Adil Rashid insists England should not nervous by their shock defeat to Afghanistan and nonetheless imagine they will breathe life again into their ailing Cricket World Cup marketing campaign.
The reigning world champions have suffered two heavy losses of their first three matches in India, hammered by New Zealand on the opening evening in Ahmedabad earlier than struggling a serious upset in Delhi on Sunday, the place underdogs Afghanistan coasted house by 69 runs.
The elongated group stage means all just isn’t but misplaced however England’s margin for error over the subsequent six video games is wafer skinny and, with in-form South Africa up subsequent, stay on Sky Sports activities on Saturday, and favourites India nonetheless to return, issues are unlikely to get simpler.
The precarious nature of their place will certainly be inflicting alarm behind the scenes however Rashid, one in every of eight survivors from the 2019 squad who lifted the trophy regardless of shedding three of their 9 group video games, did his greatest to current a relaxed public face.
“It is a part of cricket: you win some, you lose some and you may’t win each sport,” Rashid mentioned.
“It is half and parcel of the sport. We’re not too involved, it is only a sport that we have misplaced. We all know we have got powerful competitors arising, however I am assured we are able to play very well as a unit transferring ahead.
“Hopefully we are able to put in some good performances and kickstart the competitors. We all know we have nonetheless acquired six video games, hopefully we are able to win and get some good momentum going ahead. I am fairly assured within the squad, within the workforce. I am positive we’ll bounce again robust.”
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Highlights as England’s World Cup hopes had been dealt a serious blow following a historic 69-run defeat to Afghanistan
England followers can be forgiven for hoping stronger phrases than these are being shared privately, with points to deal with when it comes to workforce choice, sport administration and mindset.
There isn’t any scarcity of time to ask powerful questions both. England arrived in Mumbai on Monday and don’t get an opportunity to work out their frustrations in opposition to South Africa for six days, with the Proteas flying in from the hills of Dharamshala after their conflict with the Netherlands.
As such, the squad has been given the subsequent two days off fairly than being compelled to pay for his or her struggles with further internet classes and a few households are resulting from be a part of the tour.
Head coach Matthew Mott, who has but to talk publicly on the journey, is anticipated to deal with the media on Tuesday.
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England worldwide Kate Cross believes the lads’s workforce have time to show round their fortunes after struggling defeat to Afghanistan.
Rashid was within the minority of England gamers to carry out shut to plain within the Afghanistan defeat, taking 3-42 along with his leg-breaks, however he accepted the workforce’s collective efforts had been missing.
The 35-year-old even echoed considerations that the attacking, proactive method that when marked his facet out as trailblazers was not in proof.
“Hopefully we are able to simply park it behind us and play the way in which we all know how, with the ball, with the bat…that actual constructive mindset and actual aggressive cricket,” Rashid mentioned.
“Clearly we fell quick with the bat and ball [against Afghanistan]. I do not suppose we had been aggressive sufficient or took the constructive choices.
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Nick Knight, Zak Crawley and Mo Bobat talk about what went fallacious for England of their Cricket World Cup loss to Afghanistan.
“That is cricket, that occurs, it is not each time you are going to exit and smash sixes and fours – you have to evaluate the wicket and the pitch. It is the identical with the ball.
“You’re going to have video games the place gamers are off form however I do imagine we have got the squad, we have got the workforce and we have got the mentality to nonetheless be hungry. We wish to go so far as we are able to, however we have got to take it one step at a time, one sport at a time, and see the place it takes us.”
Watch England vs South Africa stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion from 9am on Saturday (first ball at 9.30am). Additionally stream the Cricket World Cup and extra with NOW.