England v New Zealand: We posted a nothing score, admits Alastair Cook
England v New Zealand: Alastair Cook bemoans his side's "nothing score" of 227-9 after an emphatic ODI loss at Lord's
Alastair Cook bemoaned England’s 227-9 as a “nothing score” as the hosts lost the opening one-day international by five wickets to New Zealand at Lord’s.
The hosts failed to recover from losing three middle-order wickets – Joe Root, Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan – in 17 balls, having been 117 for two in the 27th over.
New Zealand duly romped home thanks to a magnificent unbeaten 103 from Martin Guptill and a Ross Taylor half-century but Cook was adamant that his team do not need to make wholesale changes ahead of Sunday’s second match at the Ageas Bowl.
“The art of one-day cricket is finding the balance between risk and reward,” said Cook, speaking at the post-match news conference. “I don’t think our shot options were the bad options, it was just the execution of them.
“I didn’t think we were too far off today but it is very hard when you’re just looking to bat out the overs. It was a nothing score.”
England were without Stuart Broad (knee) and Steven Finn (shin), who are both recovering from niggles after the Test series against the Black Caps, which ended on Tuesday.
Their replacements – Jade Dernbach and Chris Woakes – collected just one wicket between them in this match, with both failing to convince with the ball
But Cook defended the inexperienced pair suggesting that neither quite have the nous nor the skill, yet, to contribute in the same way Broad and Finn can.
“Obviously Finn and Broad are a key part of our one-day team and they are both experienced campaigners and world-class bowlers,” added the 28-year-old.
“The guys [Dernbach and Woakes] who are coming in haven’t got that experience yet and probably don’t know their games quite as well as those two do.
“They are quite hard boots to fill but it gave them an opportunity to show everyone how good they are.”
During the match England announced they have called up Warwickshire’s Boyd Rankin as cover for the remainder of the series.
The 28-year-old has played 37 ODIs for Ireland but retired last year to fulfil his ambition of playing Test cricket with England.
