England View: Horror performance in the field highlights off night

England’s World Cup campaign has been rocked in a 14-run defeat to the unpredictable Pakistan, and it could have a lasting impact on their tournament according to the UK tabloids.

England's Joe Root reacts as he walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket for 107 during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, central England, on June 3, 2019. (Photo by Lindsey PARNABY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

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World Cup favourites England have had their campaign rocked by the sensationally unpredictable Pakistan, who pulled off a 14-run upset on Tuesday.

It isn’t a disaster for England, who became the first team in World Cup history to have two players score hundreds in a losing effort — they still put up a monster chase of 9-334 in reply to Pakistan’s target of 349.

But despite centuries to Jos Buttler and Joe Root, England’s press were far from complimentary of a ‘miserable, error-laden’ performance which is the first hurdle Eoin Morgan’s men have failed to clear in this tournament.

Joe Root reacts to being dismissed after scoring an impressive century. Picture: Getty

‘IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND’

Writing in the Sun, John Etheridge was scathing in his assessment of England’s fielding display.

Most costly was Jason Roy’s poor drop of Mohammad Hafeez early in Pakistan’s innings.

Hafeez was on just 14 at the time and went on to score a brisk 84 from 62 balls in a knock which set the tone for the visitor’s innings.

“The problem was a miserable, error-laden performance in the field which gifted Pakistan so many runs that even England’s blazing batsmen couldn’t make up the deficit,” Etheridge wrote.

“Suddenly, after the euphoria of Ben Stokes’ catch and a crushing win over South Africa in their World Cup opener, Eoin Morgan’s men face a mini-crisis.

Hafeez would go on to score a crucial 84. Picture: AFP

“They sure can’t afford many more mishaps against teams they are expected to beat.

“And, to make matters worse, Morgan could be banned from England’s next two matches because of his team’s snail-paced over-rate.

“England’s blundering effort in the field was almost impossible to understand because they were so brilliant against the Proteas last Thursday.

“It was their most butterfingered performance for many years.”

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‘BOLD, MADDENING PAKISTAN’

While England suffered a frustrating loss, the result was a welcome one for Pakistan who confirmed their status as the world’s most confounding team.

Just three days after being rolled for 105 by West Indies, Sarfraz Ahmed’s team piled on 348 to stun the best one-day team on the planet.

Who else, but Pakistan could lose to a team that hasn’t won an ODI series in four years... only the beat the World Cup favourites?

Who else but Pakistan could produce such vastly different performances in the space of a week? Picture: AP

That’s Pakistan in a nutshell, who have stripped away England’s aura, writes the Independent’s Johnathan Liew.

“With fire in their bellies and ice in their veins, a magnificent Pakistan team spectacularly snatched England’s aura from them,” Liew wrote.

“Indeed, perhaps the most surprising aspect of this game was the way that Pakistan played like England and England played like Pakistan.

“From the ruthless enterprise of Imad Wasim and Fakhar Zaman at the top of the order, to the supreme hitting of Mohammed Hafeez and Sarfraz in the middle, to the relentlessly accurate bowling and immaculate fielding, this was a complete performance from Pakistan, a team bundled out for just 105 at this very same venue just three days ago.

“But then, what other team could have crashed England’s party like this, at their favourite venue, having lost 4-0 to them just a few weeks ago?

“It had to be Pakistan: bold, maddening Pakistan, who on a good pitch with a quick outfield seized the initiative with a big score and then, roared on by their sizeable support, never let it slip.

“The tournament favourites are favourites no longer: five wins out of seven is the equation probably required for Eoin Morgan’s side, who know now, if they didn’t already, that tournament cricket is a wild animal.”

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ENGLAND WERE RATTLED

An off day for England — in the field, especially — was characterised by Chris Woakes’ unusual response to the crowd after taking a screamer in the outfield, wrote Ali Martin for the Guardian.

“When the typically unflappable Chris Woakes is putting his finger to his lips and shushing a spectator in celebration, you know something is slightly amiss,” Martin wrote.

“In the 21st over of Pakistan’s innings, after a wonderful diving catch at long-off to remove Imam-ul-Haq, here was Woakes channelling his inner Portuguese football manager in response to apparent heckling from the stands.

Chris Woakes silences the vocal Pakistan supporters after catching Iman-ul-haq. Picture: Getty

“It didn’t stop there either; among the huddle of England players that swarmed him Ben Stokes and Jason Roy could be seen offering sarcastic applause in the same direction. Umpires Marais Erasmus and Sundaram Ravi were clearly unimpressed, moving in to settle things down with a word or two.

“The exact nature of what prompted all this was unclear in the immediate aftermath but it still felt strange from a team led by Eoin Morgan. And especially so since the captain had reminded his troops before the World Cup that, despite being hosts, crowds will have the potential to produce an away day feel (and not least against Pakistan, Bangladesh or India).

“Though a minor incident it was symptomatic of a performance in the field that was ill-disciplined and profligate.”

Originally published as England View: Horror performance in the field highlights off night