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England’s Joe Root sets up dead-rubber ODI win over India with century England’s Joe Root sets up dead-rubber ODI win over India with century
(about 1 hour later)
Better late than never. Much better, actually, as another landmark century on his home ground by Joe Root not only entertained the Yorkshire public, but also provided England with a much-needed reason for optimism in their last home match in this format before next year’s World Cup. This was better late than never – much better, actually, as another landmark century by Joe Root on his home ground not only entertained the Yorkshire public but provided England with a much-needed reason for optimism in their last home match in this format before next year’s World Cup.
It was too late to affect the outcome of the series, of course, and at times India showed the slapdash signs of a team who have reverted to McDonald’s as their staple food for the dog days of a long tour – a large takeaway order arrived in the visiting dressing room in the Carnegie Pavilion around lunchtime, for the second day running. It should also have been too late to have any bearing on whether Alastair Cook remains in charge of England’s one-day team when they face Australia in Melbourne in their World Cup opener next February.It was too late to affect the outcome of the series, of course, and at times India showed the slapdash signs of a team who have reverted to McDonald’s as their staple food for the dog days of a long tour – a large takeaway order arrived in the visiting dressing room in the Carnegie Pavilion around lunchtime, for the second day running. It should also have been too late to have any bearing on whether Alastair Cook remains in charge of England’s one-day team when they face Australia in Melbourne in their World Cup opener next February.
The selectors, including the coach Peter Moores, and England cricket’s managing director Paul Downton, have had plenty of time to make their decision on the captaincy and with it the strategy. As it was, Cook made an indeterminate and occasionally streaky 46 from 64 balls having lost a third consecutive toss before falling in an unsuccessful attempt to force the pace against spin, the 14th time in his last 23 ODI innings that he has passed 30 without once reaching 65. The selectors, including the coach, Peter Moores, and England cricket’s managing director, Paul Downton, have had plenty of time to make their decision on the captaincy and with it the strategy. As it was, Cook made an indeterminate and occasionally streaky 46 from 64 balls having lost a third consecutive toss before falling in an unsuccessful attempt to force the pace against spin, the 14th time in his last 23 ODI innings that he has passed 30 without once reaching 65.
“It was the right shot,” he said of his sweep at Suresh Raina, which lobbed to short square leg for MS Dhoni to take the simplest catch. “I just didn’t execute – I buggered it up.” But he confirmed that he still sees himself as England’s captain for the one-day series in Sri Lanka followed by the World Cup, and although he has yet to be told officially that is the case, it would clearly be a nasty surprise if he is tapped on the shoulder. “It was the right shot,” he said of his sweep at Suresh Raina, which lobbed to short square-leg for MS Dhoni to take the simplest catch. “I just didn’t execute; I buggered it up.” But he confirmed that he still sees himself as England’s captain for the one-day series in Sri Lanka followed by the World Cup and, although he has yet to be told officially that is the case, it would clearly be a nasty surprise if he is tapped on the shoulder.
“There hasn’t been a press conference all summer when someone hasn’t mentioned my future as captain,” he said with a smile. “I’ve always given the same answer. If they don’t want me to do it, I’ll take it on the chin.“There hasn’t been a press conference all summer when someone hasn’t mentioned my future as captain,” he said with a smile. “I’ve always given the same answer. If they don’t want me to do it, I’ll take it on the chin.
“I feel tired, and yeah it’s been an interesting summer. But I woke up this morning and I couldn’t wait to play. It’s nice to win today, but it becomes slightly frustrating because if we play like that you’ll win a lot more games. The bottom line is we’ve lost the series.” “I feel tired and, yeah, it’s been an interesting summer. But I woke up this morning and I couldn’t wait to play. It’s nice to win today but it becomes slightly frustrating because, if we play like that, you’ll win a lot more games. The bottom line is we’ve lost the series.”
There was little sign of even a face-saving win when Eoin Morgan, who is making an even less convincing case to succeed Cook than the captain is to stay, was stumped in the 29th over, leaving England stuck in familiar mid-innings treacle at 117 for four, Ravichandran Ashwin’s clever variations having brought him figures of 7-2-15-1. It was the arrival of Jos Buttler, to resume the partnership with Root that injected such energy to England’s batting during the Test series, that transformed this contest, and offered a vision, for those with glasses half-full, of unfancied England as dangerous dark horses next February and March. There was little sign of even a face-saving win when Eoin Morgan, who is making an even less convincing case to succeed Cook than the captain is to stay, was stumped in the 29th over, leaving England stuck in familiar mid-innings treacle at 117 for four, Ravichandran Ashwin’s clever variations having brought him figures of 7-2-15-1. It was the arrival of Jos Buttler, to resume the partnership with Root that injected such energy to England’s batting during the Test series, that transformed this contest and offered a vision, for those with glasses half-full, of unfancied England as dangerous dark horses next February and March.
