We will add to England’s pain
IRISH AIM TO KEEP HEAT ON MOORES
IRELAND’S new coach John Bracewell has heaped more pressure on Peter Moores ahead of today’s one- day international in Malahide, insisting: ‘I don’t envy his task at all.’
With Moores’ future as England coach in the balance after a disastrous World Cup and a disappointing 1-1 Test series draw in the West Indies, defeat by the Irish would do little to persuade Andrew Strauss, the incoming ECB director of cricket, he is the right man for the job.
And Bracewell, who has previously coached New Zealand and Gloucestershire, was highly critical of England’s approach to the one-day game. ‘They need to change their strategy if they’re going to compete at international tournaments,’ he said.
‘They pick their side to make par scores, which means the bowlers have to win more than 50 per cent of the games. That’s too much to ask under the playing conditions that currently exist.
‘The statistics for that World Cup were obvious. You needed a batting side that could get 350. It was no more complicated than that, but they’ve failed to do it.’
Bracewell said Moores was ‘going through a transition period’. He added: ‘He’s got to work out whether some players need to be moved on because they’ve become complacent, or they’ve lost their fight or their ambition or they’re starting to try to protect their personal statistics.
‘England are going to be under the pump right from ball one this summer. And I don’t envy his task at all.’
Moores hardly needs telling that England’s approach has to change if they are to challenge for the World Cup on home soil in 2019.
And Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor was making all the right noises as he prepared to captain his country for the first time in a game which Ireland believe represents their best chance yet of a maiden home win over their rivals.
England have not picked more than five debutants for a one-day international since the trip to Zimbabwe in October 2001. Now they could name as many as seven: Zafar Ansari, Sam Billings, Lewis Gregory, Jason Roy, James Vince, David Willey and Mark Wood.
A poor weather forecast may spoil the youngsters’ big day out, with nearly 10,000 spectators expected at the picturesque venue. Taylor said: ‘I want to encourage them to express themselves and show what they can do on the international stage. I don’t want them to feel like they need to play as an England player. I want them to go out and do exactly what they’ve done in county cricket. That’s the reason they’re here.
‘It’s an important game for everybody, not just Peter Moores. The whole team are right behind him and it’s up to the individuals now to put in a match-winning performance in the middle.’