Cook wants England batsmen to serve

Hosts succumb to India in third ODI amidst dismal performance.

NOTTINGHAM: England captain Alastair Cook called on his batsmen to improve their game after India devastated England by six wickets at Trent Bridge on Saturday to go 2-0 up in a five-match series.

England took off with a promising opening stand between Cook (44) and Alex Hales (42) which left them well-placed at 82 without loss.

But when Hales was caught behind sweeping Suresh Raina, it was the first of three wickets that England lost all for just 15 runs.

England never recovered and was all out for a meagre 227, with Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin winning the man-of-the-match award for an amazing spell of three for 39.

“It is frustrating we are not playing to standards we know we are capable of and need,” said Cook after the match.

India cruised to victory by recording 228 for four with seven overs to spare as Ambati Rayudu top-scored with 64 not out.

“There are some good players there, who are not showing it. It’s something we need to change around,” said cook.

England injury scares for Roy and Bresnan

Uncapped South Africa-born batsman Jason Roy suffered an injury scare on Sunday, hours after being included in England’s 14-man squad for next weekend’s T20I against India at Edgbaston. The 24-year-old rising star was hit on the hand while batting for Surrey against New Zealand A at The Oval and had to be taken to hospital, although an X-ray revealed that he had not broken any bones. However, the bruising may yet be sufficient to force Roy to withdraw from the squad.

There was further bad news for England when it emerged that seamer Tim Bresnan had sat out Lancashire’s match against Yorkshire due to a pectoral injury.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2014.

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