Just a few words about England’s incredible win in the World T20 today. It was one of those wins that will be remembered for a long time. At half-time it looked like we’d blown it. 229 is runs on the board and then some.
First up, let’s talk about England’s bowling. Let’s ignore the bad stuff and focus on the positives ….
There. Did you enjoy them?
Now on to the bit I’m sure everyone wants to talk about: a sensational batting performance that would’ve turned more than a few heads … not to mention South African stomachs.
Roy and Hales got us off to a blistering start. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. When you’re chasing mammoth scores, you really can’t afford to take three or four overs to get going. Our openers put the pressure on the Cricket Boks right from the start and made Dale Steyn look like Chris Jordan.
The momentum was sustained by Stokes and Buttler, but the real star, of course, was Joe Root. His innings was sublime. He proved yet again that you don’t need to be a six foot six behemoth wielding a three pound bat to win T20 games. He simply used great timing and intelligence. His shot selection was immense. The bloke oozes class.
Apart from a little collapse at the very end, victory always looked assured. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: when England bat first they lose; but when we bat last we win.
Boy. Today sure beats losing to Holland.
On a personal note (please forgive me the indulgence) I lost a great friend today – someone I’ve watched more cricket with than anyone else in the world. We met just before thee 2005 Ashes. I still attribute that watershed series victory to her calming presence in my living room whenever things got tight.
We spent many a night curled up together watching overseas test matches in the early hours. She never grumbled when England lost; she was always philosophical. And she never once drank the last beer or ate the last slice of pizza.
I’m referring to our family cat, Scoot. Whenever I wrote articles for this site she was invariably sitting by my feet (or actually on the keyboard). It’s a shame she missed today’s win. She would’ve really enjoyed it – mainly because England won … which means I wouldn’t have kicked her.*
James Morgan
*I’m joking about the last bit of course.
Brilliant from the young man who for at least one day should be referred to as Joe Scoot as a mark of respect. Sorry for your loss James. She’ll be scent marking Heaven’s Gate and having St Peter running round after her.
Thanks Phil. I love the idea of Joe Scoot. Like a cat in the field :-)
Just catching up James, missed the game.
Sounds extraordinary.
RIP Scoot x
It was a cracker Neil. Great to see the lads chase that record score. Root was pure quality.
Its like a lot of us have said, they believe they can chase anything.
And faced with a target like that there’s only one thing you can do. Blast from the off.
Fabulous performance all round. I can say that because I missed the SA innings completely, so didn’t witness our bowling and fielding. Can anyone help me by comparing it to the SA ‘efforts’?
ENG BOWLED REALLY REALLY BADLY.. SA THEN CHOKED AND BOWLED EVEN WORSE.
Is it some kind of unwritten cricket law that every South African defeat is accompanied by the word choke?
No. It’s just that some posters don’t have even the tiniest iota of grace to compliment anything to do with English cricket.
Being able to bat like that is standard in 2020, nothing special. The bowling was terrible though so at what point do you start to wonder what the point of it is?
Or do we just bow down and call it world class and follow like sheep what the bcci and ecb say??
Barr
That’ll be why Brian Lara was so effusive, on Twitter, about Joe Root. Still, I’m sure you know better than Lara….
Yes, because we know media types (Lara is one) don’t hype things up at all ! But, I sure you know better and are happy to listen to hype
England’s was the 2nd highest run chase in T20 international history and the highest ever score at a World T20…. so it doesn’t need me, or anyone else, to hype it – it stands as a major achievement. That you may not like that fact is neither here nor there.
One of the greatest batsmen to have ever lived is reduced to being a media type.
Give it up MAC, you’ve jumped the shark.
The point of it is that it was fun, it was entertaining, it was more gripping than anything else on my TV at the time.
Rubbish.
That was the second highest successful run chase in international T20 history, so on statistical grounds alone calling it ‘nothing special’ is a bit silly.
And some of the shots Root played were quite extraordinary.
New poster here so go easy please. I am a class of 2000-2005 baby and have to say that while the stats are all great on the england chase, I’m inclined to agree with a few points. YEs it was ‘fun’, but that’s the point. IT’s not serious cricket. 2020 batting in the modern game when compared to 10 years ago is extraordinary BUT as the poster who you are lambasting has mentioned, it’s now very normal so it is not as good. Just my 2p’s and quote ex players and journalists but they are very biased and paid to promote so I take very little stock in what they say.
Also, agree with most that the ECB needs to fall to save cricket in this nation. It is dying and is showing no signs of recovery sadly. I am now in my 30’s and simply don’t fit in with shorter games and hate how one sided most win/lose games are.
Welcome Dave!!
You can hardly call it a choke if you bowl shite from the first over. I’m not sure what you call it. Arrogance? Stupidity? Steyn is neither of those things and his first over was appalling. He didn’t get a great deal better either.
I don’t think you can rate Root’s innings too highly. When Morgan went, they still needed 120 from 10 overs with their last real batsmen at the crease. There was massive pressure on him and Jos, because one of them had to bat through to the end. Yes the Saffers bowled poorly, but he didn’t panic and throw it away against the spinners.
Unlike you James, I didn’t think it was a done deal till the 17th over when he hit the 4 and 6 off Abbott.
Top, top quality from Root.
I just had this feeling all along that we’d do it. Root looked so composed and we bat so deep. I thought getting a quick start was vital. Once we got that momentum I was quite confident, especially as the dew makes it hard for bowlers in the second inns. I thought Roy’s cameo at the start was quite important. I’m never usually so confident. I surprised myself!
Joe Root is the most complete batsman in world cricket in my view. I wouldn’t swap him for AB, Steve Smith or Kohli. He almost never fails, and his judgment and shot selection is as good as I’ve ever seen.
Williamson is a better test player but root is probably better st white ball. Both are streets ahead of kohli and co. Ab is a white ball player really who happens to be decent in tests but I suspect decent bowling would find him out (assuming it isn’t a road!!)
Forgot about Williamson, he’s superb. Not sure he’s a “better” Test batsman than Root (the stats suggest otherwise), but either way he’d be pushing for a spot in a World 11 in all 3 formats. His bowling is handy, too.
Toss up for me between Root and Williamson as to who is the better on the world stage. I’d take both over anyone else. A great thing for England to have though, a consistent and proven match winner.
In terms of the bowling I think Plunkett for Topley would strengthen both the bowling and batting by some way. If they can at least offer an adequate attack I’d back the batters to bale them out more often than not
Agree that Root and Williamson are both brilliant. Perhaps more importantly Plunkett is a brilliant shout, he has a certain ‘I don’t know how you say’, certainly couldn’t hurt.
Absolutely re Plunkett. Don’t know what he has to do to get a game , especially as the pace bowling has been so poor.
England looked in control from the first over helped by utter garbage from the Saffie attack.
Does make you wonder what was happening with South Africa’s attack. Steyn first over was truly horrendous. Half-volleys on the pads for almost all the over.
Dale Steyn bowling like any old trundler. They’ve had a few big chases against them recently and appear to have lost their nerve completely.