England vs India: Nasser Hussain baffled by Charlotte Edwards’ 38-run loss | cricket news

Nasser Hussain questioned England’s selection after Charlotte Edwards’ side suffered a disappointing 38-run loss to India in their T20I series opener on Thursday night.

The hosts were brimming with confidence after a 2-1 series win over New Zealand earlier this week, but half-centuries from India’s Jemimah Rodriguez (69) and Yastika Bhatia (54) lifted the visitors to a massive victory.

While Amy Jones starred with the bat, hitting 67 off 48 deliveries to put herself in contention to open next month’s Women’s T20 World Cup, the batsmen struggled to score as the hosts lost the wickets of Jones, Danny Gibson, Freya Kemp and Yi Yi Wang for just nine runs as they fell short of the 19-run target.

While Lauren Bell took three wickets, England also had difficulty dislodging Rodriguez and Bhatia, with India rushing to 50 in their fourth over off 23 deliveries. Issey Wong also struggled with the ball, conceding 27 runs in his first over, including a series of wides and boundaries from Bhatia.

Bale’s usual new-ball partner, Linsey Smith, was rested for the match as former England captain and Sky Sports commentator Hussain Kane expressed his confusion.

“I’m not sure England are good enough at the moment, given recent performances at the World Cup, to suddenly say: ‘We’re going to let everyone go and change our winning formula’,” Hussain said.

“The most successful formula for England in the powerplay is Lauren Bell at one end and Linsey Smith at the other end.

“What do they do? They rest Linsey Smith! He rests six months in the winter.

“England didn’t play an international game from October 29 to May, and they’re resting people now. We’re two weeks away from the World Cup, play your best side!

“Bring someone in, and they (Wong) go for 27; the pace you get from Lauren Bell (taking two wickets in the first over), it’s washed away! It was England’s undoing.

“India will jump into it because they are a very good team.”

Jones stars as more questions loom over England’s top order

The biggest conundrum of the series against India was who Edwards would pick to open the batting for England during the World Cup.

Edwards admitted earlier in the week that her batters were “giving me a headache”, with Danny Watt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight and likely Nate Syver-Brant, if fit to play, fighting for three spots at the top of the order.

Sky Sports commentator and former England pacer Tash Farrant believes Jones has now pushed his name into the frame to open the batting after a stunning knock that saw him hit his sixth Twenty20 half-century in 32 deliveries.

“More confusion and also I think less confidence to win the series against New Zealand,” Farrant said while talking about the selection.

“They knew India was going to step up from New Zealand.

“Now we almost have another guy at the top of the order with Amy Jones. I thought she batted really well tonight.”

Wyatt-Hodge is expected to return from parental leave for the series, while it is unclear when Sciver-Brunt can return from a calf injury that saw him miss the ODIs and T20I series against New Zealand earlier this month.

The right-hander has now scored eight, 26, 22 and 16 in his last four T20 Internationals.

Farrant said, ‘I am confused as to who will bat at the top of the order. “I think Danny Watt-Hodge is going to be back at the top for England.

“Sophia Dunkley looks like she’s struggling for form too.

“I’m confused about what the batting order is. After this game you almost see the confidence going in the wrong direction.”

Alice Capsey, who scored an unbeaten 74 in England’s first T20 against New Zealand, was dismissed for six, while Freya Kemp was caught by Richa Ghosh off Deepti Sharma for eight. Meanwhile, Dani Gibson was dismissed on the first ball by Abhishek Nandani Sharma.

“It seems to me England are auditioning this top order at the moment,” said Sky Sports’ Mark Butcher. “Surely they should be thinking about preparing themselves for the World Cup?”

“Before they picked the team, Davina Perrin could have played in the top order,” Hussain responded.

“They’ve gone with the tried and trusted, and they still don’t quite know who’s going to open the first game.”

Hussain supported Knight despite his poor performance

Knight, meanwhile, made 21 off 24 deliveries before he was caught by Rodrigues for a boundary off Sreecharani.

In his last four T20 matches, Knight has scored 21, 18, 25 and 19. But despite struggling to put up a big score, Hussain still backs the former England captain to perform.

“You don’t change your mind based on one innings. I back Heather Knight because she has been a world-class player for a long time, and under pressure, you need people like Heather Knight. She has done it for many years.

“But he’ll know his last four innings, and especially today, when you’re chasing a run, to score 20 a ball, three runs-a-ball 20 when the run-rate is going through the roof, that’s the easy role.

“The toughest role is coming, and all of a sudden you’re down on 12, and you haven’t faced a delivery, and you’re out in the field, and you’re not in a power play and people are chewing, the worst thing you can do is – you’re better off getting out for a duck in the first ball than getting 20 (deliveries) in 20 balls.

“That injury, he couldn’t play T20 Internationals for a year. The hamstring pulled here was serious. He’s been out of the team for a long time in this format. Maybe it’s taking time to get going. He’s not that mobile.

“She’s not someone like Jemimah Rodrigues, who is putting the bad balls away, and she mentions running between the wickets. Knock in the gap and come back for two. Jemimah looks a lot busier. They’re both touch players. Heather Knight has opened the off side as well as Jemimah, but if Jemimah isn’t too busy, you don’t bowl.

“But he (Knight) has been around long enough to know that if you’re chasing 180, that innings isn’t necessary.”

England vs India T20I Series Results/Fixtures

All times UK and Ireland, All live on Sky Sports

• 1st T20I (Chelmsford)- India won by 38 runs
• 2nd T20 (Bristol) – Saturday 30 May (2.30pm)
• 3rd T20I (Taunton) – Tuesday, June 2 (6.30 pm)

Watch the full Women’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports from June 12 to July 5. Hosts England will open the tournament with a game against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on the opening night of the tournament (6.30pm kick-off). Didn’t get the sky? Get Sky Sports or Stream with NOW