Test Match Special - CWC Day 34: India through, Bangladesh out and England’s date with destiny

Episode Date: July 2, 2019

Eoin Morgan joins the pod ahead of England’s date with destiny against New Zealand. The England captain discusses the success of the team meeting he held prior to the India win, why the loss to NZ in the 2015 World Cup remains one of the lowest moments of his career, and if he's going to bat first if he wins the toss going forward.There’s also reaction from Edgbaston as India book their semi-final spot and eliminate Bangladesh in the process. Criticism of MS Dhoni won’t go away but Prakash Wakankar tells us he’s India’s most selfless cricketer.

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crowd it goes. Island have won and bats are being thrown in the air. The island team are running on. The captain has scored the winning run for Sri Lanka who have won the World Cup for the first time in their history. What a couch! I do not believe what I've just seen. You cannot do that. Goodness Hello and welcome to Edgberston, where India have booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals with victory over Bangladesh, ending the Tigers' qualification hopes in the process. The full story of that match to come, we'll chat to Owen Morgan ahead of England's huge clash against New Zealand and hear about the start of the women's ashes England against Australia at Leicester. The TMS podcast, available every day during the Cricket World Cup.

India are the second side to confirm their semi-final spot. Today's win by 28 runs against Bangladesh moves them to within a point of table-topping Australia. Both sides still have a match to play. Victory for England against New Zealand on Wednesday and they too will be guaranteed a top four place. Ahead of the game, Owen Morgan has been speaking to Stefan Schemelt. Beat New Zealand tomorrow and you're into the World Cup semi-finals lose and you may well go out. Is that a position that you'd have accepted at the beginning of the tournament or is it slightly tinged with disappointment?

Would you have won it's sewn up by now? It's, to be fair, I've looked at the tournament far in advance and anticipated both situations. If we were sitting here now, having qualified already, we'd be talking about are we going to be complacent or are we going to rotate the squad? The situation is that we're in, that we need to win tomorrow's game

in order to confirm immediately that we'll be into the same. semi-final. We're in this situation because we haven't played consistently well enough throughout the group stages. It's not the end of the tournament. It's a huge opportunity for us tomorrow to go on and play against a strong side like we did in Birmingham and India. New Zealand have probably been the team in the tournament so far. They've been extremely strong and have played very consistent cricket. So we're looking forward to it. It's another challenge. Another opportunity for us to go out and play the way we have and in the fashion we did in Birmingham. It was very pleasing for us and as build confidence in the manner in which we played

to hopefully continue that tomorrow. Talk us through what happened last week from the disappointment of Lords to putting in such a good performance against India at Edgebaston. And specifically, Mark Wood was on The Toughers and Vaughn Show last night talking about a team meeting on Friday where there was some truth spoken. Can you talk us through what went on last week? Yeah, after the Australian game, it was clearly extremely frustrating for everybody in the changing room that we hadn't played to our potential, not the fact that we lost a few games.

It was the fact that we hadn't played anywhere near to the cricket standard in which we displayed over the last four years. That was the most frustrating thing. And we discussed being adaptable like we have tried to be throughout the tournament. and trying to stick to our strengths, trying to play our A.E. game with the bat and the ball, and not trying to change anything that has got us to the position of being number one or coming into the tournament as joint favourites. So the majority of the guys spoke in the meeting, and I thought it was an extremely productive one. Guys come out of it, feeling energized, motivated and eager to take on India.

So it was a good clear indicator of sort of reset, except for. where we are at the moment and give clear direction and where we need to go and what we need to do in order to get to the semifinals. Is that something that happens often when the players get together and express that sort of honesty or was it a bit different this time given the situation? No, it hasn't needed to happen that often.

It has happened a couple of times before, but not, I suppose, under the pressures of World Cup. I think we have things set in place that have been there, very basics and principles of our game. We also have some team values as well that are set in place for a situation. like we find ourselves in right now and we've probably never needed them as much as we did previous to that Birmingham game so it's extremely pleasing and

satisfying not only to win the game but to play in the manner that we did I think it gives the lies a lot of confidence last week was a short transformation from Lords to Edgebaston this England team's been on a longer transformation that began four years ago with that game in Wellington against New Zealand I I think the floodlights barely came on by the time England were beaten. It's funny how it comes around, isn't it? It's the same opponents to beat to get into the semi-finals this time. Yeah, it is.

