LAWRENCE BOOTH: England must tread lightly on quagmire as ICC are forced to defend dangerous Dharamshala outfield amid safety concerns for players ahead of Bangladesh clash in Cricket World Cup
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman of Afghanistan jammed his knee, raising safety concerns
- England considering potential team changes due to the conditions in India
England will face Bangladesh in Dharamshala tomorrow not only in need of a victory after their hammering by New Zealand, but armed with a warning from their former batsman Jonathan Trott about the shambolic state of the playing surface.
Trott, who won 68 ODI caps for England, is in India as coach of Afghanistan and looked on in dismay as his player Mujeeb Ur Rahman dangerously jammed his knee in the turf during his side’s defeat by the Bangladeshis here on Saturday.
A stroll across Dharamshala’s outfield was enough to reveal the extent of the damage after heavy rain and a fungal infestation persuaded the local authorities to mitigate both by using sand.
Astonishingly, the outfield was rated ‘average’ by the ICC after Saturday’s match, while match referee Javagal Srinath and the ICC’s independent pitch consultant Andy Atkinson were said to be ‘comfortable with the conditions’ after an inspection yesterday.
But Mail Sport understands that Andy Pycroft, who refereed the Afghanistan-Bangladesh game, had been prepared to call the match off if a serious injury had occurred.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman of Afghanistan dangerously jammed his knee in the turf during his side’s defeat by Bangladesg
Afghanistan’s Mujeeb ur Rahman is bowled by Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz
There is no appetite among the ICC or the Board of Control for Cricket in India to query Dharamshala’s suitability — especially with the venue set to host three more group games after this one.
Jonny Bairstow, who is barely five months into his return from a serious leg fracture and will win his 100th ODI cap tomorrow, said: ‘The last thing you want is guys going off with knee injuries. It will be very difficult to hold someone back if they see a ball and they try to stop it — it’s a natural reaction to go for it. It might just be a case of boxing a bit clever.’
Injury-prone bowler Mark Wood could be given the Bangladesh game off, while if there were any lingering hopes that Ben Stokes might feature after he missed the New Zealand game with hip trouble, they have been ended by the conditions.
England are still smarting from their thumping by New Zealand, but Bangladesh were boosted by a six-wicket win over the Afghans — and enjoy the advantage of having sampled the local conditions.
England are also trying to bed in a new opening alliance, with Dawid Malan taking Jason Roy’s place as Bairstow’s partner.
‘I’ve played with Dawid for a number of years. There’s a change in the way he plays, compared with Jason,’ Bairstow (above) said. ‘That’s not to say it’s a bad thing at all, but it will take a little bit of time to bed in.’
England are also trying a new opening alliance, with Dawid Malan taking the injured Jason Roy’s place as Bairstow’s partner in their Cricket World Cup campaign
The England team practiced on Sunday ahead of their game against Bangladesh on Tuesday
If Bairstow can produce one of his specials in his 100th ODI, questions about sand, fungal infestations and Malan will fade. But it is only eight years since Bangladesh ruined an England World Cup campaign, on a grim evening in Adelaide. Jos Buttler’s team will be on red alert, in more ways than one.
l VIRAT KOHLI dug World Cup favourites and hosts India out of a hole in their first game of the tournament with a classy 85 against Australia in Chennai. Set a modest 200 for victory after their spinners had tied Australia in knots, India slipped to two for three, but Kohli’s 165-run stand with KL Rahul led India to a four-wicket win.
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