The talk ahead of the third one day international had been not only about the West Indian cricketers allegedly threatening to strike but also, of Kevin Pietersen stating he wanted to go home, fed up over the captaincy fiasco that cost him England’s top spot and also, of England’s wretched run on this tour to the West Indies. This ODI would not have changed that opinion much.
England were hammered into the ground and if England captain Andrew Strauss could, he would bury the defeat here itself to help the team move on. So dismal was the performance that the match with the delayed start still managed to finish at the same time as the Twenty20 match between South Africa and Australia in Johannesburg!
Strauss’ dismissal was symptomatic of England’s woes. Unable to break the shackles, Strauss mistimed a hook shot, fell to an outstanding catch by West Indies skipper Chris Gayle. What followed thereafter was not much different. Fidel Edwards and man of the match Dwayne Bravo pulled out all stops and left England spiraling in a heap and their match situation in shambles. Even Andrew Flintoff’s comeback failed to do the trick.
At eight for sixty-eight, England threatened to sink lower than they have in previous years. But for the brief partnership between Dmitri Mascarenas, top scoring with thirty-six, and Gareth Batty, England would not have even made 117.
Just how bleak the England efforts were, was highlighted by Gayle’s booming knock of eighty in just forty-three balls. Powerful sixes hustling with thumping boundaries put paid to England trying to salvage some pride in this match. It was all over before West Indies even made fifteen overs of their batting innings.
Stauss stated he would not make excuses, he really couldn’t.
