Rashid deserves the sort of backing being given to off-form Roy
England are right to give opener more chances, but a bowler would be axed in same situation
The first game of a tournament is all about winning. Nothing else. England beat Bangladesh with ease in the end, but they confused themselves with selection and lost Chris Woakes to injury, so the victory came at a price.
England looked nervous, and that was understandable. There are a few members of this team who were involved in the last World Cup, and the bad memories of that tournament will be at the back of the mind despite the improvements made since then. They also have to handle a weight of expectation they are not used to in knockout tournaments. The country expects them to win, and certainly to beat Bangladesh.
One of the major factors behind England’s success in one-day cricket over the past two years is that they have been very settled with selection, which has spread a calmness throughout the team.
But that was undermined by the dropping of Adil Rashid. They went with five seamers because of Ben Stokes’s fitness, and they were worried about the short boundaries. Bangladesh had been blown away by India’s seamers on Tuesday as well, but Rashid had played 41 of England’s 44 matches since the World Cup, bowling in all kinds of conditions. Only Jason Roy had played more since the last World Cup, so I do not see any valid reason not to go with Rashid.
It was the last thing I expected from this team. Rashid’s record, and what he brings to this England side in any conditions, should guarantee a place at the moment. It was as if this England set-up had turned into their predecessors and panicked with selection at the start of a big tournament.
It proves it is a lot easier to lose your place as a bowler than it is as a batsman. Batsmen benefit from a lot more consistency of selection. Bowlers are only ever a couple of games away from being lobbed out. Jason Roy is benefiting from that. England are right to give him more chances, but a bowler would be dropped in the same situation.
It is a tough time for Roy. When you lose form you have to review footage of when you were playing well. Do not read anything and keep off Twitter. I can only imagine the criticism the lads receive these days on social media when they are struggling. That can be draining.
If you play a long international career you will endure periods of bad form. It is about how you react. Sometimes, when a player is struggling you tell him to bat for a few overs, and try to ease his way back into rhythm. But Roy is aggressive and he needs to be positive. He just needs to be better with his choice of strokes. He is looking for the ball too much.
Against Bangladesh he fell trying to play a delicate scoop early on. A yard either side and it would have gone for four. But that is not how he plays. He is strong through midwicket and plays with finesse later in his innings. He has to stay true to his style and cause destruction at the top of the order.
Now he has to forget the failures. If he lets them weigh on his mind or worries that he might be on his last chance, then he has no chance.
Alex Hales has problems when the ball swings and moves through the air. But these white Kookaburra balls are going gun-barrel straight, so this is a tournament he can dominate, while Joe Root continues to be the glue binding the innings together.
In a line-up of hitters you need a stylish player to bat long periods at a strike rate of 85-90 to leave the freak players to play the big strokes. But to do that they need a calm presence at the other end. Root and Hales bat so well together because Root gives his partner the confidence to play his shots. Joe is always rotating the strike, giving the hitters plenty of balls to face.
The main worry with England’s bowling has been at the death, but they dragged it back well against Bangladesh in the final few overs.
Liam Plunkett and Mark Wood changed pace and bowled well to the bigger boundary, ensuring that Bangladesh were 25 runs light of a par total. The unpredictability of Wood and Plunkett’s bowling is a massive plus. It is just a shame Woakes looks like he is out. Looking further ahead, he must be a doubt for the first Test against South Africa next month. James Anderson is struggling too. England do not have depth in quick bowling. They have to hope Woakes’s injury is not serious.