Pooran, who must have been shocked out of his batting stupor. He played responsibly, and it is worrying and surprising why he does not apply himself to his batting with that same resolve every time. Is it a case of mental laziness or the carefree spirit of one who lets things happen rather than make it happen?

Nonetheless, that gift of natural ability that he possesses, should not be allowed to go to waste, because he’ll eventually regret not using it every time. The two early wickets jolted Pooran into revealing the class of a batsman with natural ability. He compiled 82 vital runs with aggression and sound defence.

Batsmen can fall with good deliveries from bowlers, though it’s sad to witness those with loads of talent, giving it away with thoughtless strokes early in their innings.

Together with Shai Hope, skipper Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford, the talented left-handed batsman from Guyana, a total above 200 was met, surrendering the innings at 222.

My worries about whether any motivational advice were given to the players, especially bowlers, between innings, were answered when I witnessed WI’s approach from the beginning. The fielding was slack. They appeared overconfident. It could happen, when one’s batsmen amass a huge score and it slowly sinks into the subconscious of the team. They then believe that it’s only a matter of time. The coach should address his players to recognise the fact that they have to play hard to win, regardless of their score.

That is the approach and the way the game should be laid out by the coach. When fielding, they need that drive, as it is very simple for them to think of it as a piece of cake and just a matter of time before they win. That is the impression I had of the team in the field. The bowling was off target. Runs were flowing too freely and nothing was done to stem the flow. They fell into their own trap.

Generally speaking, the bowling was poor. Bowlers like Alzarri Joseph bowled a mixture of long hops, half volleys and full tosses, which was disappointing. Jason Holder also looked jaded and Andre Russell was hopeless. Bowlers’ accuracy is paramount on perfect pitches.

Alzarri Joseph was pitiful and probably needs the new ball. All he offered up today were long hops, full tosses and half volleys. Give him the new ball and make sure he practises, because his line and length are off.

Jason Holder is badly out of form.

The faster bowlers had no idea of where a proper line and length is on a good wicket like the one on which they played.