Mark Butcher has slammed England's one-dimensional approach in the ongoing three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The Three Lions have lost the first
two games by four and five wickets, respectively. The inconsequential third ODI is set to be played at the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday, November 1.
In the first ODI, England slumped to 56/6 before captain Harry Brook's breathtaking 135 off 101 deliveries lifted them to 223. The second ODI saw England getting dismissed for 175 after batting first. They have been bowled out in 35.2 and 36 overs in the first two ODIs, respectively.
Former England cricketer Butcher said that Brook and Co. are not learning from their mistakes and have to show more humility to rediscover their form in the 50-over format.
“Go harder? I don’t know. I’m not entirely sure how they could have done that given the way the ball was moving around," Butcher said on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast.
“Perhaps in those circumstances, that might have been the right approach, as Brook demonstrated. When the ball is nipping around, taking risks is often better than merely surviving. However, that was not the case in the second game," Butcher added.
Sometimes, you need to respect the opposition bowlers: Butcher
Butcher said that there is no problem in terms of the selection process, but urged the players to respect the opposition bowlers a bit more.
“Falling short of batting your 50 overs by the margin they did is inexcusable. Successful teams adapt their approach to each match rather than sticking to a fixed plan," Butcher said.
“It doesn’t seem that there’s any learning happening, given the poor results. I don’t think there’s a major issue with the players selected; by and large, they’re the best available. A bit of intelligence and humility might be needed in their approach, understanding that not every game is a chance to smash the ball. Sometimes, you need to respect the opposition bowlers," he added.
