The display given by England yesterday was shabby at best - inept at worst.
Ireland are not a team to be treated with arrogance and contempt but that is exactly what it looked like to me.
The England quicks bowled absurd amounts of short balls on a pitch which, because it aided seam and swing, indicated an extremely poor score for the side which Buttler had put into bat. Why not use the conditions?
All the Irish batsmen had to do to survive was to read the length of Woakes and Wood and rock out of the line of fire. (Curran was almost as weak.) Wood was well below the standard we have come to expect - blistering pace without accuracy is close to worthless.
Woakes was far far worse. Three overs went for FORTY ONE runs. He effectively lost the game for England singlehandedly. An execrable performance which could not be blamed on the pitch at the bowler's point of release. In wet conditions - to be accurate - you may have to bowl at whatever the speed may be which allows you to keep balance and control. Not rocket science, is it? At least the slow bowlers both did their bit really well.
That England had allowed a lesser side to cruise to 157 on that wicket was pathetic but, quite unexpectedly, worse was to come!
Buttler surrendered his wicket with a wild, immature slash to the second ball faced - caught behind! Hales' efforts were risible and he soon surrendered his wicket too.
Stokes then faced the ball of the tournament so far and was bowled middle peg.
In these straitened circumstances, England could barely cope with the Irish attack which did everything that England had not done. It is called bowling an intelligent line and length.
Yes. It was a horrid pitch to play on, on a wet and soggy day. Yes, the ball swung and seamed in every over not bowled by a spinner. But Ireland did all the things any pro cricketer would do and England did not.
Shameful!
WELL PLAYED, Ireland!
