Ashes 2021-22: England batting coach Thorpe calls for Buttler support after missed chances

By Sports Desk December 16, 2021

England batting coach Graham Thorpe implored his side to support Jos Buttler after the wicketkeeper twice dropped Marnus Labuschagne on the opening day of the second Test.

The tourists toiled for large parts of Thursday in Adelaide, having lost the first outing in Brisbane comfortably, after stand-in captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat.

Smith, who captained Australia for the first time since the ball-tampering scandal in 2018, was taking the place of Pat Cummins, after the fast bowler was forced into isolation following contact with a COVID-19 case in a restaurant on Wednesday.

David Warner batted for long periods, only to fall for 95 in the final session of the first day-night Test as he was partnered by Marnus Labuschagne who ended play unbeaten on 95, with Australia 221-2.

The pair shared a second-wicket stand of 172, their sixth century partnership together – no duo can top their combined runs total since Labuschagne's Test debut in October 2018 – but England had ample chances to remove Australia's number three.

Buttler shelled a tough opportunity off the bowling of Ben Stokes with Labuschagne on 21, before dropping a regulation chance from James Anderson in the final hour with the right-hander still five away from his century.

Thorpe, who averaged over 49 for England against Australia during his playing career, insisted that the touring party need to rally around Buttler after the pair of errors.

Thorpe said to BBC's Test Match Special: "Dropped catches hurt us. Jos will have to clear his mind and go again.

"No-one means to drop catches but that's the game and sometimes it can happen to you. We need to get around him and support him.

"Australia were looking to take two set batters into the last session and they played the game very well. They defended well early on - we went past the bat a lot but they kept their wickets.

"We have to keep going at it, luck can turn. I thought we bowled well - you can look at occasionally going fuller but there wasn't much margin for error on that pitch.

"Australia are in a good position. It's up to us to take early wickets with the new ball, that'll be crucial. We have to show some fight and heart."

Related items

  • Harpy Eagles defeat Hurricanes by eight wickets via DLS method for first win of the season Harpy Eagles defeat Hurricanes by eight wickets via DLS method for first win of the season

    The Guyana Harpy Eagles recorded their first win of the 2024 CG United Super50 Cup with an eight-wicket DLS method win over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on Tuesday.

    In a match reduced to 41 overs-per side, the Hurricanes were first bundled out for 139 in 34.2 overs after being put in to bat by the Harpy Eagles.

    Captain Rakheem Cornwall top scored with 36 while Jeremiah Louis made 34.

    Justin Greaves, who came into this game on the back of scores of 111* against the West Indies Academy, 112 against the Barbados Pride and 151* against the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, could only manage 27 this time around.

    Man of the match Veerasammy Permaul took 3-24 from nine overs and was supported well by Ashmead Nedd and Nial Smith who took 2-19 from eight overs and 2-42 from eight overs, respectively.

    Guyana then needed only 27.5 overs to reach 141-2 thanks to half centuries from captain Tevin Imlach and Matthew Nandu.

    Imlach made 69* off 76 balls, his third fifty of the season, while Nandu made a 74-ball 50.

    Full Scores:

    Leeward Islands Hurricanes 139 off 34.2 overs (Rakheem Cornwall 36, Jeremiah Louis 34, Justin Greaves 27, Veerasammy Permaul 3-24, Ashmead Nedd 2-19, Nial Smith 2-42)

    Guyana Harpy Eagles 141-2 off 27.5 overs (Tevin Imlach 69*, Matthew Nandu 50).

     

  • Windies captain Shai Hope stresses need for efficient execution to clinch series decider against England Windies captain Shai Hope stresses need for efficient execution to clinch series decider against England

    West Indies ODI captain Shai Hope has once again stressed the importance of executing efficiently in order to clinch the series decider against England in a crucial contest at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados on Wednesday.

    Scheduled for a 1:00 pm start, the day-night match has stirred excitement among fans, with Hope rallying his side to draw from their recent performances and focus on building momentum for a strong finish in the three-match series.

    The series is currently locked at 1-1 after the West Indies won the opening contest by eight wickets, before England topped the second by five wickets.

