England endured an embarrassing start to their white-ball tour against South Africa, suffering a shocking defeat at Headingley. After batting first, England only managed to score 131 runs, a total which the Proteas easily surpassed in 30 overs, winning with seven wickets remaining. Following the disappointing result, Michael Atherton delivered a candid assessment and immediately advocated for changes.
“I think inevitably because of how England have played, that’s the straight line you draw,” said Atherton during Sky Cricket’s post-match analysis.
He continued, “If you get beat like that, play like that it’s the obvious angle to take. England have unquestionably been caught cold here. South Africa look like a side that have been playing 50-over cricket. English players have been playing the Hundred. They’ve had no chance for preparation, they’re playing a completely different format, and it looked like it today.”
Atherton also raised concerns about the demanding schedule and the lack of adequate breaks between format changes.
He explained that players like Root, Brook, and Duckett had “come straight from an arduous five-Test series against India, straight into the Hundred, straight here, so you can argue they are over-cricketed in a way.”
“Your mindset for cricket is not quite in the right place. One thing for me is that one-day cricket is becoming tournament cricket,” Atherton noted. “You have to perform on the day. There is no we will write this off and move on to the next one. How can we still be competitive in this game and not be bowled out for 130?”
The second ODI will be held at Lord’s cricket ground on Thursday, September 3.