WOAKES WORRY MARS OPENING ENGLAND WIN
England’s celebrations at beginning their Champions Trophy with a resounding victory over Bangladesh were compromised as they brace themselves for confirmation that they will have to get by without Chris Woakes for the remainder of the tournament.
Captain Eoin Morgan had understandably mixed feelings as he reflected on an eight-wicket success – on the back of Joe Root’s careerbest 133 and half-centuries too from himself and Alex Hales (95) – but pondered the probability that scans on Woakes’ side strain will surely at least limit his participation over the next twoand-a-half weeks.
Woakes was already on his way to try to find out the extent of his injury while Morgan welcomed England’s confidence-boosting success but found himself also discussing the likely absence of such a key bowler.
Liam Plunkett (4-59) helped to ensure England managed without perhaps their most reliable performer of all, keeping Bangladesh to 305-6on a very good pitch at The Oval despite Tamim Iqbal’s 128 and his stand of 166 with Mushfiqur Rahim (79).
Root responded outstandingly, in successive century stands with Hales and then Morgan (75no) as England coasted to the highest run chase in this tournament’s history – with eight wickets and 16 balls to spare.
Afterwards, however, Morgan admitted concerns over Woakes took the gloss off the victory. “It is a worry when he goes off the field and can’t come back on and bowl,” said the Irishman. “He’s going to have a scan. “He’s obviously been very impressive for us over the last couple of years – and a mainstay, very reliable guy.”
It will be an obvious problem if they cannot continue to bank on Woakes both with the new ball and then in the death overs too. “Side strains are a big confidence thing, aren’t they?” added Morgan.
“He would definitely be a loss if he couldn’t play.”
After Woakes left the field having bowled just two overs, though, Plunkett and others rose to the challenge – and Morgan senses they can do so again if necessary.
“I think so,” he said. “Some of the guys today picked up the load pretty well.
“You know, when one of your main bowlers can only bowl two overs, it’s asking a lot of the rest of the team to be able to stem the flow.
“At one stage, Bangladesh looked like they were getting 330 – and to peg it back from there was a credit to them. Obviously Alex continued his form – Joe, unbelievable, as usual – and it was nice for me to get some runs as well.”
England’s other issue surrounds the poor form of Jason Roy, who fell for just a single.
Morgan, however, reiterated his support for the outof-sorts opener – who will keep his place in England’s next match against New Zealand in Cardiff on Tuesday.
“He was terribly unlucky today,” he said of Roy’s dismissal to an attempted ramp sweep at an early slower ball which was brilliantly caught at short fine-leg.
“It was quite smart, bowling a slow ball, and brave ... a big gamble. That sort of stuff can happen. You can get out in that sort of fashion when you’re short on runs. But, yes, certainly we believe in him.”
New Zealand meet Australia in the other Group A opener today.