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| January 25, 2007 | Thursday | Muharram 05, 1428 |
English media slam poor performance
LONDON, Jan 24: In what is becoming a regular occurrence, the English press once again slammed their side on Wednesday for a poor performance Down Under, with England this time falling to a 90-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval.
The Black Caps did not look to have enough on the board when dismissed for 210 after winning the toss and electing to bat, but bowled and fielded exceptionally well to restrict England to an embarrassing 120 in reply.
Importantly, the Kiwis claimed a bonus point for their first win of the series and moved ahead of England on the tri-series table, behind still undefeated Australia.
“Another day in Adelaide and another pathetic collapse as Freddie and Co get thrashed by the Kiwis” read the headline in the Daily Mirror, which continued to say that the “only entertainment value in this England display was the morbid fascination of another horror show Down Under”.
“This was a batting display straight out of the dark ages ... the result was another groundhog day for stand-in skipper (Andrew) Flintoff, who must once again try to lift a side running empty on confidence and form,” the paper's match report read.
Several newspapers echoed the Mirror's allusion to a previous England collapse in Adelaide – in early December, Australia seized a stunning six-wicket, last-day second Test victory that essentially handed the Ashes back to the home side after England's batting collapsed on the final day.
England eventually suffered their first ever Ashes 5-0 whitewash in 85 years.
“Yesterday, a similarly grisly fate befell the one-day team,” the Daily Telegraph said.
“England's inability to capitalise on a dominant position was reminiscent of their second Test debacle on this ground ... This time, they cannot even point to the paralysing effects of facing Shane Warne.”
The Independent was also downcast in its match report, which began: “It is debatable which of England's pitiful batting displays at this ground was worse ... The debacle witnessed here yesterday (Tuesday), which resulted in New Zealand romping to an emphatic 90-run victory, was totally unacceptable.
”All they had to do was score 211 runs in 50 overs against a competent and disciplined attack. It was a task that ought to have been achieved, but they failed miserably.”
The Sun tabloid, Britain's best-read daily, dubbed the performance “Shameful”, and noted that Flintoff was still without a win as captain on this tour of Australia -- England's lone victory, a one-day win over New Zealand, was achieved under the stewardship of Michael Vaughan, now injured.
“Andrew Flintoff and his England side produced a batting collapse here yesterday that should have them squirming with embarrassment,” the tabloid's match report read.
“It is a big call – because there have been plenty to choose from – but this was England's most excruciating display with the willow all tour.
“They lacked guts, technique, purpose, patience and any sort of game-plan.”—AFP
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