Forward Defensive Podcast

I hadn't thought of that but he's being used in that exact role.

Feels like Livingstone ran his course for England. Capable of the ridiculous but I always wanted more. Maybe that's the problem with those types of players.

His bowling was reliable more than batting by the end of his run

Maybe the pitch wasn't as easy to bat on as expected. These grounds are taking a lot of matches.

Both sides bowled well. Too often as English cricket fans we default to our side playing badly rather than the opposition playing well.

5 games and 4 wins for a side who haven't looked their best

Didn't former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner get fined for having sponsored underpants? Although it might have been showing them after scoring that was the problem

Will Jacks has been one of England's standout players this tournament. Unfamiliar position in the batting order + valuable overs.

Although the fact he has been a standout player probably says a lot about how England's World Cup has gone

#T20WC

Of course but all that requires additional context and relies a bit on outcome bias.

A 100 in a losing course doesn't diminish its importance or value. If anything could it be worth more as your team is the worse side?

Cricket has a problem with personal milestones. Players say they don't matter but on field play suggests otherwise.

Stats used to talk about who is better etc etc. Look at the Root Ashes discourse.

Can we just decide if they're important or not 😅

Don't begrudge Farhan getting his 100 but Pakistan mismanaged that final few balls for personal milestones.

19.1 Shadab single, 19.2 Farhan single for his 100, Farhan doesn't swing at the final ball.

Margins are really fine in world cups. Won't matter today but could in future

Pakistan cricket reports, Saj Sadiq, listing teams he's enjoyed watching bat during the T20 world cup more than Pakistan. Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Italy, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UAE, USA, West Indies, and Zimbabwe.

Can only assume England make this list through schadenfreude 😅

Jacks took the game away. Two incredible knocks from Italy players. For a side that "play without fear", England certainly look terrified

An Aussie would say that 😉 feels like England need putting out of their misery. Don't know how they went from scoring 300 a few T20s ago to whatever this is.

Italy winning would be great for the sport but I'm not sure anything will change for associates. It should be a watershed tournament

Do England need to be on the brink of embarrassment to feel alive? Are they okay?

#ICCT20WC #ENGvITA

That was some proper club cricket. Filthy long hop that Bethell hit straight to the fielder.

Not shocked that Italy wanted to chase. An England implosion never feels too far away

I assume he's not ready after dislocating his shoulder in their 1st game. They think he could play Vs West Indies, which would be wild

England get the job done but can't help shake the feeling that something is missing from this side.

When it clicks we've seen them score 300 but it feels like too many of the side are searching right now.

Bowling is very reliant on Rashid + Archer

#ENGvSCO

Jones is a really dangerous player. It's a big wicket for England. He went ballistic in a One Day Cup game in the summer (against I think Yorkshire), very few weak areas once he gets rolling.

The England bowling attack still feels like it's designed to minimise damage rather than inflict it

Follow up to this on Chase. Eng are his bunnies.

175 wickets at 43.38 in all formats for his career

28 wickets at 36.17 in all formats Vs Eng. Two of his 5 wickets hauls including an 8/60.

21.7% of his career wickets are against England!! He's an okay fill in bowler but Eng make him look good 😂

Shouldn't expect much insight from a post match press conference but Brook said a lot of nothing.

Eng tied down by Roston Chase. No batter went on to get a big score. Bowlers didn't execute at the death. That's a recipe to lose.

West Indies just played better

England out played today. Strangled by spin. Out bowled in the death overs.

Bowling is a massive worry and the batting lineup hasn't fired. None of the bench options really improve the side either 😬

Still think they've shown previously that they're a very good T20 side. Just playing badly 🤷🏻‍♂️

After the last World Cup/Champions Trophy/T20 World cup feeling like a dull drag. This tournament has started with a bang.

*Probably says a lot that I can't remember what the most recent ICC tournament was

Will Jacks showing why he's been selected in this role. Use his ability to hit boundaries from ball one.

England have very few players in the "finisher" role. Curran has shown he's a slow starter in franchise leagues.

Worked today at least

😂 that's great advice if he ever goes back to 2005

14 year old me wanted that 2007 shirt, the Woodworm bat and to flick the ball away like Pietersen.

Talent really hampered my ambitions 😂

That Shane Warne tweet "Tee off (not recklessly)" comes to mind

I love the comments on the ESPNCricinfo live blog. People are always asking if England should "wait for the bad ball and take the singles"

Have these people watched T20 cricket in the last 10 years? If Eng tick along to 150/160, associate sides can chase that down. The standard is much higher

First baller for Duckett. That should settle that.

Having been so good in 2024 and early 2025, Duckett has had a stinking winter.

Banton has been England's best batter this series. Played the spin brilliantly, managed both chases well, and did so in a role he's not used to doing.

I'm sure England will be keen to get Duckett in the side but there's no reason he should be in ahead of Banton

David Gower *really* doesn't rate Will Jacks' bowling 😂 two games in a row I've heard him bashing it

Under pressure from Brook and Root, this is a proper England level of wheels off by Sri Lanka

Winner gets the colours and the phoenix. Think of the drama!!

Can't get my head around watching Root play spin in Asia. It looks so easy when his teammates make it look anything but.

Almost like everything is in slow motion. I'm not breaking any news here, Root is obviously good but nothing makes me want to bat more than watching this

#SLvENG