On Tuesday, England lost their third and final ODI against India by 13 runs at Chester-le-street. India sat the target of 318 runs, only five wickets down, including the marvellous century by their captain Harmanpreet Kaur. But England team was all out at 305 with one ball left.
Katherine Sciver-Brunt, England’s former bowler, questioned England’s Women team about their lack of desire, discipline and fight back during tough games after losing to India 2-1 ODI series.
Wife of England’s captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, Katherine Sciver-Brunt, mentioned that England team should focus on some more fight during challenging games, after their narrow defeat from India.
“It’s hard for me to understand some people sometimes, and their attitudes, because to me it looks lazy and like they don’t care,” Katherine told BBC Test Match Special. “Are they actually feeling like that? Or do you actually care a lot and that is your way of showing it? I struggled a lot with that.”
“It came across to me as bad attitude and no discipline. That is definitely not what I’m seeing from everyone but at times there are examples.”
Fielding always remained difficult for England’s team, during T20 World Cup last October they showed very poor fielding against West Indies by dropping five catches, only Sophie Ecclestone showed some responsible bowling by taking 1 wicket in 4 overs and giving 28 runs.
“When the pressure gets to them they go external and what comes out is not good cricket,” Katherine continued. “They are being crippled inside and suddenly they are not switched on or they suddenly don’t want the ball because they are scared to fail.”
“A lot of versions like me have left the team, and a lot of different versions have come into the team. Nat is captain now and she’s the polar opposite to me, she’s very quiet, inside and patient. She is everything I am not. You know how I feel but you wouldn’t know how Nat is feeling.”
“I wouldn’t say that nobody in this team wants it, they all want it and to do their best. There is a lot of timid people and not many front-footed people who are willing to do anything.”
“I don’t think everyone is doing everything they possibly can. And the key to that question is why? I don’t think there is anything malicious in that, it is a mental thing. We just need to be stronger internally and be more outwards with our fight.”
In a post-match press conference, Nat was questioned about the performance of team, which she replied that her team were trying their best, Nat also scored 98 off 105 runs.
“I’ve actually been put in that situation before when I was a lot younger – ‘she’s so relaxed, she doesn’t look like she’s that interested’ – but on the inside that’s not what’s true,” she said.
“I guess from the outside people might look in certain ways, but you never know what’s going on inside. I know everyone on that pitch is committed to doing the best they can for England.”
Charlotte Edwards, England Women’s head coach, added: “I couldn’t be happier with where the squad’s at the moment, in terms of their attitude and effort and professionalism they’ve shown. That was something that I made very clear when I came into this role and I couldn’t be happier.”
