Back to basics for England
Monday, 19 Jun 2006 23:28
Back to basics for England
All-rounder Jamie Dalrymple has said that England need to get back to basics if they are to bounce back in the second one-day game against Sri Lanka.
The Middlesex man only made his debut for England against Ireland last week but made 67 at Lord's on Saturday against the Sri Lankans, with the home side going down to a 20-run defeat.
Now he insists that if England are to get back in the five-match series, and end a run of 11 defeats in 15 one-day internationals, they must start concentrating on the basics.
"We need to perform the basics as well as we can and win the first game and from there it becomes a habit," Dalrymple said.
"You've got to get the first win under you belt however it comes. You may have to be gritty or even grind out a victory and if we can do that we can build on it."
England go into the game at the Oval tomorrow knowing that they must improve with the ball if they are to have any chance of winning.
They conceded 42 extras on Saturday and chairman of selectors David Graveney has warned that the team will fail in Australia and at next year's World Cup unless they improve.
However, one of the few bright spots for England with the ball was Dalrymple, who went for under a run a ball from his five overs, and he admitted that he was glad he didn't disappoint.
"It's a nice thing to prove to yourself that you can play and to give some form of possible explanation for why you've been given the chance," Dalrymple added.
"All I wanted to do was come into the side and bat and bowl in the manner that I have in the past and if I did that then great."
England will continue to be captained by Andrew Strauss in Michael Vaughan's absence.