BLOOPER BOWL
Moeen admits that England’s T20 death bowling is dire: We are working to improve it... and we need Jofra back
FROM GIDEON BROOKS in Barbados MOEEN ALI admitted England have to find solutions for their leaky death bowling if they are to make an impression at the T20 World Cup nine months fron now.
West Indies exposed the team’s biggest weakness in a
3-2 series victory.
While some positives can be taken from the tour – the emergence of batting options and spin bowling – England’s inability to keep a lid on things late on is a worry.
“We’re obviously trying to work on it and trying to find solutions,” said Moeen, (right top). “We will get better as time goes on and guys like Jofra Archer come back.”
England, who leaked more than 50 runs in the final four overs three times in the series and 60 twice, currently have the worst deathbowling record in world cricket.
Since the start of last year they have given up more than 11 runs an over in the last four, a weak point that has arguably cost them their last two T20 World Cup bids.
If they are to avoid the same fate in Australia later this year they need to find solutions quickly.
While Reece Topley conceded just 9.83 at the death, Chris Jordan and Saqib Mahmood, the former England’s go-to man for the past seven years, were expensive.
Tymal Mills (above centre) and George Garton also underwhelmed.
England will take positives with the emergence of back-up at the top of the order in Tom Banton and the explosive late hitting of Phil Salt.
England already know it, but Adil Rashid and Moeen tested West Indies throughout as well.
Rashid was the only bowler who had their powerful hitters on the back foot and has more wickets – 22 at 10.95 – against them than any other opposition player.
If Jordan (bottom left) looks vulnerable going forward, Jason Roy will look back at this series with mixed emotions, too. Despite being leading run-scorer with 130, a weakness against slow bowling challenging his outside edge was once again exposed facing Akeal Hosein. Captain Eoin Morgan has some work to do before Australia – not least finding some form to justify his position in the side.
A minor thigh injury curtailed his involvement here after the second match but he has averaged 16.36 since the start of last year. In franchise and domestic cricket in the same period in 28 innings for Middlesex, London Spirit and Kolkata Knight Riders, he has averaged 18.13 with a strike rate of 118.13.
Morgan’s last significant contribution for England came 19 innings ago in August 2020 against Pakistan. With Jos Buttler considering his future in Test cricket and ready to step up to the captaincy it could be that Morgan, 35, will not lead the side in Australia. ENGLAND women are set to host a Test against South Africa in the summer as part of a multiformat series. It is likely to remain a four-day fixture despite calls for women’s Tests to be extended to five days.