Strauss defends powerplay decision
Andrew Strauss was unhappy with England's batting display
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Sunday, 06, Sep 2009 07:09
By Will Haine.
England captain Andrew Strauss has hit back at criticism of the use of the batting powerplay in his team's 39-run loss to Australia.
The hosts had looked in a good position to win the match but opted to take their five-over powerplay with just six overs remaining and opening bowler James Anderson at the crease.
"I think when you're losing wickets pretty consistently then you've got to keep in the game," said Strauss, who made 47 in the England innings.
"The batting powerplay gives you the opportunity of scoring runs but sometimes you lose a couple of wickets.
"You want a lot to be in your favour when you take it."
Strauss and Ravi Bopara took England to 74-0 in pursuit of 250 to win, but England then lost four wickets for just 23 runs and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. The England skipper feels that it was more down to the failure to build partnerships than the powerplay debacle that led to the loss.
"It's more a reflection of us not batting well enough at the start," he said.
"We feel like we should have won and you can't let opportunities like that slip through your fingers.
"I feel to a certain extent we were the architects of our own downfall."
Paul Collingwood top scored with 56 for England - the only half-century by an England player so far in the series. The failure of any batsman to make a big score is something that needs to be addressed, says Strauss.
"We keep talking about batsmen taking responsibility and going on to score the majority of the runs," he explained.
"We haven't done that in the first two games and need to make sure we do that sooner rather than later."
The England batsmen have the opportunity to do just that at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.