England’s white-ball tour against South Africa commenced on a sour note, with a shocking defeat at Headingley. After England’s innings, which yielded a mere 131 runs, the Proteas comfortably chased down the score in 30 overs, winning with seven wickets remaining. Michael Atherton provided a harsh critique of the team’s performance and called for necessary changes.
During Sky Cricket’s post-match analysis, Atherton said, “I think inevitably because of how England have played, that’s the straight line you draw.”
The former opener added, “If you get beat like that, play like that it’s the obvious angle to take. England have unquestionably been caught cold here. South Africa look like a side that have been playing 50-over cricket. English players have been playing the Hundred. They’ve had no chance for preparation, they’re playing a completely different format, and it looked like it today.”
Atherton also questioned the impact of the hectic scheduling and the absence of sufficient breaks between different formats.
He highlighted the situation of players like Root, Brook, and Duckett, who had “come straight from an arduous five-Test series against India, straight into the Hundred, straight here, so you can argue they are over-cricketed in a way.”
Atherton also reflected on the mindset needed for one-day cricket. “Your mindset for cricket is not quite in the right place. One thing for me is that one-day cricket is becoming tournament cricket,” he said, questioning how England could be bowled out for 130 when attempting to compete.
The second ODI is scheduled to be held at the historic Lord’s cricket ground on Thursday, September 3.