World Cup 2023: Michael Atherton strongly criticizes England after their shocking loss to Afghanistan
Table of Contents
- England’s struggles and historic victory for Afghanistan
- Michael Atherton lashes out at England
Following England’s surprising 69-run loss to Afghanistan in the ODI World Cup 2023 match at the Arun Jaitley International Stadium in Delhi on October 15, former England cricketer Michael Atherton didn’t mince his words in expressing his disappointment.
England faces strong criticism from Michael Atherton for their loss to Afghanistan
Before their game against Afghanistan, England had already experienced a loss in their opening game against New Zealand, followed by a victory against Bangladesh in their most recent outing in Dharamshala. On the other hand, Afghanistan had faced defeat in their first two fixtures.
England’s struggles and historic victory for Afghanistan
However, in a significant turnaround, the Afghan team exhibited an exceptional all-around performance, creating a stark contrast to their previous performances. Asked to bat first, Afghanistan posted 284 in 49.5 overs, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz emerging as the highest run-scorer with 80 runs.
In response to Afghanistan’s challenging target, the Three Lions’ batting order faltered, and they were bowled out for 215, resulting in a 69-run loss. Among England’s batters, Harry Brook stood out as the top scorer with 66 runs from 61 balls. This victory marked a historic moment for Afghanistan in World Cup history, as it was their first win over a full-member team. The Player of the Match accolade went to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, highlighting his exceptional contribution to Afghanistan’s success.
Also READ: Zaheer Khan predicts the leading run-scorer and highest wicket-taker of ODI World Cup 2023
Michael Atherton lashes out at England
Atherton, in a post-game interview with Sky Sports, criticized the English bowlers and fielders, highlighting their responsibility for allowing opposing teams to establish strong beginnings.
He stated, "England's bowling performance hasn't been up to par, and as a result, opposing teams have been able to make quick starts. Several factors contribute to this issue, such as many players not having had enough cricketing time, especially in ODIs. Unfortunately, they haven't hit the ground running, putting themselves in a challenging position. Today, England's start was less than ideal."
He further explained, "There were several instances of sloppiness. For instance, they conceded five wides right at the start, Curran gave away a free hit in the early overs, and a misfield by Bairstow resulted in a boundary. These lapses made them seem a step behind, and it established a negative tone for the match."
TAGS:- AFGHANISTAN, CWC 2023, ENGLAND, ENGLAND, ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2023, ICC ODI WORLD CUP 2023, MICHAEL ATHERTON, ODI WORLD CUP
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