Again, they're a very strong team. They were extremely strong that day, and it was a bit of a one-horse race, to be honest. I'd like to think the things are different now. I think we'll be extremely competitive tomorrow, and hopefully we can win. Can you remember how you were feeling that day? Pretty badly.

It was a terrible day. It was one of those moments in my career that certainly will stand out forever in my life as a day that I was devastated not only the way we performed but the way we, I suppose, carried ourselves from that moment probably through the rest of the tournament. Do you know how you'll feel if it'll go well tomorrow? No, you can get too carried away.

I suppose one of the things you can be lured into thinking is worry about the consequence the whole time but part of the meeting the other day was emphasised the process in which we've been through the hard work we've put in but also the hard work you have to put in in order to earn the right to win a game of cricket I think it'll be a matter of staying in the moment and trying to stick to that process looking ahead to tomorrow everyone fit everyone travelling well specifically joffa archer is his side okay and at edgebaston jason jason rory one wasn't required to field, he's been getting over that hamstring injury. If he has to field for 50 overs, will he be okay?

Yes, start with Joffer. Joffer has come out of the game really well. Jason got hit on the elbow and had quite a big bruise during his innings at Edgebast and hence the reason he didn't feel there was nothing to do with his hamstring. We anticipated him to be fully fit for tomorrow as Jopra and everybody else. Looking at tomorrow and looking at the makeup of the team, it's very simplistic to say when Liam Plunkett plays,

you win but it is a formula that's worked for you isn't it well it is in this particular tournament I think the nature of the wickets that we've played again or played on have suited the bowler of Liam Plunkardstipe now Liam has been outstanding for us to say that you know he's been extremely valuable is a complete understatement because obviously a wicked can suit any batsman or bowler but you still have to go out and play well and he's done that consistently and he's impressed every game that he's played and the games that he's been left out he's made it very difficult for us to make that call

tomorrow, obviously in the morning we'll have to look at the wicket to see if it's changed and try and figure out the make-up of the New Zealand batting line-up is going to be and hopefully pick the D-11 that gives us the best chance of winning the game. That's one formula that's worked well for you, also batting first but not just for England And it seems to be a trend across the tournament that teams batting first have tended to come out on top.

Yeah, personally, I think it's to do with the nature of the wickets. The wickets have been, on average, over the last four years. They've been down on par scores, which has meant that they've gotten worse in the second innings. And it's actually made it more difficult at the toss, knowing what to do, because we've tended to chase, you know, favour to chase over the last three years. So we've changed a little bit with the...

the mantra of the tournament. But obviously, we watched the game yesterday here, Sri Lanka and the West Indies and the wicket look very, very good. So if it plays anything like that, I think it'll stay the same for 100 overs. You talk about that tendency to chase. Is it different, though, in the pressure

of a World Cup, when there's a team against you's got a score on the board? Is there just that more pressure to, I don't know, play tricks in the chase? I think there's naturally a little bit more pressure, but I don't think, probably since the Trembridge game any second innings

game that we've played in not that we've batted it when we've been fielding it's been harder to play your strokes we've seen that at Birmingham the other day when the wicked look absolutely fantastic at the start but it didn't play like that through the whole of the two innings but I think

you know stroke makers like the Indians came out and found it very difficult in the second innings and I think hence why both sides would have won the toss and batted and still confident if you do have to knock off a score to reach semifinals? Yeah, absolutely. I think the one thing the lower scoring games has done is actually brought sides closer together and games closer together, which has probably been more entertaining for the public to watch. Obviously, tighter for the two teams that are playing,

but there's been very few instances where sides have batted people out of the game in the first inning. So I don't think you're out of the game if you lose the toss. Go well. Thank you very much. Well, that's Owen Morgan talking to Stefan Schemelt. Paul Farbrace is with me, former England assistant coach. What would be the feeling in the camp going into this match, Paul? I mean, this is what they've trained and practiced for

and prepared for over four years and it's down to a real crunch time now. Well, I think the first thing is that the line outside of the dressing room will be. We're really excited. We're looking forward to it. You're absolutely right. This is what we've prepared for. This is why we play the game

inwardly. I think there'll be a few nerves. I think they'll be a little bit of anxiousness and I think they'll just want the game to get started now. I think they'll just be looking to make sure. I thought against India, the thing that really impressed me was the way that they started, Roy Berto up front

started and once they got to 40 or 50 the dressing room the nerves would have calmed, everyone would have been relaxed and they set the tone I thought that was fantastic the way they played. But there's no doubt there will be some nerves. It will be some anxiousness. They know how big this game is against New Zealand and they know that New Zealand are a very difficult side to be.

