BBC Test Match special pundit Geoffrey Boycott says England's performance was awful as they were outclassed by an impressive Australia side in a 111-run defeat on the opening day of the World Cup in Melbourne.
Boycott was especially critical of England's bowling.
Aaron Finch scored 135 while Mitchell Marsh took 5-33 as England were bowled out for 231.
England captain Eoin Morgan's team face co-hosts New Zealand in their next game on Friday. New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs in the tournament opener.
England came up against a good Australian team and lost. I don't see what the big deal is. Australia is a favorite to win the world cup especially on home soil. Who expected England to win?
[quote author=Rowe992 link=topic=95825.msg618669#msg618669 date=1423933405]
England came up against a good Australian team and lost. I don't see what the big deal is. Australia is a favorite to win the world cup especially on home soil. Who expected England to win?
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I agree that I don't think anyone expected England to win (myself included), however, their performance in all facets of the game was shockingly poor. Bowlers continue to bang it in short and take their licks instead of bowling full and straight yorkers. Woakes drop of Finch was a game changer and then there was the batting, where again, England fail to even bat out their allotment of overs, a cardinal sin.
[quote author=dillinger10 link=topic=95825.msg618908#msg618908 date=1423987888]
Bowlers continue to bang it in short and take their licks instead of bowling full and straight yorkers.
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It appears that Moore's has finally realised that you need to bowl much fuller at the death, telling reporters today, "Have we under-used the yorker? Yes. We have under-used it. But it wasn't just about execution in this game. Our plans weren't as good as they could have been."
It's shocking to think that the gameplay didn't involve bowling it full and straight, especially after seeing the way that Australia thrashed Woakes around at the end of the tri-series final. England will need to play a whole lot better in all facets of the game if they are to stand any chance against New Zealand.
The BBC cobbled together some stats to show just how dire England's ODI form (especially their batting) has been since January 1, 2014. In that time span, England have played 29 ODI's, winning just 10. Their run rate of 5.13 per over betters only Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. West Indies are fourth over that same time frame with New Zealand first.
England have also had a hard time at hitting boundaries - averaging just 17 fours per game. Only Zimbabwe score fewer. They have also struggled mightily in the 5 over batting power play, averaging just 27.88 runs, fewer than all but Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
England are the only team not to have chased down 250 to win - their highest successful run chase is 240.
