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England‘s ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign has been off to a sloppy start, surprising cricket fans and experts. The defending champions endured two losses in their first three matches, a notable nine-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the opening match of the prestigious ICC event, and a surprising 69-run defeat against the underdogs, Afghanistan, on Sunday.
This unexpected series of setbacks has raised significant questions and concerns about England’s performance in the tournament, as they now face an uphill battle to regain their winning form and defend their title.
As the Jos Buttler-led side prepares for their upcoming match against South Africa at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday, October 21, the spotlight is on their performance in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Ahead of the match, English cricketer Jonny Bairstow has shared his perspective on his side’s campaign in the tournament, offering insight and analysis into their journey thus far.
Bairstow expresses firm belief in England’s potential
Bairstow expressed confidence in England’s cricket team despite their recent setback in the World Cup 2023. He emphasized the team’s past successes, including winning the T20 World Cup in 2022 and the 2019 World Cup, showcasing their quality. The right-handed batter underlined that one loss to Afghanistan should not diminish their standing as skilled cricketers or defending champions.
“There’s a reason why the guys won the T20 World Cup last year; there’s a reason why the guys won the 2019 World Cup, and we’re the defending champions. Just because we’ve lost a game to Afghanistan doesn’t make us bad cricketers or anything like that,” Bairstow said while addressing the media.
Also READ: World Cup 2023 – Michael Atherton strongly criticizes England after their shocking loss to Afghanistan
Bairstow’s response on English batting firepower
When questioned about his team’s batting abilities, Bairstow expressed faith in their strong batting lineup. He suggested that there has yet to be a significant change, highlighting their depth and firepower. The Bradford-born cricketer showed unwavering belief that the team’s batting capabilities should not be questioned.
“I don’t really think much has really changed, has it? You look at the strength in depth that we have with our batting lineup.. I don’t think the firepower can be questioned. We’re just focusing on ourselves. That’s what we do. We’ll go out and play the way that we’re looking to play, put pressure on the opposition like we said that we’d try and do. People are allowed to bowl or bat well. But if our mindset is right and if the way in which we approach the game is right, then that’s the bit that we can control,” the 34-year-old added.