And New Zealand have played some fantastic cricket in this tournament, and they are one of the best team. So it's a huge game. At the same time, the confidence they'll have taken from the Indian game, win the game against New Zealand as well, that will be a brilliant way to go into the semi-final. What about this idea, you know, batting first, batting second? Is the ideal scenario if all things are equal in terms of the weather

and overhead conditions, all that sort of thing, to bat first in a game like this? I think so. I was at Durham on Friday for the South Africa Sri Lanka game and I think it's definitely about first wicket. I think it's a sort of ground where you put, you know, that the big total on the board in the context of this tournament, I think batting first for England is definitely the right way to go. I think 12 out the last 15 or 16 games at Durham, the chasing team have actually won. So stats wise would tell you that chasing is the way to go. I think with the pressure of the game that the nature of where we are in the tournament, I think, think England will be thinking, let's bat first, let's put a big total on the board, and let's really show our dominance and ball one with the bat. So if Kane Williamson wins the toss and bats first, does that have an effect on the dressing room? Well, then at that stage, everyone in the dressing room, support staff and coaches will be saying

it's a great chasing ground. This is the ground where you chase. This is where 12 out the last 15, we've won chase, teams have won chasing. We have a history of chasing here and winning. The thing is, it's actually quite a big film. field, and it's a difficult field to defend. So that's the one thing that, you know, England will very quickly switch their mindset to that. I think they've now got the batting and the bowling, it doesn't matter.

There was a stage where Morgas was definitely somebody that wanted to chase. He felt batting was obviously the strong suit, and he was very confident that the team could chase down anything. I think in this tournament, it's shown us that actually getting scores on the board and batting first is the way to go and the way to win. psychologically that opening partnership if it fails what sort of effect does that have on the dressing room so if you lose one or two early we can see roy ambesto are out early well i think it's more the intent that those two show at the top of the innings i think that's the thing that really sets the tone for england and i think when jason roy didn't play i don't think the intent was quite there jason roy playing i think brings the real intent to the england dressing room and yes of course if they lose one or two to early wickets, then yes, it does put a slightly puts the team on the back foot. I thought that the way that they came out, having lost the two

previous games against Sri Lanka and Australia, the way they came out against India, and the way that they played was absolutely magnificent. I want to see this England team stay on the front foot, look to dominate, look to be positive, and don't just look to play cautious cricket. They play their best cricket when they play

on the front foot and they take the game to the opposition and I want to see them keep doing that. I want to see Howie Morgan keep taking on the short ball. I want to see Jason Roy keep hitting the ball back over the bowler's head. I want to see them play in that way and not at any stage think about safety first, thinking about just getting

a score on the board. When they do that we know, and they know, they don't play their best cricket. England were involved in a real tussle the last time they came up against New Zealand. They won the series 3-2 in New Zealand. I mean, they are really formidable opposition for them. Well,

that's formidable is not quite the right word. They are strong opposition for them. deal with. They are and they've got you know again I think New Zealand have got great great all-round bases covered and you know I watched them play against Sri Lanka down in Cardiff and at that stage it was early on the tournament I thought that they would definitely be won the semi-finals I thought they would walk into the semifinals you know they've got great experience in their middle order batting Taylor and Williamson are fantastic players Kane Williamson's played brilliantly through this tournament they've got a middle order

that you know de grand home Santana Nisham people that can finish innings off really well they've got a fantastic seam attack and you know I think that they've got all bases covered and I think the you know the England team know that but the key thing for this England team is not to concentrate or focus too much on what

New Zealand can or might do but actually to focus on their own game and I think that will be the important message that you know the coaches the support staff will be conveying to the team over these 24 hours it's about what we do it's about how we play it's about our mentality it's about how we turn up and

It's our expectation, and I've been saying this for a little while now, England were not just thinking about winning one of these last two games. England will expect to win these last two. They've beaten India, now they'll be expecting to be in New Zealand, and take that confidence going into the semi-final. But presumably they'll have plans for all the New Zealand batsmen. Kane Williamson, look, I mean, he's the short, not the tallest, but he's head and shoulders in a way above the rest.

How do you deal with him? How do you get him out? What are the plans for King Williamson? Well, there'll be very clear plans for Kane. And that's something that, you know, they'll have spent a bit of time talking about. They'll be spending time talking about where they're going to bowl at him when he first comes in. If he gets in, then how you bowl to him. And I think that, you know, that's something that, you know, the team will have watched.

