Colombo, February 22 – Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned England's batting approach after their lackluster first innings against Sri Lanka in the second match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Super Eights.
Reacting to England's 146/9, which was built on a slow-paced powerplay and a slowdown in the middle overs against spin, Ashwin did not hold back in his assessment of the 2022 champions' intent and clarity.
"England refusing to play the brand of cricket they are capable of playing. This mostly happens when there is uncertainty within the team," Ashwin wrote on X.
England, known for their aggressive white-ball approach, struggled to assert themselves after early setbacks. Jos Buttler was dismissed in the Powerplay attempting a risky reverse shot, and the innings never fully recovered. Despite Phil Salt's half-century, the scoring rate dipped significantly in the middle overs as Sri Lanka's spinners tightened the screws.
Ashwin's comments suggest a possible internal hesitation, a team caught between calculated aggression and scoreboard pressure. England's conservative approach against spin was particularly striking, given their established philosophy of high-tempo batting regardless of conditions.
Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana, capitalized on this indecision. Variations in pace, subtle changes in length, and disciplined field placements forced England into risk-averse strokes, a departure from their usual attacking approach.
Speaking of the first innings, Wellalage (3/26) and Theekshana (2/21) choked the middle overs after early strikes when England were left reeling at 37/2 in the powerplay, their lowest in the tournament.
Phil Salt provided resistance with a 40-ball 62, hitting two sixes and six fours, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as Sri Lanka's spin trio, led by Wellalage (3/26) and Theekshana (2/21), controlled the middle overs with clever variations.
A run-out and disciplined fielding further hampered England's progress. Late boundaries from Will Jacks and Jamie Overton briefly lifted the scoring, but Dilshan Madushanka's double strike in the 19th over and accurate death bowling ensured England finished with a below-par total.
