The magic wand of Edgbaston, where England conjured their largest ever ODI victory, has lost some of its potency. After that narrow, exasperating defeat at the Oval England were soundly beaten on the south coast by New Zealand by three wickets on another batsman’s paradise.
Kane Williamson, magnificently measured, hit an effortless century; Ross Taylor, whose rehabilitation into the Kiwi side after the shenanigans of two years ago has been a beacon of dignified common sense, also reached three figures in the manner of an elder statesman. Thus the tourists were able to overhaul their target without too much bother. New Zealand were assisted by a fallible performance in the field from England. Four chances of varying difficulty went to ground and in this series, in particular, the bowlers need all they help they can muster.
In another age England’s total would have been deemed formidable. In the twentieth century 302 won nine times out of ten but there has been rampant inflation, triggered by the advent of T20 cricket, flatter pitches, fresh fielding regulations, bats with a sweet spot as large as a football and faster, smaller outfields. Pity the poor bowlers. In golf the players now hit the ball further so what did they do? Lengthen the courses. In cricket batsmen hit the ball further so what is the response? Make the boundaries shorter.
The defeat is a setback to the brave new world of England’s ODI cricket but it need not be a major one. England stuck to their determination to play carefree, fearless cricket. Indeed the phrase “We must bat the overs” must now be as outmoded in cricket dressing rooms as “Get me a couple of pints of bitter so I can wind down after the game”.
England’s total might once have guaranteed victory but it now constitutes no more than a par score in 50-over cricket. There were more moments when onlookers were aghast at the audacity of the strokeplay, especially when Ben Stokes and Sam Billings combined in a pulsating sixth-wicket 61-run partnership in 34 balls. Stokes, as ruddy as a blacksmith, bludgeoned while Billings deflected impishly.
Yet England will surely take note that they lost five wickets for 14 runs in 20 balls at the end of their innings. From 288 for five in the 42nd over they would have expected more. They certainly needed more. However, the captain, Eoin Morgan, was unrepentant about the batting. “We lost it with the ball”, he said afterwards. “Kane and Ross hurt us. If we had got one of those two early there was a chance.” He insisted that 302 “wasn’t bad” and that he was not disappointed that England failed to bat their 50 overs.
Morgan is adamant that England should retain their aggressive outlook. “We are trying to change the process and the mindset with the bat and that may take time. I don’t want the team hesitating and questioning how they go about it. The guys are really enjoying the way they are playing.” Currently the mood beyond the dressing room is forgiving.
After such a constipated World Cup there is relief that England are playing with fresh faces and freedom. The team is undergoing a rite of passage. The old ways had to be banished, therefore no backward step is permitted. It is a severe culture change, assisted by the presence here of New Zealand, whom England are minded to imitate.
Hence the players must be given leeway. It will not do to be too grumpy at losing five for 14, especially when the final total is in excess of 300 for the third game in a row. But if this endearing new side is going to win their fair share of matches as well as friends, they will need to be smarter and to avoid squandering such positions. For the moment they are experimenting with having fun.
The middle order fired again without producing the major innings. Joe Root purred along until he became tangled up against the unprepossessing spin of Mitchell Santner. Morgan, after a relatively watchful 71 from 82 balls, heaved and missed against Williamson, while Stokes smashed 68 from 47 balls.
However, a callow tail betrayed their inexperience from the 42nd over onwards and the late-order collapse sealed England’s fate. For the Kiwis Ben Wheeler, on his debut, impressed – yes, it’s possible to impress with figures of three for 63 in this era.
New Zealand stuttered at the start. Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum were lbw to David Willey and Mark Wood respectively. But Williamson and Taylor could not be parted for 32 overs, during which they compiled 206 runs. For Williamson especially, batting seemed an effortless occupation.
He played Adil Rashid, who did not bowl too badly, superbly. A combination of nimble footwork and deft timing sent the ball wherever the fielders weren’t. He took 18 from a blameless Rashid over, toying with boundary fielders and bowler alike: a masterclass of gentle demolition. And he also played the quicker bowlers pretty well.
Taylor was not quite so fluent and was eventually out to an ugly heave against Willey. Thereafter the Kiwi tail, almost as careless as England’s, contrived to lose wickets needlessly, as if eager to be in unison with their opponents in this “friendly” series. England’s profligacy with the bat at the end of their innings had cost them dearly, whatever Morgan’s interpretation. But despite the defeat, no one is complaining much that they are going to stick to their new gung-ho style.