They put on 108 inside 14 overs, including 55 in the batting powerplay which was taken from overs 36 to 40. Buttler provided the initial impetus, but Root, who had looked in beautiful touch from the start of his innings, was far from eclipsed. Buttler fell for 49 in the 43rd over, dozily run out. But Root proceeded serenely – if sweatily, on a lovely September day –to reach his second ODI century by slog-sweeping his second six, and launched Ravindra Jadeja straight for a third before falling for 113 from 108 balls. They put on 108 inside 14 overs, including 55 in the batting powerplay which was taken from overs 36 to 40. Buttler provided the initial impetus but Root, who had looked in beautiful touch from the start of his innings, was far from eclipsed. Buttler fell for 49 in the 43rd over, dozily run out. But Root proceeded serenely – if sweatily, on a lovely September day –to reach his second ODI century by slog-sweeping his second six, and launched Ravindra Jadeja straight for a third before falling for 113 from 108 balls.
After scoring his maiden Test century on home territory in only his sixth appearance in May 2013, he became the first Yorkshire batsman to reach three figures in an ODI at Headingley. At least England have their World Cup No4. There was another mini-bonus as Ben Stokes finally relocated the middle of his bat to make an unbeaten 33 from 23 balls, but few in the ground would have been confident that 294 was a winning total. Dhoni thought his bowlers, especially Mohammed Shami, had performed well, believing that 300 was the par score.After scoring his maiden Test century on home territory in only his sixth appearance in May 2013, he became the first Yorkshire batsman to reach three figures in an ODI at Headingley. At least England have their World Cup No4. There was another mini-bonus as Ben Stokes finally relocated the middle of his bat to make an unbeaten 33 from 23 balls, but few in the ground would have been confident that 294 was a winning total. Dhoni thought his bowlers, especially Mohammed Shami, had performed well, believing that 300 was the par score.
However Jimmy Anderson, having gone wicketless in the previous three defeats, broke through with his third ball, finding a little bounce to punish a loose push by Ajinkya Rahane, who scooped to Morgan at backward point. Anderson also had Virat Kohli well caught low down by Cook at slip in an opening spell of 6-0-16-2, leaving Kohli with 54 runs in four innings in this series to follow 154 in 10 in the Tests. However, Jimmy Anderson, having gone wicketless in the previous three defeats, broke through with his third ball, finding a little bounce to punish a loose push by Ajinkya Rahane, who scooped to Morgan at backward point. Anderson also had Virat Kohli well caught low down by Cook at slip in an opening spell of 6-0-16-2, leaving Kohli with 54 runs in four innings in this series to follow 154 in 10 in the Tests.
India were 49 for three when Shikhar Dhawan, who had threatened with a leg-side six off Moeen Ali, was bowled aiming for a repeat. They should have been four or five down by the end of the 15th over from Steven Finn, who had Ambati Rayudu dropped by Chris Woakes at third man, and Suresh Raina grassed by Cook diving to his left at slip. Finn also had Raina chipping fortunately over mid-on – more promising signs for England, as the fragile seamer also returned to bowl an excellent over at Dhoni and Jadeja at the start of India’s batting powerplay – but none of the near-misses proved costly.India were 49 for three when Shikhar Dhawan, who had threatened with a leg-side six off Moeen Ali, was bowled aiming for a repeat. They should have been four or five down by the end of the 15th over from Steven Finn, who had Ambati Rayudu dropped by Chris Woakes at third man, and Suresh Raina grassed by Cook diving to his left at slip. Finn also had Raina chipping fortunately over mid-on – more promising signs for England, as the fragile seamer also returned to bowl an excellent over at Dhoni and Jadeja at the start of India’s batting powerplay – but none of the near-misses proved costly.
Buttler caught Raina cutting at Moeen, and after playing sensibly for 53 Rayudu top-edged a slog at Stokes to Cook at mid-on. Stokes ended with three wickets to complete his best day for some time, and although he and Chris Woakes received some late tap from Jadeja, the left-hander’s 87 from 68 balls was never going to be more than a mild inconvenience, and a late bonus for the India supporters in a capacity crowd. Buttler caught Raina cutting at Moeen and after playing sensibly for 53 Rayudu top-edged a slog at Stokes to Cook at mid-on. Stokes ended with three wickets to complete his best day for some time and, although he and Chris Woakes received some late tap from Jadeja, the left-hander’s 87 from 68 balls was never going to be more than a mild inconvenience and a late bonus for the India supporters in a capacity crowd.
England’s selection had again seemed muddled. Gary Ballance was omitted, on the evidence of 17 balls in his only previous appearance of the series at Edgbaston, with Moeen promoted to No3 having played with such freedom in making England’s only half century of the series much lower down. Then Alex Hales failed again, cramped by Umesh Yadav and top-edging a pull, and Moeen looked too determined to back up his promise at the pre-match press conference to play with no fear, as after two silky drives he launched Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Yadav at third man. So this was by no means a perfect England performance. But it was much better, and at least that’s a start. England’s selection had again seemed muddled. Gary Ballance was omitted, on the evidence of 17 balls in his only previous appearance of the series at Edgbaston, with Moeen promoted to No3 having played with such freedom in making England’s only half century of the series much lower down. Then Alex Hales failed again, cramped by Umesh Yadav and top-edging a pull, and Moeen looked too determined to back up his promise at the pre-match press conference to play with no fear, as after two silky drives he launched Bhuvneshwar Kumar to Yadav at third man. So this was by no means a perfect England performance. But it was much better and that at least is a start.