Friday 8 April 2016 09:10, UK
Double World Cup-winner Claire Taylor disagrees with head coach Mark Robinson’s assertion that a lack of fitness was England’s undoing at the ICC World Twenty20.
England Women's quest to win their second World T20 title ended with an agonising five-run semi-final defeat to three-time winners Australia, who beat them in both the 2012 and 2014 finals.
Following the latest defeat to Australia, Robinson said England lacked fitness and needed to "toughen up a little bit" after being out-run by the Southern Stars.
But speaking as a live studio guest on Tuesday's Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ, Taylor said improving decision-making at critical moments was more of a factor in England's narrow defeat to their arch rivals.
"I heard that reaction at the end of the game and I was a little bit taken aback by it," Taylor said.
"I think fitness is important in cricket but so is good shot-making and good decision-making under pressure.
"And I thought what was lacking from England in the group stages, and that semi-final against Australia, was good clinical decision-making, deciding how they were going to attack bowlers, what bowlers they were going to go after and executing that well.
"For me, that was missing more. You can run the twos but only if you get the ball in the right places. Then you can make the right decisions."
But Taylor - named player of the series as she helped England win both the 2009 T20 and one-day World Cups - insisted there are positives that can be taken from this year's tournament in India.
"Tammy Beaumont coming in and establishing herself at the top of the order [is something to be positive about]," she said.
"Laura Marsh putting in two good performances against Pakistan and against Australia in the semi-final - after losing Dani Hazell early in the tournament - that is a positive.
"They've got three months now to build up for their next competition. They've got Pakistan coming over in the summer, followed by Sri Lanka and South Africa. And then next year they have the one-day World Cup here in England with the final at Lord's, so there is still a lot to play for this squad."
