Australia smothered top-ranked England by 64 runs at Lord's on Tuesday and ratcheted up the pressure on the home side to join the defending champion in the Cricket World Cup semifinals.
England skipper Eoin Morgan is hopeful of entering the semis, he told reporters at a post match press conference on Tuesday, 25 June. Asked about team’s chances in the World Cup, Morgan said, “They are strong”.
“Chances are in our hands and everything is within our control. We just need to produce a performance that is worthy of winning one or next two games.”Eoin Morgan, England skipper
England rose to the top of the one-day rankings thanks to fearless and imaginative chases, but fell to a third defeat in seven matches in its home World Cup, all three while chasing.
Morgan stressed that in both these games, we struggled with the basics of what we call out batting mantra, of showing intent, building partnership and doing it in our own way. “And we haven’t done that in long enough periods of the game in ode to change down 280, that is disappointing,” he added.
Morgan said that the last three defeats have taken a little bit of hit, “but I don’t think it has knocked anybody in the changing room.”
When asked about Australia’s bowling, Morgan said that early on they bowled well.
First into the playoffs, the Australians successfully defended a total for the fourth consecutive match, making 285-7 stand tall by bowling out England for 221 with 5.2 overs to spare. Inspired recall Jason Behrendorff claimed a maiden 5-for while fellow left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc grabbed four to lead the tournament wickets list with 19.
No lessons were heeded from the previous defeats. England went for broke and was broken inside 14 overs when it was 53-4. Captain Eoin Morgan preached beforehand for his side to play aggressively smart, but he was out going for six at 26-2 in the sixth over. Not smart.
Only Ben Stokes tried to build partnerships and a gutsy innings of 89 with cramping calves ended in the 37th over, and so England’s biggest resistance.
Consecutive losses at home for the first time since 2015 — also inflicted by Australia at Lord's — aren't fatal to England's semifinal hopes, but the team is vulnerable if it doesn't beat India or New Zealand, who are both unbeaten.
(With inputs from AP)
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