Former England captain and commentator Nasser Hussain had a motivational task for the defending champions after they suffered an embarrassing defeat against Sri Lanka at the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Hussain wants England to “spoil India’s party” when the two teams take on each other in their 2023 World Cup clash in Lucknow on Sunday, October 29.
Notably, England has had a forgettable campaign so far in the World Cup 2023, as have they lost four of their five games and find themselves in the ninth spot on the points table.
On the other hand, India is the only unbeaten team in the tournament, and they are just a couple of wins away from securing a semifinal berth at the Cricket World Cup 2023.
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Nasser Hussain wrote in his column for The Daily Mail: “The players must take the responsibility for this. I’m not a great one for cliches like playing for the badge but that’s what England have got to do now. They have to go to Lucknow on Sunday and spoil India’s party. They must remind India and the world just how great cricketers they have been – and still are.”
Hussain added that England players should not blame tournaments like The Hundred or T20 Blast for their horror run at the tournament.
He further wrote, “I’ve heard people at home are doing that but this is not the fault of the Hundred or the Blast or the fact England’s best players do not play much 50-over cricket. They are just lame excuses.”
Speaking about the same on Sky Cricket, Hussain said, “How much 50-over cricket domestically has Virat Kohli played? Or Heinrich Klaasen or anyone out here? They don't play domestic 50-over cricket, they learn from T20 franchises around the world. That's what's made this great side over the last six years, travelling round the world playing T20 franchises. It's such a lame excuse.”