Kolkata, February 16 – England all-rounder Will Jacks said his maiden T20I half-century was “long overdue” after delivering a match-winning performance to guide his side into the Super Eights of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a victory over Italy in their Group C clash at Eden Gardens.
“We had discussed the previous few games, maintaining our focus. I think we had been a bit static at times, and we understood that this was a very good pitch, and we know this is a ground where scoring runs is very fast. So, when you bat first, you never know what's enough. That's what we aimed for throughout,” Jacks said during the post-match presentation after being named Player of the Match.
Jacks played a crucial role in England posting a formidable 202/7, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 53, and ensuring his side maintained momentum on a high-scoring pitch. Reflecting on his milestone knock, Jacks expressed satisfaction at finally achieving the landmark after adapting to different roles within the team.
“It feels like it was long overdue. There have been a few role changes, and it took some time. So, it's nice to have achieved that. I feel like I'm settling into my role in the batting order quite well now,” he said.
He also explained his approach to scoring on a ground known for its short boundaries, emphasising the importance of targeting key areas, stating, “Always look straight. It's a short boundary down the ground, and they were trying to hit the gaps late. So, we always aim straight and adjust from there.”
Jacks’ contribution was not limited to batting; he also delivered a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Italy captain Ben Manenti, whose explosive innings had threatened to turn the match.
“Yeah, he played incredibly well, and he was striking the ball better than anyone else. Initially, I was trying to bowl full and straight, but I missed slightly, and he was good enough to hit that. So, I tried to change and bowl wide, and thankfully, I got that wicket. If he had batted for a few more overs, who knows what could have happened,” he noted.
Despite England’s qualification, Jacks admitted that the team still had areas to improve heading into the next stage of the tournament. Looking ahead to the Super Eights, he acknowledged the challenges posed by new conditions and opposition.
“Yeah, that’s the most important thing – that we’ve qualified. It doesn’t matter how we did it. We know we need to be a lot better. Simple as that. We’re going to Sri Lanka now, with different conditions and new opposition. We have a lot to work on, and we'll try our best,” he concluded.
