Follow UsSince the 2019 ODI World Cup euphoria, England’s white-ball team has seen more lows than highs, including historic loss to Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup. ‘Live by the sword, Die by the sword’ approach has certainly not won them many friends.
It was a similar diabolical performance from their batters in the first ODI against India in Nagpur, where they went from 75/1 to 111/4, only to eventually get bowled out for 248, leaving behind at least 30 runs on the park. Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was left absolutely ‘fuming’, stating that the Three Lions are ‘lackadaisical’.
“I’m quite sad today. I love England cricket, they always want to change something, they have quite a talented bunch of cricketers. There’s Phil Salt, Joe Root, Liam Livingstone, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, quite talented players. They don’t have a weakness in the batting, and it wasn’t like someone bowled top of off-stump or the ball turned square; nothing like that happened,” Ashwin told on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin also tore open the team, stating that England need to adapt to the changing demands of modern-day cricket and not continue basking in the glory of the 2019 ODI World Cup.
“I understand that you guys are 2019 World Champions. I have been observing them since the 2023 ODI World Cup. They are quite lackadaisical and have a relaxed attitude while on the pitch. Imagine if India had a similar display in England; it would backfire. This is international cricket. How many years will you have the same attitude? Everyone have caught up with the changing times, when are you guys going to?”
“I don’t understand England’s approach. What will you tell the fans, how will you justify your performance? They have thrown their wicket away, they have thrown the match away. If it was 280 instead of 240, it could have been a match, they gave it away,” he added.
In the end, it was quite an easy run chase for India, who knocked off the target with 11 overs to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Ashwin questioned England’s approach, stating that there’s a fine line between aggressive and reckless cricket.
“It isn’t like England lacks quality. They have so much quality that you can’t even complete 50 overs. It is not possible; it is quite shameful. There’s a fine line between aggressive cricket and reckless cricket, how are you going to find that line? What’s this cricketing world that we are living in where you are failing to find that?”