Thursday 18 June 2015 11:41, UK
Eoin Morgan and Joe Root were in "electrifying" form as their centuries propelled England to a rampant seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the fourth one-day international at Trent Bridge.
Chasing a target of 350, Morgan plundered 113 off 82 balls while Root struck a more measured 106 not out as the home side secured a series-levelling victory with six overs to spare on the day that Australia arrived in the country ahead of this summer’s Ashes.
England’s total is the equal fourth highest by any team batting second to win an ODI, while no England side had previously made more batting second to win an ODI than the 306-5 scored against Pakistan at Karachi in 2000.
“The cricket was electrifying,” Botham told Sky Sports 2. “I hope the Australians were watching!
“Eoin Morgan and Joe Root look in magnificent form. Morgan’s hundred was terrific; it was incredible power-hitting from the captain.
“His hands are so fast through the ball and his head is still at the point of impact, so that he watches the ball right onto the bat.
“Morgan is in the form of his life but Root isn’t having a bad run either! He’s got timing and confidence – he hits the ball from the moment he gets out there.
“He picks his spot and places the ball well; it’s not all about power – it’s about knowing where the field is. He’s doing everything that a man in form does.
“There are plenty more hundreds to come from this young man, not just in this form of the game but every form.
“Morgan went up to four and that worked – I wonder if Joe Root should go to number three in the Test side?”
England’s victory tied the series at 2-2 and means that this Saturday’s fifth one-day international is a winner-takes-all decider.
“You can expect a big crowd up at Durham,” said Botham. “There’s a buzz about this England team and the way they are playing – so much so that everyone is talking about Saturday’s game now.
“I think Shane Warne said the other day that one day a team will score 500 and on the evidence of this series, maybe that’s not far away.
“New Zealand certainly played their part; they were tremendous once again. Even when they got pegged down towards the end of their innings, Mitchell Santner came in and struck 44 off 19 deliveries.
“But England were up for it. Alex Hales hit one six over midwicket and it was probably the most excited that I’ve seen David Lloyd for a long, long time – he jumped out of his chair because it was a magnificent shot. He’s another power-player who bats with no fear.”
The big-hitting means that the teams – weather permitting – will set a new record for the total number of runs scored in a five-match ODI series in Durham on Saturday.
Of England’s attack, only Steven Finn (1-51) and Mark Wood (1-49) escaped major damage to their figures and Botham said it may be time to reassess whether the right make of ball is being used in one-day internationals in England.
“The ball they are using is the Kookaburra, not the Duke, which we’ve done for about four years,” he reflected.
“I just wonder if we went back to the Duke, it would give the bowlers a bit more to work with – a bigger seam and it might swing a bit more.
“But at the end of the day it’s all about batsmen. I was talking to a couple of the Kiwi bowlers before the game and they said the pitches have been pretty good to bowl on, apart from the first wicket at Edgbaston, which was pretty flat. But I think the ball could be a factor to look at.”
Watch England take on New Zealand in the fifth, final and deciding one-day international from 10am on Sky Sports 2 this Saturday.
