England must up their game to reach the World Cup final
The T20 team have yet to find their groove with a strong India side up next in the semi-finals, writes Ben Burrows
England are two games from winning a World Cup – but with performances some way below what was expected, there remains plenty to do.
Billed as one of the tournament favourites ahead of the trip to Australia, all eyes were on Jos Buttler’s side to deliver a
statement that they were indeed one of the teams to beat. But in a wildly up and down Super 12 stage they have failed to do so, with wins over Afghanistan, New Zealand and, most recently this weekend, Sri Lanka – only serving to highlight a team that are yet to fire on all cylinders.
While no doubt taking solace in the fact that old rivals Australia are now out, much more will be needed when they meet India on Thursday in the semi-finals, a fact not lost on one of their most experienced players. “I don’t think we’ve played that well in the whole tournament. But we got the job done. We wanted to get to the semis,” said all-rounder Moeen Ali.
“In the past we’ve played well and got through. This time I don’t think we’ve played well but we’ve got through and I feel the best is yet to come with this side, the best performance.”
He and England will certainly need it. Unceremoniously dumped out before the knockout stages in this tournament a year ago, India have returned resurgent this time around and, barring a reverse at the hands of the now-eliminated South Africa, have looked the best of the bunch Down Under.
Spurred on by star man Virat Kohli, who himself has found form once again after a lean spell, they will start as favourites in Adelaide. There’s no better time then for England to find their own groove at last. “I don’t think we’ve really been near where we want to be, but now is a great opportunity to put that right and put in a team performance where we could be the best side in the tournament,” Moeen added.
“You always talk about peaking at the right time and if you just about scrape through, it means you can get better. If we play our best cricket in the next two games we win the World Cup, I believe.” There surely can be no better motivation than that.
Yours,
Ben Burrows
Sports editor
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