Footies, the analysts would have done his work. Nathan Lehman will have done his work. And he'll have prepared, you know, good information for the guys to have a clear look at. But as I say, I think the most important thing is that this team don't focus too much on what can Kane-Williamson do. What can Ross Taylor do? What can Colin DeGrandholm do in the middle order? What can Trent Bolt do with the new ball when he swings it? Don't worry too much about that.

What can we do? What's our mindset, the positivity going into the game and the clear mindset, which I thought, as I say, against India, I thought they really had. I thought there, you know, those two defeats, there was obviously some good conversations are taking place in the changing room, and they were very clear. They came out with a very clear mindset. This is how we play.

We're not going to get caught up in what's gone in the previous games. It's now about what we do. I think if England approached this now, with three games to go to win the World Cup, one game at a time, but really clear in their mindset how they go, and focus on them and not worry too much about who it is they play. Whoever they play now, hopefully in three more games are going to be very strong sides. So let's not worry about Bolt or Stark or Koli or anybody else. Let's worry about what we do and focus on what we do.

How many times did you have, in your time as England Assistant Coach, the type of meeting that they clearly had before the India match or clear the air meeting. Did you need those meetings or was this sort of like a, you know, this was sort of line in the sand meeting because of what happened earlier in the World Cup? Well, they're not a team that enjoy too many meetings. They're not a team that enjoy long meetings. I mean, I think we started calling them conversations and chats in the end rather than meetings. And, you know, I've obviously heard that, you know, they've had some conversations in the last few days. I think the message of the meeting will have been about, let's just get rid of any noise from outside.

Let's get rid of any noise around this team. the only people that can have any influence on us winning this World Cup other group that's in this room now that's the message that they will have been having and you know Trevor Bayless doesn't say a huge amount when he does it counts we're knowing Morgan speaks people listen Josh Butler Ben Stokes I'm sure they'll have had something to say and I think that's the the message really will have been look we've come through four years of really hard work four years of really enjoying the way that we've played four years of knowing that we wanted to come to this World Cup being

one in the world coming into the tournament, which they achieved, and we want to play the way that we play. That's what's got us this far. We've taken risks. We've taken counter-attacking opportunities to get ourselves to be number one. If we'd have carried on playing how we used to play, we wouldn't have come into this tournament number one. We'd have come in much further down the list. So it's taken bravery, it's taken a high level of skill, and it's taken an awful lot of hard work to get to this stage. Let's make sure that if we go out of this tournament, we go out with a bang, we don't grow out with a whimper. And I think in a nutshell, that will be in the gist of the meeting. The TMS podcast, available every day during the Cricket World Cup.

Let's just confirm it then. A win for England against New Zealand, and they'll be into their first World Cup semi-final since 1992. The only team that can now overtake them is Pakistan. That's after Bangladesh's hopes of qualification were ended by India, a 28-run victory for India at Edgbustan Prakash Wakanka and Rushan Alam are with me it was a fascinating game big crowd noisy crowd

and India at the end were they were pushed Roshan but Bangladesh didn't quite have enough yeah I think so I think the one thing that sort of changed with this Bangladesh side in this World Cup is the amount of fight they have I think in the past we might have seen them sort of slip and collapse and almost be bowled out for 200 odd so

even in defeat a lot of courage a lot of pride to and a lot of positive things to take from this defeat, I think. But how much disappointment? Do you think they would have targeted a semi-final place at the start, realistically targeted a semi-final spot? Yeah, I think everyone was very kind of cagey about what their expectations in the World Cup were, but I think everyone was

always quietly confident. This was a team that felt they could be any of the other sides in this World Cup. So a semi-final spot would have been the kind of dream, and I think for as long as that was mathematically possible in the tournament, they would have gone for it. So to actually be out of the World Cup and it be categorically, you know, decided,

