Aakash Chopra points out issues with England’s batting before series decider: You expect better from Ben Stokes

England are going to be up against India at Manchester in the final game of the ODI series with the scoreline tied at 1-1. Both teams have been handed heavy defeats due to their respective batting failures. Former India cricketer, while doing his pre-match analysis in his YouTube channel, pointed out the same and said that England’s batting woes might end up costing them big time. He criticised the entire batting order stating that all of them have their issues to deal with.

“England have the might although their batting is also going bad. If you see their top order, they are succumbing easily. Ben Stokes – no one plays so many reverse sweeps, play with the straight bat. You expect a little better from someone like Ben Stokes.”

“Jason Roy’s bat hasn’t fired at all. He remains extremely worried and keeps poking at away-going deliveries. His number is in Shami’s pocket, he has troubled him a lot. Bumrah is also troubling him.”

He took on former England Test captain Joe Root and said that he has been disappointing in this series.

“Joe Root has been a disappointment so far in this series, he is not taking the name of stopping in Tests. He has been seen playing white-ball cricket after a year. In the first match, it was Bumrah’s ball and he got dismissed while playing the sweep in the second match.”

England’s batting order comes with a big reputation, with their middle order strength. Chopra criticised swashbuckling batter Liam Livingstone and said that the player needed to keep a cool head on him in tough periods of the game.

“He (Root) generally doesn’t miss it but got out off Chahal’s ball. He is a very big player whose bat will fire now. Liam Livingstone tries to be a little too emotional and aggressive. It can work out if he plays a little cautiously.”

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