IT’S PAYBACK TIME FOR MORGAN
Chance for the ‘boys’ from 2015 to avenge World Cup humiliation
IT WAS as close to rock bottom as even England’s dismal history of one- day debacles had ever reached, a World Cup thrashing by New Zealand that Eoin Morgan yesterday described as ‘men against boys’.
Fast forward just over two years since that dismal day in Wellington, when England were brutally taken apart in as one- sided a 50- over game as it is possible to imagine, and things should be a lot different in Cardiff today.
The bare facts of that 2015 humiliation show England were bowled out for 123 in 33.2 overs before Brendon McCullum embarrassed them by smashing 77 off 25 balls.
It was all over after just 12.2 overs, with a certain Steven Finn being dispatched for 49 in two overs at more than four runs a ball and seeing McCullum smash six of his seven sixes off him in an excruciating ordeal.
Thankfully, McCullum will be in the commentary box today rather than on a ground with two of the shortest straight boundaries in world cricket for a Champions Trophy tie that, England trust, will be a lot more evenly matched.
That day in Wellington and subsequent early elimination was a watershed for England, who beat New Zealand in a five-match series the following summer as they began the transformation that now sees them a win away from the Trophy semi-finals.
‘It was men against boys that day but I think it’s completely different now,’ said Morgan yesterday in soggy Cardiff. ‘Hopefully we’re moving forward so I don’t think that’s relevant. They were one of the favourites going into that World Cup and proved it against us that day.’
Simply, England decided in Wellington that if they could not beat New Zealand they would join them, and as long as the weather relents Cardiff could see an absolute cracker today between two all-out attacking sides.
It was New Zealand who provided the template for England’s one- day revolution and four of Morgan’s team beaten that dark World Cup day should feature today to prove just how much they learnt from McCullum’s masters.
It would be five if England decide to throw in the mercurial Finn, brought into the squad to replace the injured Chris Woakes when they finally have a close look at a pitch that remained under cover yesterday.
Morgan would not be drawn on selection until he sees the surface today but it would be a huge surprise if England recall Adil Rashid at this venue and last night it appeared left-armer David Willey, who swung the ball prodigiously in practice on Sunday, was the favourite to take Woakes’s place.
England have not picked two spinners in the Welsh capital in six internationals, and Moeen Ali is yet to play a 50- over game for England here, a reflection of slow bowlers’ vulnerability in such a small arena.
The distance to the river boundary from the middle of the pitch, at 63 metres (69 yards), is a metre short of the International Cricket Council’s minimum length but Cardiff gets away with it because any ground given international status before 2007 is exempt.
It seemed that England were planning to throw Finn straight in but the fact that the Cardiff pitch has sweated under the covers for two days may give the advantage to Willey.
‘It would be tough to go outside the original squad to pick someone,’ said Morgan, ‘but I’d have no hesitation playing Finny if we think it’s the right thing to do.’
The skipper confirmed that England are content with the security arrangements put in place after the latest atrocity in London.
Bowling is certainly England’s big worry if they are going to go the distance in this tournament with Morgan now heavily reliant on Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett retaining form and fitness in the absence of Woakes.
At least England are confident Ben Stokes is finally nearing full fitness after his left knee problems and Morgan says his talisman could be fit to bowl all 10 overs today, which would considerably help his options at the death.
‘He’s very close,’ said the England captain. ‘He came through the other day against Bangladesh bowling more overs than we intended (seven) and I think we’re nearly there.’
Victory for England would render Saturday’s final group game against Australia at Edgbaston simply an exercise in trying to eliminate the old enemy, but even without McCullum, New Zealand remain formidable opponents.
Not least in the figure of captain Kane Williamson who showed why he is regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world with a sublime century in the rain-ruined game against Australia.
England have paid the Kiwis the ultimate compliment by copying them. Now is the perfect time to show the visitors just how far they have come.