I think that's going to hurt. what did they fail to do where was this ultimate weakness do you think the annoying thing is it was all mistakes that they may have made today but wouldn't necessarily make i didn't think there were a massively underlying problems it was a tamim drop there were a couple of soft dismissal so there was nothing there where i went well that's a big area that bangladesh needs to work on it was just a day on game and things didn't go to the plan and they might look back on that new zealand match right at the start of the tournament

and think oh if only absolutely i think that's that's the one we'll look back on, I think they'll look back on the Sri Lanka game and the washout and think, well, would one extra point have made a difference? But, I mean, those are all should or would have kudders in the grand scheme of things now. What happens to this team? Does it get broken up? Does it just go on its merry way and just trying to keep improving? I mean, are their players waiting to come in? I think the team will grow. And I think it's set up now in such a way that there are young players coming through. The squad is a wonderful combination of really experienced players, people with kind of,

who are in the middle of their careers and younger players coming through. So a lot will now depend on when Masharafi decides to formally call time and retire, who's going to captain the side going forward to the next World Cup. But I think a transition period is inevitable, whether that happens off the back of the World Cup or in six months, nine months time. Well, you know, that's to be seen. What about India Prakash?

They're there. You might have thought they might have got there a bit early. Mind you, they started the tournament quite late, didn't they? The South Africa's third match was India's first match. They're in the semi-final. I don't think there was ever a great doubt that would happen. defeat to England, and they were pushed really a long way today by Bangladesh.

Oh, certainly, and I think when you look at India's campaign, I agree that making the semifinals, I think, was in many ways something that most people thought they would. But if you just run through the results, close game today against Bangladesh, very close game

against Afghanistan, I think the challenge really lies with India's middle order muddle, as I keep calling it. They've got to find a solution. India have gotten this far, really without playing, I believe, their best cricket so far. Their bowlers have been outstanding. The top of their batting has more often than not clicked.

But Shikhar Davan's absence, I think, is probably even bigger for this Indian team than Jason Roy's wars for those two games against England. Or I'd equated at least because Jason Roy had an injury from which I'm glad that he's been able to recover. No such chance for Shikhar Davan and he's just upset the Apple Card. India will have to do some serious thinking before they get to the same. semifinal and actually play it. Is M.S. Doni part of that middle order

muddle? Here's some tweets. Shreda says, Doni puts more pressure on the other batsmen on the pitch than the opposition bowlers. Parash, if we had year 2007's MS. Doni, he would have forced today's M.S. Doni to take retirement and make way

for a new talent. Travid and Ganguli can vouch for it, and Ramesh, if Doni hits singles and the death overs, he is wrong. If Doni retains strike, so he can hit boundaries and doesn't take singles. He is wrong again. What is he supposed to do? So there's both sides of the coin there. Some support for Doni from Ramesh, but Stridar and Parrish, not so keen on Doni, the modern

Doni. Yes, Simon, you've seen Indian cricket for as long as many of us have, and you will know how emotional Indian cricket fans are. I think it's a continental trait. Clearly, there is two schools of thought. That part which believes that Doni is over the hill and he should really call time and hand over to someone younger and sharper. And then there is the teams or they're the people that matter. Virat Koli, for starters, the Indian team management, the Indian selectors. And I think above all, knowing Mahi, as I call him, for the years that I've known him himself,

he is arguably, and you can scoff at this, but he's arguably the most selfless cricketer that I have known in this Indian team with the exception of Rahul Dravid. And I think he is somebody who I believe is the central processing unit of this Indian team. When he's in the field, he is really the one who's marshalling the finer points, the angles, etc. Yes, he's the wicket keeper, but he's also the one with the calmest head. Let me just say one little thing. When he comes out to bat, and let's say there's five wickets down, he knows that the last four batters to come really can't contribute much at all.

So he's got to marshal between Hardek and whoever else is with him, whether it's Dinesh Khartik today or it's, you know, Kedar Jadav. He's got to marshal that, determine what can be the score, how much of a chance to take and when to go big. When he's chasing, it looks even more awkward because then the challenge is, if you, do you lose by 45 runs or 50 runs, or do you try and marshal it? So I think he is in a very difficult position. I understand the anguish of people because don't. Tony himself has created those expectations of doing impossible things. And therefore, his real value to this Indian team will come when he hangs up his gloves. That's when everyone will realize what he used to be for the team.

He came in at 237 for 3.30th over. He was out in the 50th over for 35, 311 for 7. India hit 63 in the last 10 overs. What you would say, ultimately, it was enough. They made 314, and they won the game by 311. 28 runs. Yes, they did. And yet, you know, I completely understand the criticism. It is something that baffled a lot of us, particularly in that England game. Do you go down in a blaze of glory? I think it may

well have been something that just resulted in the fact that somewhere net run rate was thought to be important. But I don't think it's relevant for India. It may come into play number 3, 4, depending on how things happen. But no, MS. Doney, for me, every single of time. I've asked you Roushan about Bangladesh. What about India? I hope they're going to win the tournament now after knocking us out. Yeah, no, I mean, they're clinical, they're professional. I mean, today actually, Virat Koli, some of the celebrations that get in the Bangladesh wicket felt to me the first time we'd actually seen the masks slip and a little bit of emotion.

