Former England skipper Michael Vaughan admitted the fact that the Three Lions have been doing well in the white-ball cricket. But the batting collapse in between could cost the hosts in the home campaign for the upcoming 2019 World Cup. Vaughan spoke to the media following the washout of third ODI between the Windies and England on Monday (February 25).
On Friday (February 22), England team lost their last six wickets in the second ODI in Barbados by adding just 35 runs to the Board. With two matches to go, the series between the Windies and England is tied at 1-1.
Concurrently, England is ranked No.1 ODI team led by Eoin Morgan.
“England have got everything required to win the World Cup except for these moments of madness,” Vaughan to BBC Radio 5 during the Tuffers and Vaughan show.
Vaughan stressed that the ‘moments of madness’ could inflict pain upon hosts in the quadrennial event, starting May 30 in London. Vaughan stressed his national side has to deliver goods by overhauling ahead of the multi-national tournament.
The 44-year-old veteran English batsman added England has been struggling in the space of a minimum four games. He added if the similar situation would arise in the 2019 World Cup semi-final clash, England will be blown away from the ODI showpiece event.
“It happens every four or five games and if it happens in the semi-final then they are out,” Vaughan added.
In a similar event, in 2017 ICC Champions Trophy against Pakistan, England lost at their wicket at 211. A year later, England received a thrashing from Sri Lanka in October 2018.
The visitors in Colombo faced the heaviest defeat by 219 runs on Duckworth Lewis-method (DLS).
Vaughan’s concern is England’s batting collapse:
Vaughan remarked losing wickets in quick intervals has often been a worrying sign for English camp.
“It’s not a [whole] game, it’s almost just a period of the game – in that Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan, it was just 10 or so overs where England lost four quick wickets and the game was over. That’s my concern for them in the World Cup,” Vaughan said.
While citing the examples of India’s 2011 World Cup campaign and Australia’s success in the 2015 World Cup respectively, Vaughan stated the teams didn’t have to face what England has crumbled in between.
“The India side around the time they won the 2011 World Cup didn’t have the day England had in Barbados on Friday. The Australia side that won in 2015 lost the odd game. But they didn’t have moments like England do on a consistent basis,” Vaughan added.
Apart from expressing a concern, Vaughan has often termed England’s strength lies in their depth in the batting. He added World Cup added to the kitty by playing quality cricket.
“You don’t win a World Cup by just whacking it. You have to play smart cricket,” Vaughan signed off.
Vaughan inferred that England batters have had made their mind to eye 330, adding it is a good sign. But he believes it could subsequently affect their performance.
In the penultimate ODI, England will face the West Indies Cricket Team on Wednesday (February 27) in Grenada. The visitors are aiming high in the last-gasp of their preparations for the 2019 World Cup.