Coach Thorpe says some players ‘in different headspace’ after dramatic World Cup victory
Batting coach Graham Thorpe suggested England’s World Cup winners struggled to readjust to the challenge of Test cricket after being dismissed for 85 by Ireland at Lord’s.
Five of the squad that triumphed in an unforgettably dramatic final at the same ground ten days swapped their one-day kit for England whites but found the winning formula was nowhere to be found as the visitors rolled their hosts over before lunch on the first day of the inaugural Specsavers Test between the nations.
The contributions of the World Cup winners were wince-inducing. Jason Roy was fortunate to score five on debut, captain Joe Root managed just two and there were ducks for Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali.
After conceding a 122-run deficit – England bowling the visitors out for 207 on a
20-wicket day – Thorpe said: “You’d probably say there aren’t too many sports where you win a World Cup and are playing again a week later.
“It’s a challenging mental examination I suppose, coming back off the World Cup. It was a tough tournament and I think there is no harm admitting where, potentially, some of our players are.
“We have to accept that some players are maybe in a different headspace to others. That’s natural, totally understandable.
We would have hoped it all went swimmingly well but it hasn’t.
“There’s no excuses for us beingbowledoutfor85against Ireland but congratulations to them, they put us under pressure. It’s disappointing that we didn’t respond.”
Tim Murtagh was the hero for Ireland, taking five for 13 to set the tone of the day. The Lambeth-born 37-year-old knows Lord’s better than anyone having spent the past 12 years teasing wicket-taking
deliveries out of its famous slope.
His figures are the best in Ireland’s short, three-match Test CV and could well stay that way for some time.
“As a kid I dreamt of being on that honours board, probably not in the away dressing room – but that makes it even more special,” he said. “It’s as special as it gets. A fantastic feeling walking off, holding the ball up having taken five wickets in a session. It’s as good a feeling as I’ve had in my career.”