But normally, quite a clinical, very professional, very calm side. They've sort of come to this World Cup. They know what they need to do. And they're getting about their business. And that's, you know, what you get with this India side, the kind of giants of world cricket. And so, yeah, I couldn't see them going on to win this. I mean, yeah, their results may not have been as clinical. They've not necessarily had big thrashings, but they get the job done. That's what India do. And some thoughts, Prakash, on Bangladesh.

Well, I think I'm, I just continue to be impressed by Bangladesh. I liked what Russian said in terms of the team in transition. Look, Sri Lanka, who went much further than Bangladesh, now find themselves in a seriously precarious position. Glad to see, for example, Shabir Ahmed today, the way he batted, Shaifuddin, almost did it. And I think as long as there is young talent coming through and the senior players are able to mentor the younger talent, integrate them into the side and sort of gracefully move on, I think Bangladesh cricket is in a very, very good place. I would just like to say, Simon, it's a pity that Bangladesh are not going out and playing in Australia or England as much as others.

I know India are hosting them now for, I think, a test match, three ODIs and a couple of T-20s. They just need to get that. How long does Bangladesh have to wait to be recognized as a side that can beat anyone in any format on their day? Well, almost but not quite, from Bangladesh. She actually sitting in seventh place with three wins from eight matches. They've got one game to go against Pakistan, and it remains to be seen how vital that game is for Pakistan on Friday at Lord. It all depends on the England against New Zealand match at Chessler the Street.

Thanks, Prakash and Roushant. Let's hear from the two captains. They spoke afterwards to Harsha Bogley. Yes, Bangladesh put up a wonderful fight today. It became pretty close in the end, you can be pretty proud of that, Runches. Yeah, I think so, but, you know, that was the match, you know, we have to win. So I think we couldn't make it, but that was a good effort, you know. Obviously, Mustafa's ball well and betting.

we couldn't have a lot of partnership in the middle, that's the problem. I was going to ask you about that. So many partnerships that threatened, but not one partnership that became match winning. Yeah, 100%. I think one of them could have been go 80 or 90s, it would have been a different match. But again, I'd say no, 47, 41, it's a bit asking too much. Do you think you've played better than the results indicate? Yeah, I think so.

A bit of luck could have been going our way. Obviously, it was, it was been nice, I think exceptionally played by Sakivalasan, and obviously, mushy batted so well throughout of the tournament. How much of that one catch affect you? Yeah, I mean, you know, batsman like Roy Chalma, you know, is in such a good form. Obviously it effect, but, you know, it's happened in cricket, so I cannot blame and just in one catch. But to be honest, you know, after that catch, scoring 100, obviously, there's no, it's a lot, but again, I would say it's something, you know,

going to happen in the field. Your supporters have been fantastic right through this tournament. You've got one more chance to show them when you play your next game against Pakistan. Yeah, obviously. You know, we'll play at our best, obviously. And fans have been fantastic throughout this tournament, obviously today as well. Hopefully we'll finish up with a good note. Wish you well too.

I've enjoyed watching your play. You and your team play. Well played. Thank you. Always good to see. Nice little work. This game has played a very good spirit. Yeah, it was.

I mean, Bangladesh has played some really good cricket in the tournament. deserve a lot of credit for the fight to put up. I mean, even till the last wicket, I think they were in the game with their intent. So we had to work hard for the win. And yeah, we're very happy that we saw Q in front of the team's name on the table now. I mean, it was almost there anyway,

but now one box sticks, breathing a little better? Yeah, look, another game as an opportunity for us to do the same things that we've done so far in the tournament. And I think that will keep us in the frame of mind that we need to be in heading into the semifinals. So yeah, as I said, very, very happy that we qualified already one game to spare and as a captain and the whole team is very, very happy at the moment.

