England refusing to go on defensive despite T20 loss

Chris Jordan has vowed England's 'phenomenal' batting line-up will not be rattled by their costly collapse in Hobart.
England's Jason Roy.England's Jason Roy.
England's Jason Roy.

The tourists fell well short of expectations in their opening match of the Twenty20 tri-series, frittering away a solid foundation to leave Australia chasing a modest 156.

At one point, England’s middle-order lost five wickets for 15 runs, a setback from which they never recovered.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On paper, Eoin Morgan’s team look to be insulated against such travails, with power throughout the top six and a dangerous lower order comprising the likes of David Willey, Jordan, Adil Rashid and Tom Curran.

Jordan insists there will be no self-doubt when the sides meet again in Melbourne today.

“Plain and simple, we didn’t get enough runs, it just boils down to that. But our batting line-up is phenomenal,” he said.

“We do play a positive brand of cricket, an aggressive brand of cricket, and we’ll try to take it to the opposition where possible.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“These things do happen, but I think over a period of time we’ll have more success than failure.

“In T20 cricket, you’re always looking to take the positive option and we always trust whoever is out there to do that and play their natural game.

“Even with a batting collapse, we still put on 156, put a competitive total on the board. Imagine when we are going and don’t get a collapse, maybe we’ll end up with 200 or 210.”

Jordan offered a hint of England’s tail-end strength, taking 16 from 11 balls after coming in at No 8 and hitting the ball of the innings into the stands.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He had called for a new bat moments earlier, but anyone hoping the 29-year-old had unveiled a new big-hitting blade specifically for the job will be disappointed by the more prosaic reason.

“The previous one, the handle broke on it. I think it went when I hit one over cover then I slipped and landed on it,” he said.

“It was a good thing I swapped it though because the last ball went for six.”

Australia’s victory at the Bellerive Oval came with a tinge of controversy, with match-winner Glenn Maxwell given not out by third umpire Chris Brown after a contested catch in the deep by Jason Roy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

From 59 at the time he went on to lead his side home with 103 not out. England remain convinced Roy held on cleanly, but have not sought to make an issue out of the verdict.

Jordan, though, would prefer for the fielder’s testimony to carry more weight than the confusing balance between ‘soft signals’ and inconclusive images.

“I think a player’s word should be taken. No one goes out there to cheat,” he said.

“I get confused with it to be honest.

“If the soft decision is out, I’m not sure how a decision gets overturned. But whatever decision umpires make we have just got to get on with it and try to win the game.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

England could recall second spinner Liam Dawson to make use of the big boundaries at the MCG, with Curran possibly vulnerable.

England (possible): A Hales, J Roy, D Malan, E Morgan, J Buttler (wkt), S Billings, D Willey, C Jordan, A Rashid, L Dawson, M Wood.

Australia (possible): D Warner, D Short, C Lynn, G Maxwell, M Stoinis, A Carey (wkt), A Zampa, A Agar, K Richardson, A Tye, B Stanlake.

Umpires: C Brown (NZ), S Nogaksi (Aus)

Match referee: J Srinath (Ind).

Sri Lanka took firm control of the second Test against Bangladesh as 14 wickets fell for the second successive day in Dhaka.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The tourists had been bowled out for 222 on the first day, but the match turned in their favour to such an extent that they finished day two with a lead of 312.

Bangladesh were 56-4 overnight and wicketkeeper Liton Das could only add one run to his score in the morning before falling for 25 to Suranga Lakmal.

Despite a valiant 38 not out from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the hosts lost their final five wickets in 21 deliveries to post 110 all out, with Akila Dananjaya claiming 3-20 on his Test debut.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne hit a patient 32 from 105 balls as Sri Lanka looked to build on their 112-run lead with Dinesh Chandimal making 30 and Dhananjaya de Silva adding a quickfire 28 from 24 deliveries, while Roshen Silva ended the second day unbeaten on 58 for the tourists.

Mustafizur Rahman took 3-35 runs and Miraz captured two wickets as Sri Lanka reached stumps at 200-8.

Related topics: