Could see it in his eyes as Morgan was talking to him before he started his last over. Fear.
You could see on camera during his previous overs, Ben was absolutely dripping with sweat from the stifling humid conditions. A few of his earlier atrocious deliveries were clearly the result of the ball simply slipping from his grip as he let go.
I knew as the camera zoomed in on him as he began his run up for the first of those fateful four deliveries, that he was gonna crumble. He just had no confidence in his ability to get a slippery ball where he wanted it. And with the amount of pressure on his young shoulders, the fear of failure consumed him.
I really feel for the lad. He was devastated, even before the final ball. Inconsolable after it.
Heāll bounce back, Iām sure. Despite todayās shocker, he has plenty of character.
Nineteen required from the final over, with a lower-order batsman on strike. In these circumstances, the pressure is all on the bowler and the fielding side. The batsman simply needs a good eye and a considerably better nerve; if he fails then nobody will blame him. After all, nineteen off an over is a big ask for a proper batsman, even in this short form of the game - for a bowler who can bat itās massive. So, in many respects, Braithwaiteās job was the easier one.
That said, Stokes should have been able to deliver the ball in places where Braithwaite wouldnāt have a hope of scoring sixes - yorker length, on or just outside off stump isnāt easy to hit, and Iām not sure how happy Braithwaite would have been facing a well-directed bouncer. Of the four deliveries Stokes bowled, three were half-volleys outside leg stump, the other a half-volley on middle. Easy for me to say of course, but maybe trying something different - bowlling round the wicket to change the angle, perhaps - might have been a good bet.
So yeah, he choked. But heās a brilliant player and Iām sure heāll have the strength to get over it and even learn from it. I certainly hope so.
I feel sorry for you but topping yourself is the cowardās way out. I think you should man-up and take all the Schitt coming to you.
Lol. Nooo, I have no intention of 'topping myself" mate. That is the problem. Iām too selfish, and I enjoy my life.
The āassassinationā I implored for was for all of your own sakes, who might actually like to see us win something again in our lifetimes ā and which my stupid temptations of fate to deliver otherwise seem to keep interfering with.
The suggestion being ā if you want to see a successful England Cricket side, youāll probably need to have me bumped off, as Iām an incurable optimist.
As an aside, the domestic T20 finals day remains one of the best cricket days / weekends out ever. Two semis followed by a final, bars open at 10am and play usually finishes just before 10pm. Enough to forget any England failings.
Being there when Hampshire won that home T20 day was a recent sporting highlight, especially as I was just underneath a section of roofing when it pissed down.
RB very jealous. Saw that on TV only. Been to the last two finals at Edgbaston - great days out but Hants of course failed to perform. Will be buying tickets again this year and hoping third time lucky.
That is the problem. Iām too selfish, and I enjoy my life.