Now, interesting, you went in with five bowlers today. You didn't have a sixth bowling option unless you were going to bowl yourself. That's a big vote of confidence in, say, someone like Hardik, isn't it, who's bowled so well for you? Yeah, look, we experienced that Hardik when put under pressure, has come back really well in this tournament. You know, first three, four overs if they travel,

he finds a way to contain the runs and get you So I think he's really looking forward to doing stuff for the team, and that's really helping his cricket. And when he comes to bowling, he thinks like a batsman. So he has a gut feel of what the batsman might do. So when someone bowls like that, you always have that extra bit of cushion of knowing what needs to be done in different situations. He actually wants the ball under pressure because he thinks like a batter, so he can check body language and know what to bowl when. So, yeah, he's bowling really well for us. I know five bowlers was a bit of a gamble, but we had to change combinations because of the ground dimensions.

Yeah, I was going to ask you that. Was this a team selected specifically for this game? Yes, it was. I mean, we wanted to try out the perfect combination when we play a small boundary, and we can't be stubborn about playing one combination for every pitch and every dimension that we play in. So, yeah, we needed to be a bit more flexible because we didn't win the last game, and yeah, we just got the result today. I know you're never satisfied, but now that you've qualified,

is there something more you're looking for from this team? Not really, I mean, as I said. More runs at the end, maybe, or you're happy with that? Yeah, look, we can look to capitalize on situations when we are in a great position to get those 30 extra runs. That's something we definitely want to go for in the next game. And look, it's not going to be a cakewalk. I mean, Sri Lanka is a really good side. And we have to play good cricket to be in that position to actually do that.

We have to see the pitch also. But very happy with the way the team has played so far. And I just want the guys to continue the good habits heading into the last game of the league stage. Hello, I'm Chris Wokes. Thank you so much for downloading the TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup and I'm my friends at Test Match Special really do appreciate you listening If you want to get in touch with them Send them a lovely email on TMS at bbc.co.uk.

Put podcast in the title Why do I have to read this shit? I mean, I don't even like them Friket sake Right now a huge summer of cricket in the UK gets busier and busier The multi-format women's ashes started today with the first one-day international in Leicester and Alison Mitchell can bring us the story of the match. Well, welcome to Grace Road, Lester,

where Australia's women have won the first of the Ashes One Day internationals, beating England by two wickets, chasing down a low target of 178 inside the 43rd over. But it was only a two-wicket win. It did get a lot tighter than anybody imagined after England were dismissed for just 177. I've got England World Cup winner, Edmundie Rainford Brent, alongside me. Ebony, that 177 all out

was never going to be enough to what extent will England take some heart that they at least managed to make it tighter than anybody expected. Yeah, I think the character was the key thing I said halfway through when you knew England were up against it is that even if you don't win, you're going to set the tone with this performance

on how this rest of the series is going to be. And I think that the fact that all the bowlers chipped in, you know, I think there's some real sort of standouts, but they fought all the way to the last minute, which shows that we are in for a. an excellent series at the moment. Both teams have areas to work on but they both really, really want to be

successful in this and I think this game today just sum that up. Elise Perry took three for 43 off the seven overs she bowled and she took three of those first four wickets. England were 19 for four in 5.1 overs. Beaumont, Jones, Taylor and Knight all out cheaply. Ducks for Jones and Knight. To what extent to England need to go

away and when you look at those dismissals, look at some of the shots that were playing with us. Yeah, I think If I'm honest, I don't think it was Perry's best as such. You know, she put the ball in roughly in the right area. Maybe Amy Jones, I think she worked her out with a short ball. But other than that, the top four that she, or the three that she got rid of were all really loose shots, you know, playing through the gate, playing off balance, getting bold. Things like that are not really what was needed when it wasn't seeming around. So England have to reflect on that and just make sure that they establish partnerships at the top of the order.

That's one thing that England have done well coming into this. but when they're tested, that's when it matters. Yeah, the Wicked of Amy Jones was a huge moment for Australia because she's been incintillating form hitting 50 after 50 in her in recent innings. There is a talking point over a couple of decisions. One being really the LBW of Fran Wilson. When she was dismissed for 15, England were 44 for 5 in the 12th over. You could argue that a lot of damage was already done by that point.

But replays showed when she was given out LBW sweeping the left arm spin of Jess Jonathan. She was in fact struck on the glove. but there is no decision review system in this Ashes series. Let's have a listen. We'll come back to that point because we'll listen now to Henry Moran, catching up after the game with the England captain Heather Knight. Panic stations, or is that not your vibe as a team? No, of course not.

They're a good team. We're allowed to lose games of cricket. We've obviously been on a brilliant run and we took it close. But no, I think it's important we sort of park today a little bit, take the things we can, the things we need to improve on, the things we've done well, and start fresh on Thursday and they really come out of them hard. Keep the same mentality we've had in that last 40-odd-avers.

