England can't expect to conquer the Indians in Bangalore on Sunday if they continue to bowl and field like they did in their last One-Day International series
England can't expect to conquer the Indians in Bangalore on Sunday if they continue to bowl and field like they did in their last One-Day International series
The England team has changed quicker than Superman. However, instead of evolving from a mild-mannered reporter into super-hero, they're degenerated from Ashes masters to ODI duffers faster than a speeding bullet.
England wicketkeeper Matt Prior fumbles during the CB Series ODI against
Australia in Hobart on January 21. Pic/Getty Images
The team that was so disciplined in bowling and fielding in the Test arena has become slipshod in both those one-day disciplines. If it wasn't for their batting against the Netherlands they would deservedly have been awarded the English newspaper headline; "Clogs 2, Clots nil."
When the Netherlands upset them at Lord's in the World T20 tournament, the headline appeared: "Clogs 1, Clots nil." The English newspaper editors must have been dusting off that line after the England bowling and fielding imploded against a determined Dutch outfit in Nagpur.
So what does England have in store for India on Sunday? On England's current form both Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar might bat the 50 overs if they avoid a run out. And as for Yuvraj Singh rediscovering his batting form, it'll have to be in the nets unless England suddenly remember how to play like they did in the Ashes series.
India is mighty strong in batting and England is bowling and fielding like a team of sailors who've either been at sea for six weeks or in a harbour-side tavern for roughly the same period. On paper, you'd have to say India easily. To add further weight to that prediction, in the recent ODI's England played the Australian spinners poorly. A repeat performance will have them in big trouble against India's more talented tweakers.
However, there's good and bad news in Bangalore for England. The good; the pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium is a beauty for batsmen. The bad; their bowlers will be facing the most destructive batting line-up in the tournament.
The result could hinge on which team's fast bowlers show the biggest improvement. England need Jimmy Anderson to rediscover his early wicket-taking form and frugal finishing qualities that were absent in his lethargic performance against the Netherlands.
Choice
India has a decision to make; they either replace S Sreesanth with Ashish Nehra or they find a remedy for what ails the erratic right-hander. The other choice is to strengthen the spin attack and considering England's poor display against Steve Smith's leg-spin in Australia, Piyush Chawla mightn't be a bad option.
If England is to become a genuine threat in this World Cup they have to display much better discipline against India. A repeat of their shoddiness against the Netherlands will see their stocks weaken like Superman encountering Kryptonite.
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