Morgan laments poor batting performance

Eoin Morgan rued England’s failure to adjust to a slower track in Cardiff after being knocked out by Pakistan in the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 on Wednesday.

England was bowled out for 211 in 49.5 overs on the pitch that was also used for Monday’s Group B match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Pakistan then chased down the target with ease, romping to an eight-wicket win with 12.5 overs to spare.

Morgan said it was “too much of an ask” for his batsmen to adapt to the used pitch after enjoying batting-friendly conditions in the league stage. England scored more than 300 in its first two group matches and then knocked off a 278-run target with ease against Australia in the last.

“I don't think there was any home advantage,” said Morgan. “We knew that we were going to play on a used wicket at some stage in this tournament, and certainly we found out the other day that today was going to be on a used wicket.

“Having watched the game against Sri Lanka, we actually didn't think it was that bad. But certainly today it was – coming from Edgbaston, it was obviously a big jump in pace and bounce and too much of an ask for us to adjust to, really. Going into today's game knowing that we were going to play on a used wicket potentially brought Pakistan's game closer to their home. So it was a big challenge and one that was too far for us.”

The pitch did not offer much turn but its slowness made strokeplay difficult. England’s batsmen have destroyed attacks on flatter tracks but struggled when they tried to play in the same fashion. Four of the top five batsmen crossed 30 but none could kick on. Even Ben Stokes made 34 off 64 without hitting a single boundary.

Morgan said the struggles of the in-form batting trio of Stokes, Joe Root and himself told a story in itself. “In probably every partnership we had, we struggled to take the initiative to the Pakistan bowlers,” rued Morgan. “I thought they bowled really well. They adjusted to conditions extremely well, and the wicket was obviously slow and low and hard to get away to start with. Every partnership we had started behind the rate, which put us under the pump a little bit, and none of our batsmen seemed to get away.

“I felt like we were trying to take a positive option against them, but obviously, given the conditions, it didn't allow us to do that. We left ourselves short today adapting to conditions. It's a big frustration because I think we've played some great cricket in this tournament so far, and we weren't anywhere close to it today. Fair credit to Pakistan. They played brilliantly.”

The difficulty level, however, seemed a lot different when Pakistan was batting. Fakhar Zaman and Azhar Ali made the pitch look easy, scoring quick half-centuries in an 118-run opening stand.

Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, dismissed talks about the pitch saying, “I think the pitch was very good. I think it was good for both teams. We play very well and that’s why we won today.”

Whatever the reasons were, England now finds itself short of winning an ICC trophy yet again despite making rapid strides in the last two years. Morgan, though, stressed that England would stick to its aggressive ways in the future and said it went away from the tournament stronger from the experience.

“I think we are (stronger), certainly,” he said. “One of the huge contributing factors towards topping our table and playing very good cricket in the group stages is that we've stayed true to what we believe in and what's worked for us the last couple of years, and I think that's the continued formula for the future.

“I think it will have to evolve in whatever manner the game does over the next two years in the lead-in to the World Cup, but certainly I think we're moving in the right direction.”