'They were thankful as there were not many viewers to witness matters' - Michael Atherton criticizes England post dull show in WC 2023 opener

In a blistering critique of England's performance in the opening clash of the ODI World Cup 2023, Michael Atherton, former England cricketer, left no stone unturned in his assessment. England's encounter with New Zealand, which culminated in a resounding nine-wicket defeat, was far from the performance fans had anticipated. Setting a target of 283 runs for the Kiwis, England's effort fell short of expectations.

Atherton minced no words as he dissected England's lackluster display, particularly highlighting the need for a swift turnaround after what he described as a "rusty and drab performance" in Ahmedabad. He quipped that the players should count themselves fortunate that there weren't hordes of spectators to witness the ordeal, remarking,

“England will have to show significant improvement very quickly after a rusty and drab performance brought defeat in a manner that has rarely befallen them in recent times. No barest of margins here, just a hammering. Buttler’s players were thankful, no doubt, that there were not more viewers in the ground to witness matters,” Atherton penned his thoughts for The Times.

Also Check: ODI World Cup 2023 Schedule

England’s unprecedented collapse in World Cup opener 

As the sun set on England's batting innings, frustration loomed large, with numerous players showing promise initially but failing to sustain their momentum. The solitary beacon of hope for England was Joe Root, who valiantly contributed 77 runs, holding the innings together for a time. Yet, his dismissal proved the catalyst for an alarming collapse, and England narrowly avoided being bowled out.

On the flip side, New Zealand displayed an exemplary performance, with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra crafting unbeaten centuries that propelled the Kiwis to a resounding victory. In a swift and calculated pursuit of England's total, they required just 36.2 overs to claim the win, ultimately leaving England's bowling attack toothless and evoking serious concerns for the English side's prospects in the remainder of the tournament.