Goemkarponn desk
LUCKNOW: Ahead of the upcoming World Cup 2023 clash against India, former England captain Nasser Hussain has delivered a rallying cry, urging Jos Buttler and his teammates to spoil India’s winning streak. With England facing a challenging tournament, having lost four out of five matches, the pressure is on them to demonstrate their capabilities and reclaim their cricketing prowess.
In a recent column for The Daily Mail, the 55-year-old emphasized the players’ responsibility for the team’s performance, dismissing external factors such as The Hundred.
“The players need to step up. I’m not a big fan of cliches like playing for the badge, but that’s what England must do. They must go to Lucknow on Sunday and disrupt India’s party. They need to show India and the world how great cricketers they have been—and still are,” he said.
Hussain rejected excuses related to the domestic structure, asserting that England’s 50-over system is as robust as any other country’s.
“I’ve heard people blaming The Hundred or the Blast, or the fact that England’s top players don’t play much 50-over cricket. But these are just weak excuses,” he added.
“How often do Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play 50-over cricket? What about Heinrich Klaasen? Players worldwide gain experience from T20 franchise cricket, while our players benefit from a domestic structure that played a crucial role in making them the best white-ball side globally,”he concluded.
As England faces India on October 29th, led by the undefeated Rohit Sharma, the English team will aim to draw confidence from their historical head-to-head record, having won four out of eight matches against India. The match in Lucknow, a venue known for its spin-friendly conditions, presents a new challenge for England, who are yet to play an ODI at this location.
