Jonny Bairstow: ‘critics are waiting for us to fail – it’s a typical English thing to do’

England star hits back at the pundits ahead
of must-win clash against India

One-Minute Read

Following emphatic defeats to Sri Lanka and Australia in the
space of four days, England must win their two remaining matches –
against India on Sunday and New Zealand on Friday – to qualify for
the Cricket World Cup semi-finals. 

Failure to do so would be a disaster of seismic proportions for
the future of the sport in this country, a point forcibly made by
Michael Vaughan in an interview with the BBC.

The former England captain has been a vocal critic of England’s slump in form, as
has another ex-skipper Kevin Pietersen, who accused Eoin Morgan of
being “scared” in his approach to the tournament.

Those comments drew a fiery response from Bairstow. “It is
just showbiz, they are paid to have an opinion,” he
blasted.

Accusing some people of “waiting for us to fail”, the
Yorkshireman said: “They are not willing us on to win, in many
ways, they are waiting for you to get that loss, so they can jump
on your throat. It’s a typical English thing to do, in every
sport.”

While there may be an element of truth in that
declaration, it’s surely hard to find any vercity in Bairstow’s
claim England are still “playing a great brand of
cricket”.

India thrash Windies

India made short work of the West Indies at Old Trafford
on Thursday, thrashing their opponents by 125 runs to move to the
brink of semi-final qualification. 

Victory against England at Edgbaston on Sunday will secure
India’s spot in the last four and continue their record as the only
unbeaten team in the tournament.

The West Indies performed creditably with the ball,
restricting India to 268-7 with Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni the only
men to pass 50. But on a slow and unpredictable wicket, the West
Indians toiled from the start and were all out for 143.

The win also moved India to the top of the ODI rankings –
supplanting England – and Kohli was suitably upbeat after the
game.

“We feel we can win from any situation,” said
the India skipper. “We have players who play instinctive
cricket.”

Kit controversy

One issue ahead of Sunday’s mouthwatering clash between
England and India concerns the kit with both sides normally
sporting blue. 

India will have to wear another colour and their choice of
saffron has caused a stink back home, reports the BBC. 

According to some of the country’s politicians the colour
represents that of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by
prime minister Narendra Modi. 

The Congress Party and the Samajwadi Party (SP) have
raised objections to the colour. 

“Modi wants to saffronise the entire country,” said Abu
Asim Azmi, from the SP, which, according to the BBC is a word “used
to describe a Hindu nationalist drive to dominate the country’s
heritage and culture”.

ICC Cricket World Cup fixtures

All matches are live on Sky Sports. 

Group fixtures

• Friday 28 June: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa (10.30am)
• Saturday 29 June: Pakistan vs. Afghanistan (10.30am); New
  Zealand vs. Australia (1.30pm)
• Sunday 30 June: England vs. India (10.30am)
• Monday 1 July: Sri Lanka vs. West Indies (10.30am)
• Tuesday 2 July: Bangladesh vs. India (10.30am)
• Wednesday 3 July: England vs. New Zealand (10.30am)
• Thursday 4 July: Afghanistan vs. West Indies (10.30am)
• Friday 5 July: Pakistan vs. Bangladesh (10.30am)
• Saturday 6 July: Sri Lanka vs. India (10.30am); Australia vs.
  South Africa (1.30pm)

Semi-finals 

• Tuesday 9 July: 1st place vs. 4th place (10.30am; Old Trafford,
  Manchester) 
• Thursday 11 July: 2nd place vs. 3rd place (10.30am; Edgbaston,
  Birmingham)

Cricket World Cup final 

• Sunday 14 July: 10.30am at Lord’s, London