Former England captain Nasser Hussain has urged the Jos Buttler-led English side to spoil India’s party as they prepare to take on the hosts in a crucial 2023 World Cup group-stage match in Lucknow. Hussain is keen on seeing the English squad demonstrate their full potential and exhibit their distinctive qualities.
As they prepare to square off against a dominant Indian team on October 29th, England, who have suffered defeat in four out of five tournament matches, find themselves facing a formidable challenge. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the unbeaten Men in Blue boast an array of players in exceptional form, and they are eager to exploit England’s vulnerabilities in pursuit of their sixth consecutive victory.
“The players must take the responsibility for this. I’m not a great one for cliches like playing for the badge but that’s what England have got to do now. They have to go to Lucknow on Sunday and spoil India’s party. They must remind India and the world just how great cricketers they have been – and still are,” Nasser Hussain wrote in his column for The Daily Mail.
Nasser Hussain pointed fingers at the players themselves for England’s lackluster performance, as opposed to attributing it to external factors such as The Hundred tournament.
“I’ve heard people at home are doing that but this is not the fault of the Hundred or the Blast or the fact England’s best players do not play much 50-over cricket. They are just lame excuses.”
England’s aspirations of defending their World Cup title have been dashed, leaving them with the sole motivation of playing for honor throughout the remainder of the tournament, according to coach Matthew Mott. Following a disheartening eight-wicket loss to Sri Lanka on Thursday, which saw England slump to ninth place in the standings, they now face the ominous prospect of being eliminated in the group stage. Their struggles were glaring as they were dismissed for a mere 156 runs in the first innings during a low-scoring affair, marking their fourth defeat in five matches.
