England's great escape
England pulled off a thrilling victory over West Indies in what was a must-win game for them in Chennai on Thursday
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
England pulled off a thrilling victory over West Indies in what was a must-win game for them in Chennai on Thursday. Andy Bull in the Guardian writes that it was England's unlikeliest victory in the Cricket World Cup yet and their two main heroes - James Tredwell and Luke Wright - were improbable too.
England cannot take too much comfort from this win. They are still nowhere near producing 100 overs of consistent cricket. This was a victory that was cobbled together from bits and pieces contributed by Wright, Tredwell, Swann, Ravi Bopara and Trott. It is conspicuous that only the last of them would have been considered a likely member of the XI when England first flew out to India.
In The Telegraph Simon Hughes writes that while West Indies' bowlers bowlers were explosive, England chipped away at the West Indian batsmen with inside edges and lbws from nagging medium-pacers and off-spinners. The contrasting methods of wicket-taking in Thursday's match encapsulated the difference between the two teams.
England live to fight another day. They lack adventure with the bat and explosion with the ball and cling on to situations through fitness, unity and a deep reservoir of resolve.
In the same newspaper, Geoffrey Boycott writes that while England may be entertaining everyone with great matches but other teams will fancy their chances against them.
We are skating on thin ice. Compared with the Ashes win the England campaign is shambolic. We have had injuries and loss of form. We are a shadow of the side we were in Australia but the main thing is World Cup are still fighting. Just.
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo