Going out with a Bang
FINAL TOUR MATCHES MATTER
ENGLAND find themselves in the unusual role of favourites going into the second T20 in Nagpur today.
Eoin Morgan’s side won so comprehensively in the first of the three-match series in Kanpur last week that it will now be a surprise if they do not manage to complete a series win either today or in the final match in Bangalore on Wednesday.
England showed signs in the one-day series, which they lost 2-1, that they have the explosive batting to live with teams like India in their own backyard.
But while the bowlers were at first exposed on the flat tracks and by the short boundaries of Pune and Cuttack, they came into their own with the pace and bounce of Kolkata and Kanpur.
India’s decision to rest their top-class spinners, Ravi Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja, definitely gave England an edge and their captain Virat Kohli seems less focused on this series than he was on MIKE SWANN The American, 35, clinched her seventh Melbourne Park crown with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Venus to surpass Steffi Graf as the most prolific Grand Slam title winner of the Open era. And after a single service break secured the second set and the win for Serena, she slipped on a custom-made pair of Air Jordan shoes with 23 – also the number worn by basketball great Michael Jordan – on the side. “I finally made it to Jordan status at 23,” she said. In an emotional presentation in the Rod Laver Arena, the sisters made their pride in each other clear. “She’s my inspiration and the only reason the Williams sisters exist,” said the new champion Serena, whose win will return her to the world No.1 spot. “There’s no way I would be at 23 without her, there’s no way I would be No.1 without her. “She’s the only reason I’m standing here today so thank you Venus for inspiring me to be the best player I could be.” Serena said the quality of Venus’s play rather than nerves at playing her sister in a Grand Slam final for the ninth time was the reason for her giving up the one-dayers. The addition of quick bowlers Tymal Mills (right) and Chris Jordan (left) to England’s squad for the T20s made a big difference as both men proved a handful with their pace.
But they also have all the variations – like slower balls and yorkers – that are essential parts of the shortest format of the game these days.
And Jordan, who was part of the 50-over side last summer but missed out on the one-day leg of this tour, still wants to push for the Champions Trophy squad at home in June.
He said: “Every game is a chance to impress, to stake a claim and I don’t see this one or the game in Bangalore being any different. But for the team, if we do have a series win, that will be a great feat in India.”
Jordan also paid tribute to skipper Morgan, who came into this tour under pressure after his decision to miss the Bangladesh one-dayers in October because of security concerns.
Morgan has been outstanding with the bat and it is clear that the attacking attitude that the batsmen have in the white-ball formats stems largely from him.
Jordan said: “You couldn’t pick a better leader really – we follow him in everything he does.
“He brings so much experience from playing in all these different T20 tournaments and playing with so many dynamic players, even going back to the likes of Kevin Pietersen.
“You can’t really pick a better person to drive that positive, aggressive mindset forward.”
England are likely to be unchanged with left-arm quick David Willey still nursing the shoulder injury he picked up in the final one-dayer in Kolkata.