IND Vs ENG: Nasser Hussain Vents His Frustrations On England Team's Approach In World Cup 2023

Nasser Hussain, the former England cricket captain, did not hold back his criticism after England’s recent defeat in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, marking their fourth loss in five games. Following an eight-wicket drubbing at the hands of Sri Lanka at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Hussain vented his frustrations, unimpressed by the excuses offered by the English players.

Nasser Hussain was particularly irked by the tendency to shift blame to the England cricket system, which he saw as an evasive tactic on the part of the players. He emphasized that accountability for the team’s performance should squarely rest on the shoulders of the players themselves, instead of relying on the cricket structure as a scapegoat.

Expressing his displeasure, Hussain stated, “What I don’t like is giving players a cop-out, and I think sometimes we do that in English cricket. When they win the 50-over World Cup and the 20-over World Cup, aren’t they great? They’re brilliant. And when the wheels come off, it’s the structure. It’s the structure of English cricket. We’re a disgrace.”

Nasser Hussain Refutes England’s Excuses Of ‘Lack Of 50-Over Cricket’

Nasser Hussain refuted the argument that England’s woes were related to a lack of 50-over cricket. Drawing comparisons to players like Virat Kohli and Heinrich Klaasen, he pointed out that players who excel in the international arena have often honed their skills by participating in T20 franchises worldwide.

He continued, “That’s what’s made this great side over the last six years: travelling around the world and playing T20 franchises. It’s such a lame excuse. You’re giving the players a cop-out when you blame the structure. The structure was what made them world champions. It has exactly the same structure.”

Nasser Hussain acknowledged that there may have been a loss of focus in providing adequate practice and game time leading up to the tournament. However, he emphasized that the structure, encompassing formats like the 100-ball, T20, and 50-over cricket, was the crucible that moulded England’s cricketers.

“When they mess up, they mess up, not the structure. Oh, it’s county cricket; it’s 100; it’s the blast. Root had to answer a question: Oh, maybe we get rid of the blast. That’s what made our cricketers. County cricket makes us the cricketers that we are. Whether it be the 100, the blast, the 50-over, whatever, that’s what makes them. And when they fail, they take the responsibility, in my opinion,” Hussain concluded.

England’s World Cup campaign, which aimed to make them the third team in history to defend the title, has been fraught with disappointment. Having clinched the title in 2019 in a dramatic final against New Zealand, they faced a string of losses, including the recent defeat to Sri Lanka, which has cast a shadow over their aspirations in the tournament.

The Three Lions will face the table toppers India in their next game and it will be a virtual do-or-die for the defending champions. Defeating India in India is going to be a tough task for England but they will be hopeful enough recalling the win against the ‘Men In Blue’ in the 2019 World Cup.