England got it wrong in the field as New Zealand won first ODI, says Nasser Hussain
Written by News on 26/02/2018
Nasser Hussain says England made it too easy for Ross Taylor and Tom Latham as New Zealand claimed victory in the first ODI.
Taylor (113) and Latham (79) put on 178 for the fourth wicket as the Black Caps recovered from 27-3 to chase down the tourists’ 284-8 with four balls to spare.
Sky Cricket expert Hussain feels England skipper Eoin Morgan should have deployed more close fielders during the duo’s crucial stand at Seddon Park.
“I am a big fan of Morgan’s captaincy but there was risk-free cricket going on in the middle,” said Hussain after the Kiwis’ three-wicket win.
“[Taylor and Latham] just nudged the ball off-side, leg-side and just took the runs on offer. There were too many singles and at no stage did Morgan bring anyone in.
“It took Ben Stokes having a go at Moeen Ali at mid-off and telling him to come in. Then Latham tried the big shot and was caught looking to go over the top.
“You get wickets two ways, either by bowling the absolute jaffer that pitches leg and hits off or by bowling dot, dot and building pressure. I thought Morgan got it wrong in that partnership.”
Mitchell Santner (45no) propelled New Zealand to victory after Taylor’s dismissal – the 33-year-old stumped off Adil Rashid – had seen the hosts slip to 244-7 in the 46th over.
However, Hussain believes Black Caps seamers Tim Southee and Trent Boult were “the difference” as Kane Williamson’s men limited England to 67 runs from the final 10 overs.
Hussain also believes, though, that England’s innings on a slow surface shows they have progressed from last year’s defeat to Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final, in which they were dismissed for 211 in Cardiff.
“England judged their innings really well,” added Hussain.
“I think they learned from the Champions Trophy semi-final on a similar pitch to this when they didn’t either go for it or sit in and work out a score.
“They did that brilliantly today [Sunday] and were all set up for 300 apart from one thing they didn’t factor in and that was that there is an opposition in a game of cricket.
“Boult and Southee were absolutely outstanding – 67 in 10s over on a postage stamp of a ground with Buttler batting all 10 overs shows how good they were. That was the difference.”
Watch the second ODI between New Zealand and England, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 12.30am on Wednesday.
(c) Sky News 2018: England got it wrong in the field as New Zealand won first ODI, says Nasser Hussain
