In a blistering critique following England's underwhelming performance against New Zealand in the inaugural match of the ODI World Cup 2023, cricket pundit Michael Atherton did not mince his words. The English team suffered a disheartening nine-wicket defeat to New Zealand, setting a tone of concern for their World Cup campaign.
While England put up a target of 283, it fell short of what was expected from the defending champions. Though many batsmen looked promising at the onset, they couldn't sustain their momentum. Joe Root emerged as the only beacon for England, stitching together a well-made 77. His exit, however, triggered a downtrend, with England teetering on the edge of a total collapse.
In stark contrast, New Zealand showcased impeccable cricketing prowess. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra, with their commanding unbeaten centuries, steered the Kiwis to an easy win. Achieving the target in a mere 36.2 overs and losing just one wicket in the process, New Zealand underscored the vulnerability in England's bowling lineup.
In a column for The Times, Atherton lamented England's lackluster show. Highlighting the need for a swift turnaround, he emphasized the team's apparent rustiness in the Ahmedabad fixture. In a slightly jocular yet pointed remark, Atherton noted that the English players should be relieved that a larger audience wasn't present to witness their on-field debacle.
"(England) will have to show significant improvement very quickly after a rusty and drab performance brought defeat in a manner that has rarely befallen them in recent times," wrote Atherton.
"No barest of margins here, just a hammering.
"Buttler's players were thankful, no doubt, that there were not more viewers in the ground to witness matters," he added.
As England looks to recalibrate, their next challenge awaits in the form of Bangladesh on October 10 in Dharamshala. Fans and critics alike will be keenly watching to see if England can shake off their initial inertia and bounce back in their subsequent World Cup 2023 outing.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
ODI World Cup 2023: Colossal blow for Team India as star in-form batter tests positive for dengue, doubtful for match against Australia
Record Alert: All 11 England batters combine to achieve what no team has in the history of ODI cricket