Now, DRS isn't available in this series. It would have proved crucial in the wicket of Fran Wilson. How frustrating is it not to having it available? Yeah, look, you always want the best as players and DRS is the best. I guess we want it. I'm sure it's money that the reason is we haven't. But that's out of our hands, I guess it's the same for both teams. And it would have been nice, I think, for both teams to have it in the last session.

series so yeah look it is how it is and we'll play accordingly but you'd like to say it in the future for all series presumably yeah of course I would it's something the men obviously have as a as a constant and it improves the spectacle I think and it alleviates obviously that bad decisions having an impact on the game but yeah we'll see what happens well there's some strong words there from heather particularly on the DRS coming out quite unequivocally really saying yeah we want the best as players and DRS is the best. Is that got to be a matter of priority going forward? It's the home boards, isn't it?

Which ultimately decide do we have DRS, DRS or not? And this is a marquee series. Well, there's two things here. One, we saw Fran Wilson at the time of the decision, she was frustrated. For Heather Knight as a captain, that's going to leave you a little bit angry. You know, you're fighting back,

you look at the result now, and that wicket had such an impact in the start of this tournament, which could set so many things up. So as a captain, you're annoyed, the other thing is there is no bigger tournament in the world than the ashes for the women's game. And it's used in World Cups, every sort of cycle or whatever it is. But, you know, you just feel that if there's an importance and there's a moment to use it, it would be now. So I think there needs to be a little bit of reflection on this being brought into the game.

We're seeing in football VAR's becoming vital in the men's game, DRS is crucial now. You can't imagine it without it. The women games progress now, and I think we want to see much more of that. And it's a game which, yeah, it's professional. So careers are hinging on these decisions now, isn't it? It's actually money and livelihood that comes into it. But is there a question around dropping DRS into a sudden international series when the players don't have much experience of it at any other time?

But then that's what's happened in the World Cups, isn't it? It's kind of, the first time you ever use DRS is at a World Cup. You're kind of thinking, actually, could we use it somewhere else, please? We need to get accustomed to it. I think, look, I understand there's a financial, implication, and that does come with it. But I think when you have got sort of a certain amount of technology at the game, even if it's not a full system of DRS implemented,

I think people would still appreciate using Hawkeye or Ultra Edge, which was in place today, just as a bare minimum, because players do need to get used to it. And I think the umpires want to eradicate the howlers. So there's so many, it was highlighted today. This is the biggest series in the global game that one and two playing off. You know, like you say, careers, all sorts. Fran Wilson today,

She was looking good if she kicked on and scored, who knows how that would have set her up. Thank you, Ebony. We will see you back here along with us in just two days' time for the second of the Women's One Day Internationals in the multi-format Ash's series. But game one has been taken by Australia, a slender two-wicket win, chasing down their target of 178 in the 43rd over. So England took it deep, but Australia have come out on top. The TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup. Right, last but not least, our email section and one new country ticked off our list

thanks to Michael Palmer's email from Venezuela. Bruno Porter, meanwhile, emailed in on Sunday to say he was attempting to listen to the pod from the pyramid stage at Glastonbury but was struggling to hear due to the noise, no surprise there. David Tomlinson is listening to the podcast every day from aboard a geotechnical research vessel

off the shore of Mauritania in the Atlantic. We must be into double figures for pod listeners now from Mauritania, extraordinary stuff. Still no luck, though, from Benin, Camoros or Guinea. Can we tempt anyone with some flight deals? Flights from London to Benin, two stops in Brussels and Ivory Coast,

around £850, Amsterdam and Kenya en route to Camoros, under £800. Heath Road to Canacri Airport in Guinea, one stop in Morocco, very manageable. Paul Stubbs, we're nearing the end of the tournament with a number of countries still outstanding,

but I have a solution. Just visit those countries diplomatic residences in London. By being there, you were on their sovereign territory under the Vienna Convention. We might have to take you up on that, Paul. He says, I'm willing to spend a day around London listening to you as I visit them. I can even pop along to Ealing to visit North Korea's embassy. Right, New Zealand against England coverage, 930 on sports extra, 1015 on Radio 4 Longwave, highlights via the BBC Sport website and app. Four years in the making and it's crunch time for England at Chesterly Street.

Goodbye for now. The TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup. Download and subscribe via the BBC Sounds app for a new episode every day.