Former England captain Nasser Hussain has backed the Heather Knight-led England women’s team to recover from consecutive losses in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, although he admitted that reaching the semi-finals has been difficult due to his own work. .
England’s defense of the title they won at Lord’s in 2017 did not go to their liking, losing to Australia by 12 runs and then to West Indies by seven runs. England will now take on South Africa at the Bay Oval on Monday to win and get the campaign back on track.
“I think they can go for a run from here, don’t write this England side. South Africa have got two narrow wins but they have been against Bangladesh and Pakistan, who are the two weak sides in the tournament. England may get some confidence but they need to win every match from here.”
Hossain felt that England could make changes in the tournament and that a win against South Africa could be their best incentive.
“Can England make the last four? He has made it very difficult for himself. You see how India is playing and how Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana have batted but England have a good record against every side.
“I think they beat South Africa on Monday, they are a better side, and that might give them some energy. They’ve been away from home since January, they’ve done the Ashes, they’ve been in lockdown and quarantined. Just need a little boost and a lift, and hopefully here at Mount Maunganui on Monday they can beat South Africa and that will get them moving again.
Hossain revealed that he had a conversation with England head coach Lisa Keightley when the team was in their practice session at the Bay Oval.
“I spoke to England coach Lisa Keightley on Sunday afternoon and she said that they do not get all three aspects of their game at once. We were at the nets on Sunday and Keightley kept him in the circle for a long time. There was a lot of energy in the practice he was doing in the field.”
Hossain, currently on commentary duties in the tournament, explained where England made mistakes in losing to Australia and West Indies. “In Australia, he didn’t bat very well, then he played Australia in the first game of the World Cup and batted brilliantly, scoring around 300 runs, but he didn’t bowl particularly well.”
“They go to Dunedin and bat and bowl against West Indies, but their fielding was terrible. This is the worst situation I have seen England field in a long time, if ever. Seven chances – five catches, one run out and missed stumping. They’re better than that.”
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