England coach Trevor Bayliss has come down hard on his batsmen after a staggering batting collapse during the final T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg which consigned them to a 0-2 series defeat. Euro Sport reported the Australian slamming the England middle-order batsmen who were guilty of playing one shot too many during the final overs.
Not the one to mince words, the 53-year old was critical of the approach of his batting lineup. Bayliss said, “Instead of trying to whack the ball for fours and sixes all the time we've got to play more cricket shots.”
He continued, “The last couple of games we have got into the habit of trying to hit the ball into the top of the stand and ended up hitting balls straight at fielders. It comes down to better execution.”
Earlier in the first T20I, Eoin Morgan’s side could only manage to reach 134/8 on a wet surface at Cape Town. Despite coming close with the ball, England could not hold their nerve and faltered in the last few overs.
England’s next assignment will be the ICC World T20 in India, next month. After a terrible 2015, the England & Wales Cricket Board revamped the limited-overs teams by infusing dynamic players into the fray.
Looking ahead to the tournament, Bayliss implied, “In India the wickets and grounds are fairly quick so you have only got to play proper cricket shots and the ball will go for four and six.”
He was also extremely disappointed with the efforts of the bowlers who allowed the South African top order to chase 172 in just 14.4 overs. Bayliss cautioned, “We have to come up with better plans and bowl to our field.
“If we have got more fielders on the off-side, then there is no point bowling half-trackers down the leg-side. It is very simple stuff to be honest. Set a field and bowl to it.”
After a long tour of South Africa, the England players will finally return home for a much-needed break. The former Sri Lankan Coach hoped, “We have played some good cricket and will go home and probably recover mentally as much as physically and hopefully that freshens the boys up.”
England are grouped alongside South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and a qualifier. If Morgan’s men were to regain the trophy which they last won in 2010, their endurance and finishing skills will have to be faultless.
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