The leg-spinner’s absence in the final three games of their tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka was puzzling but there’s no need to panic just yet
In the end, the beginning was just a little too perfect. When Gus Atkinson struck with the first ball of England’s tour, the rhythm appeared set. They intended to make it four ODI series wins in a row. Sri Lanka had been beaten home and away this year; Pakistan had been embarrassed with the Dukes ball in the summer. Harry Brook’s side were surely heading to the final, right? Alas, he won’t be anywhere near the snappily named KFC Presents Bank Alfalah ODI Tri-Series trophy on Saturday.
On two occasions England moved into positions from which games seemed unlosable, yet this thoroughly watchable tri-series refused to turn their way. In making 429 against Sri Lanka, England simply followed their usual formula: thrash their way to a gargantuan total and let scoreboard pressure do the rest. Even as Pavan Rathnayake and Dasun Shanaka swung away, it felt as if England would be fine as long as they produced a three-over period of quiet, forcing the pair to knock it around for ones and twos while the required rate climbed to something ungodly. But it never came as Brook became the first man to finish on the losing side after an ODI double hundred.
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