After their Champions Trophy semi-final meltdown against Pakistan, the England captain, Eoin Morgan, bemoaned a lack of knockout experience in his side. And so while not by design, Friday’s collapse in Taunton has at least given them a winner-takes-all Twenty20 finale against South Africa on Sunday and on the ground where it all went wrong less than a fortnight ago.
They may pitch up at Cardiff, scene of their collective paralysis against Sarfraz Ahmed’s eventual title-winners, with a slight sense of injustice to fire them up too after Jason Roy’s controversial dismissal – given out for obstructing the field – proved a turning point in what had originally looked to be a comfortable chase of 175 in the west country.
The decision by third umpire, Tim Robinson, has certainly divided opinion. Was Roy, albeit with the turning circle of the QE2, legitimately haring back to his ground and rightly avoiding the middle of the pitch when the shy at the stumps struck him on the leg? Or did the glance he gave to Andile Phehlukwayo before the fielder’s smart release betray a wilful desire to impede?
Morgan described it as a 50-50 call but behind the scenes he may seek to stoke up some additional desire among his troops as they look to make it two limited-overs series wins over South Africa this summer and four Twenty20 international wins from four at Sophia Gardens, where AB de Villiers, who saw no issue with the appeal, plays his final match of the tour.
In keeping with a contest between two sides that are a blend of first-teamers and fringe players – cricket’s contractual obligations have long since trumped the out-dated notion that international sport must always be best versus the best – England are likely to give debuts to Dawid Malan and Craig Overton, making it five new caps in the space of three matches.
Jonny Bairstow’s pre-planned departure opens a spot in the top three so Malan, the Middlesex opener and a Lions mainstay over the past two years, should simply slot in. But England are also intending to recall Alex Hales, so Sam Billings may either drop out or down the order, perhaps ousting Liam Livingstone.
Livingstone will doubtless be desperate for another chance to atone for what appeared a nervous debut in Taunton. After dropping a catch in the South Africa innings, the right-hander misfired during the failed chase as a slapstick run out ended a tortured 16 from 18 balls that was a far cry from the way he has bludgeoned attacks for Lancashire and the Lions of late.
The England management are chiefly looking to learn such things about their next in line – why else would Livingstone be promoted ahead of Morgan and Jos Buttler with a series in the balance? – and while they will not judge a player on one performance, they still will be hugely encouraged by Tom Curran, the 22-year-old Surrey right-armer with the Bond villain looks.
Curran, in his figures of three for 33, demonstrated the additional yard of pace he has gained over the past six months – one he puts down to a greater knowledge of his action – and an ability to drop it right down. The 69mph slower ball that fooled the dangerous Chris Morris was every bit as impressive as the 87mph yorker to bowl Phehlukwayo.
“I was quietly confident, through backing my skills,” said Curran, who credited his role as a non-playing tourist in the Caribbean in March for helping him find his feet in the set-up. “I knew I’d be ready. But nothing quite prepares you for the nerves and adrenalin of the match. These are small steps and hopefully the start of a long career.”
Curran said he hopes one day to take the field for England with his younger brothers Sam and Ben – the cricketing sons of the former Zimababwe all-rounder Kevin Curran – who are also plying their trade in county cricket. Sam, the left-arm seam-bowling all-rounder with whom Tom shares a dressing room at Surrey, is certainly on the international radar.
Such a sibling dream is no doubt shared by the uncapped Overton, one half of Somerset’s seam-bowling twins, who could come in at the expense of David Willey or Chris Jordan. Liam Plunkett is the other option to make way among the fast bowlers but with Yorkshire omitting him from their four-day team, at a time when he still harbours Test aspirations and slots are available, it might not be prudent not to yank his tail further.
England (possible): Hales, Roy, Malan, Morgan (c), Buttler (wkt), Billings, Dawson, Plunkett, Overton, Willey, Curran
