England had a embarrassing start to their white-ball tour against South Africa as they faced a shocking defeat at Headingley. England batted first and could only score 131, which the Proteas easily chased in 30 overs with 7 wickets to spare. After the upsetting defeat, Michael Atherton gave a harsh reality check and immediately called for changes.
“I think inevitably because of how England have played, that’s the straight line you draw,” said Atherton on Sky Cricket’s post-match analysis
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“If you get beat like that, play like that it’s the obvious angle to take. England have unquestionably been caught cold here,” said the former opener. “South Africa look like a side that have been playing 50-over cricket. English players have been playing the Hundred. They’ve had no chance for preparation, they’re playing a completely different format, and it looked like it today.”
Atherton also questioned the hectic schedule, and the quick changes in formats without break.
“If you think of players like Root, Brook, Duckett, they’ve come straight from an arduous five-Test series against India, straight into the Hundred, straight here, so you can argue they are over-cricketed in a way,” said Atherton
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“Your mindset for cricket is not quite in the right place. One thing for me is that one-day cricket is becoming tournament cricket,” said the South African. “You have to perform on the day. There is no we will write this off and move on to the next one. How can we still be competitive in this game and not be bowled out for 130?”
England will now play the second ODI at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground on Thursday, September 3.
