World Twenty20 2012: England can play spin, insists Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad dismissed the suggestion that his side cannot play spin after England were bamboozled by Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla to finish 80 all out, suffering a humiliating 90-run defeat by India.

It was England’s heaviest-ever T20 defeat as they posted their lowest total in the format chasing India’s 170 at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in the final Group A game.

“Yes, it was poor. We played across the line too much. It was worth looking at playing one fewer spinner because we could afford to lose,” said Broad about the decision to drop left-arm spinner Samit Patel for seamer Tim Bresnan.”

He added: “I don’t agree we can’t play spin. Certainly in training. We have been learning. We have had a very bad day, but that doesn’t affect the rest of the tournament.

“We get onto the bus, and play out Super Eights. It doesn’t change where we go.”

Before the game Broad claimed the team would be taking the match as seriously as any other, despite both sides having already qualified for the super eights, while MS Dhoni claimed India would use the match as a practice game.

The outcome suggested the opposite.

With India resting Ravi Ashwin, Zaheer Khan and Virender Sehwag, the result was all the more embarrassing.

Having won the toss, England’s pace attack of Steven Finn, Jade Dernbach, Bresnan and Broad all failed to keep their economy below eight runs per over, as their opponents posted 170-4 from their 20 overs.

Only Graeme Swann, who snaffled the wicket of Virat Kohli (40), returned respectable figures of 1-17 from his four overs.

India’s batsmen looked assured as Rohit Sharma smashed 55 not out from just 33 balls, while opener Gautam Gambhir added a stylish 45 at the top of the order, before being caught behind off the bowling of Finn.

Set 171 to win, England were woeful as they slumped to 80 all out from just 14.4 overs.

Singh (4-12) and Chawla (2-13) ripped through England with devastating fashion, taking a combined 6-25 from eight overs. Left-arm quickie, Irfan Pathan, accounted for Alex Hales – who was bowled for duck – and Luke Wright, trapped lbw, at the top of the order.

Craig Kieswetter’s innings of 35 from 25 balls was a flickering flame in almost complete darkness for England.

Broad’s side will be left with some serious soul searching as the sides’ fragility against spin bowling was laid open for all to witness.

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