The frustrations of being an England cricket supporter can often invoke severe emotional reaction in a person, combined with a healthy sprinkling of language that might be deemed a tad agricultural.
Those England fans watching the England - Australia clash yesterday will know exactly what this feels like. Once again, a top order failure was turned into a position of real promise and dare I say, dominance. At 160 for 2 with over 20 overs left and even accounting for some tight bowling by the Australians, any intelligent cricket team must surely be expecting to add another 100 runs to their total at the very least. 300 seemed a realistic possibility and with it, the genuine belief that England would have the edge on their old enemy.
Instead of a score that would have put the game out of Australia's reach, England stumbled their way to 247 all out - a thoroughly dispiriting performance considering the fantastic platform they had established. As someone who always looks for the positive in an England team, the use of 'hindsight' criticism has always been anathema to me. But this time it's different and some harsh words are due. The screwing up of good positions, for want of a better phrase, has become standard fare for this England one-day side. Game after game, they keep on ruining the good work established in the first 30 overs of an innings, and with it the chances of winning the match.
It's fair to say that of the three 'big' games England have lost in the World Cup to New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Australia respectively, they could arguably have won all of them with a modicum of batting common sense and mental toughness. Their top order frailties have been well documented and despite his undoubted class, Michael Vaughan is simply failing to deliver in the key position of opening batsman. As for Andrew Flintoff, the steadfast reliability of his bowling is in stark contrast to his batting which now seems to be in freefall with Big Fred seeming completely ill at ease at the crease, battling demons in his head whilst unsure what his role is and how to go about pacing his innings.
England can still qualify if they win their last three games and the most annoying fact is that they are really close to being a very good one day side. But close isn't good enough and they have to win now. Bangladesh did them a huge favour by beating South Africa, opening up a competition that seemed to be heading in a predictable course. If they can get to the semi-finals, they really could win this competition, especially when you realise how many of the team are yet to fire in the Caribbean.
It's backs to the walls stuff now and it's about time England delivered.
Wello
