Faltering under pressure has cost us a Super Sixes place (31 May 1999)

31 May 1999

Faltering under pressure has cost us a Super Sixes place

David Lloyd

I Watched the European Cup final with our team and saw the faces of the Bayern Munich players at the end - fate had dealt them a cruel blow. I saw the same look on the faces of our players at the end of the game against India yesterday.

I feel total disbelief that we have not progressed to the Super Sixes stage of the World Cup.

Against India, we found ourselves in a must-win situation after Zimbabwe's stunning result against South Africa. We read England had all but qualified by winning three out of four group matches, but I totally disregarded that. Zimbabwe can turn anybody over, even the seemingly invincible South Africa.

Our match with India, and the one against South Africa, followed a similar pattern, as have many others over the past 12 months or so, when we have cracked under pressure. Pressure is a word I refuse to accept in professional sport. In any team sport you have to rise to the challenge and recently we have failed to do this. We have been on the bottom for too long. We have faltered and stuttered as a batting side and I feel desperately sad for the players because I know above anyone the amount of effort and practice that they've put in.

I remember the busy, bustling team that overwhelmed Australia in the Texaco Series and won the Champions Trophy in Sharjah. Success was achieved by playing bold, attacking cricket. It seems so long ago.

We have been dumped out of the World Cup and it hurts. There will be recriminations and at the post-match press conference the question was asked repeatedly: "Is this the demise and death knell of cricket in England?"

I sincerely hope it isn't reported that way. We don't have a divine right to win and it is in everyone's interests, not least the game as a whole, to roll up our sleeves and work to get our cricket back on track.

Our progress was in our hands and the job to do was beat India - other results were incidental. We had been at Edgbaston for two days' practice and had seen the pitch at close quarters. It was grassy and when cut it still showed a green tinge with moisture. It was a pitch that told you to bowl first.

Alec Stewart invited India to bat and once again our front-line bowlers, Darren Gough, Angus Fraser, Alan Mullally and Mark Ealham responded. We beat the bat many times and when Mullally made the breakthrough we looked in control. We subdued Sachin Tendulkar but Ajay Jadeja got away from us and the other Indian batsmen worked hard to reach 232. Once again, our fielding and catching was spot on and we needed to respond as a batting unit. We didn't. Two soft, early wickets and the dismissal of Nasser Hussain in the rain left us requiring 160 in just under 30 overs. The dismissals of Graham Thorpe and Andrew Flintoff were unfortunate - and that's all I can say in my position. We were well and truly out of the game by the 38th over.

So who is going to win the World Cup? Where will the smart money be? India are well equipped and Zimbabwe will do damage and delight in spoiling someone's party. South Africa and Pakistan are still firm favourites but all the other teams really fancy taking them on and knocking them down a peg or two.

That brings me to the old enemy, Australia. They, I very much regret to say, are a team I admire immensely. They're a top bunch of blokes who are as hard as nails and play their cricket accordingly. They seem to be over their wobble and when the going gets tough, just watch out for Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath and Michael Bevan. Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention Shane Warne! How could I possibly do that?

I wish I was leaving my position as England's team coach in happier circumstances but I wish all the best in their careers to all the players who have represented England in my time. To all the management, coaching and back-up staff, I say fellas, you've been brilliant.

And to whoever takes over from me, I say this: it's still the best job in the world.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)