Raf Nicholson
@rafnicholson.bsky.social
2.9K followers 1.1K following 760 posts
Women’s cricket historian & journalist. Sports Journalism lecturer at Bournemouth University & writer for Guardian Sport.
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rafnicholson.bsky.social
England are about to be bailed out by the rain in Colombo after a shocking display of batting ineptitude.

Jon Lewis said it was all about the weather. Not sure this is quite what he meant.

#CWC25
rafnicholson.bsky.social
The Pakistan players are calling out "Come on Fatti" in support of their captain, which... well... would read differently if it was England doing it 😂
rafnicholson.bsky.social
I think they’ve been investing in it recently. Ironically there is a 3-day domestic comp which they say is to prepare for Test cricket - remarkable given the attitude of boards like NZC!
rafnicholson.bsky.social
Bangladesh will be heartbroken - but once that recedes, hopefully they can take a moment to absorb just how close they came to beating 2 of the world's best sides in this tournament.

They only gained ODI status in 2011 - a result like today's against South Africa is pretty remarkable. #CWC25
rafnicholson.bsky.social
I think you are right, but the problem is that England only have 2 or 3 players they can depend on to do that - Australia have about 5 or 6.
rafnicholson.bsky.social
"Sciver-Brunt bails England out of trouble."

Can I just copy and paste from an old match report? 🤔 #CWC25
rafnicholson.bsky.social
Must admit I expected England to have made some changes by now. It's a long old tournament and they need to make sure their best XI is fully fit for the Big Matches v Australia and India.

I suppose the 3-hour match v South Africa lowered workloads, but still. #CWC25
rafnicholson.bsky.social
“It is not as if the ICC are ever going to sanction the BCCI” - exactly.
rafnicholson.bsky.social
Neither - we were in London!
rafnicholson.bsky.social
The pressure of live radio! 😂
rafnicholson.bsky.social
That is an absolutely astonishing result from a side who were bowled out for 69 less than a week ago. #CWC25
Reposted by Raf Nicholson
paulframe85.bsky.social
@rafnicholson.bsky.social Australia aren't looking like they can beat Australia in this tournament.
rafnicholson.bsky.social
She had to go off the field (unsure why) but Joty said she would be fine for the next match.
rafnicholson.bsky.social
For goodness sake - I don't like saying this, because officiating is a difficult job, but the third umpiring in this match has been inexcusably poor.
rafnicholson.bsky.social
Not from me! It was a bizarre match and told us nothing about where England are really at with the bat.
rafnicholson.bsky.social
England were a whisker (and a poor umpiring decision) away from being 6-3 against Bangladesh. I can't see how that is "playing like second favourites".
rafnicholson.bsky.social
You really think England are better than India?
rafnicholson.bsky.social
They are good, and Marufa swings it a mile. But England should have plans to counteract that - they look nervous.