Ben Stokes’ Comeback and Middle-Order Competition
When Ben Stokes made his comeback to ODI cricket, it really heated up the competition among England’s bunch of talented middle-order batsmen. Unfortunately, this increased competition ultimately meant that the promising Harry Brook didn’t make it into England’s initial squad. This means England’s World Cup Squad still puzzling Despite Malan’s Assurance in the team.
Harry Brook’s Audition: A Promising Start
However, Harry Brook’s outstanding performances kept the discussion alive and kicking. He delivered a stunning century during England’s domestic limited overs competition, The Hundred, and then followed it up with two blazing innings in the T20Is against New Zealand.
As more and more people called for his inclusion, the pressure on players like Malan continued to grow.
Malan’s Exceptional ODI Performance
However, Malan’s exceptional performance in the ODIs against New Zealand has pretty much secured his spot in the World Cup. He was the top scorer in the series, scoring 277 runs with an average of 92.33 and a strike rate of 105.72.
During an interview on Sky Sports, former England captain Nasser Hussain praised Malan, saying that his presence on the team has a positive impact on everyone.
“He is disciplined and follows the traditional style – like a machine. He is incredibly consistent, which helps keep the team together and allows other players to be more aggressive.
“While he prefers to stay at the crease throughout the innings, his strike rate is impressive at around 95 to 96, so he doesn’t play slowly. He capitalizes on loose deliveries and is in incredible form.”
Meanwhile, Harry Brook’s performance took a nosedive during his World Cup audition. He managed just 37 runs with an average of 12.33. But there’s still a glimmer of hope for him, especially considering England’s regular opener, Jason Roy, is grappling with back problems. This means England’s World Cup Squad Still Puzzling Despite Malan’s Assurance
Eoin Morgan’s Concerns about Jason Roy
When discussing Roy’s fitness concerns on Sky Sports, England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan expressed his worries. He hoped to see Roy in action during the upcoming games against Ireland.
Morgan said, “Right now, our biggest concern is Jason Roy’s fitness. To confidently select him for the World Cup, he must play in the Ireland series. He needs to get some
playing time, recover, and perhaps play another game to prove he’s fit enough.”
Michael Atherton’s Insights on Roy’s Challenges
Michael Atherton, another former England captain, echoed Morgan’s concerns. According to him, even though Jason Roy is a regular in global T20 leagues, he needs to readjust to the pace of ODI cricket. Additionally, the nature of his injury could pose a significant hurdle to his participation in the global event.
Atherton shared his own experience, saying, “Dealing with back spasms is quite tricky because they can suddenly flare up, and when they do, it lingers in the back of your mind. You can’t have complete confidence in your body.”
He also pointed out that the format of the tournament in India, with frequent travel between venues and different hotels, isn’t ideal for this type of injury.
Atherton concluded by stating that Jason Roy’s involvement in the event remains uncertain, saying, “England hasn’t finalized their squad yet, so it’s entirely possible that Roy might not make the cut.”
Before heading to India, England is scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against Ireland. They will also have two warm-up matches against India and Bangladesh before kicking off the tournament against New Zealand on 5 October in Ahmedabad.