    “It’s the biggest game of the series because we unfortunately conceded the last game, but this is a great occasion for us; we understand that we have a lot in front of us and we understand that we have to play good cricket to get over the England team,” Hope said in a pre-game interview.

    Reflecting on the second ODI, where he led by example with a brilliant 117, Hope underscored the significance of consistency in both batting and bowling.

    His century, along with half-centuries from Sherfane Rutherford (54) and Keacy Carty (71), were standout moments in a match that tested the resilience and skill of the West Indies lineup. However, the bowling department failed to deliver as England’s captain, Liam Livingstone, struck an unbeaten 124 to get his team across the line.

    “I’ll continue to preach that we need consistency in order for us to consider ourselves an elite team. We have to string performances together; it can’t always be one game or two games in a series; we have to seal it,” Hope said.

    “We have to play good cricket all the way through, and it is important that we understand the condition, the times of the game that we are supposed to be pressing and supposed to be relaxed. So, we have to be more consistent disciplined with our skills and make sure when we get to those crucial points of the game we press on,” he stressed.

    That said, Hope believes that his team is mentally primed for the challenge.

    “We are always mentally ready; I think that these most recent months we have been playing some really good cricket. We’ve had our ups and downs yes, but we can definitely see some improvements in the different stages in the game. For us, we have to ensure that we always have that positive mindset regardless of what we do in the field,” the Barbadian said.

    “We have to believe in our skills both inside and outside to ensure we have all the capable assets to go out there and perform for the West Indies. But the feeling is always good; the guys are raring and ready to go; we understand what is at stake, and this is basically a final for us,” Hope added, emphasizing that while the rivalry adds an edge to the contest, they are not letting it overshadow their approach.

    West Indies are currently 3-2 ahead in the head-to-head of the last five ODI meetings between the two teams dating back to December 2023.

    “You have an understanding of the history, but the past is the past because you have to go out there and play what is in front of you. You have to stay in the present, but we know what we are playing for. We know the amount of history that there is in our rivalry, so it is something that we have in the back of our minds, but not something we let get the better of us,” Hope ended.

  • One brings two: Scorpions build on victory over Academy with 19-run DLS method win over Volcanoes One brings two: Scorpions build on victory over Academy with 19-run DLS method win over Volcanoes

    The Jamaica Scorpions entered this year’s CG United Super50 Cup after a winless season last year and lost their first game to the Barbados Pride to increase that streak to eight.

    They broke that streak in their last game with an 80-run DLS method win over the West Indies Academy on Saturday.

    On Tuesday, they got their second win in a row, another DLS method victory, this time by 19 runs over the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Queen's Park Oval.

    The Scorpions, after winning the toss and batting first, reached 155-4 in the 31st over before rain brought their innings to a close.

    Kirk McKenzie, on the back of 90 against the West Indies Academy on Saturday, was 59* off 75 balls at the time of the stoppage while captain John Campbell made a 49-ball 41.

    Darel Cyrus had figures of 2-21 off 5.1 overs.

    The Volcanoes, chasing a revised total of 205 off 30 overs for victory, were dismissed for 186 off 29.3 overs.

    Captain Sunil Ambris led the way with the bat for the Volcanoes with 59 while Shamar Springer and Kavem Hodge hit 37 and 36, respectively.

    Marquino Mindley was the pick of the Jamaican bowlers with 4-33 from six overs while Tamarie Redwood and Odean Smith each had figures of 2-31 from six overs and 5.3 overs, respectively.

    Full Scores:

    Jamaica Scorpions 155-4 off 30.1 overs (Kirk McKenzie 59*, John Campbell 41, Darel Cyrus 2-21)

    Windward Islands Volcanoes 186 off 29.3 overs (Sunil Ambris 59, Shamar Springer 37, Kavem Hodge 36, Marquino Mindley 4-33, Tamarie Redwood 2-31, Odean Smith 2-31).

    The win moves the Scorpions into fourth on the points table with 20 behind the Barbados Pride (31), Leeward Islands Hurricanes (26) and the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force (25).

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.