England Head Coach Peter Moores feels James Taylor’s display against Australia shows just how well he can expose a bowling attack when given the chance.
Taylor narrowly missed out on a century in England’s World Cup Pool A opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, finishing on 98 as James Anderson’s run out, from the same ball Taylor successfully overturned an lbw decision, denied the 25-year-old a maiden one-day international century.
The International Cricket Council admitted after the game an error had been made and the decision should not have stood, but Moores is looking more at the positives from Taylor’s 90-ball innings, which began when England were in a tough situation at 66 for four.
“It was tough at the start, he got through that and towards the end he started to show how he could expose anybody with his quality to hit the ball to different places,” Moores told ecb.co.uk.
“The ability to both hit it down the ground and also the ability to run the ball down to third man and create spaces square of the wicket.
“It was a really good innings. It’s a shame he didn’t get the hundred in the end of it but he’ll take a lot of confidence from it because (it was a) very big occasion and he fronted up and played very well.”
Moores is also confident England can bounce back after the 111-run defeat, with the Three Lions facing New Zealand on Friday night at the Wellington Regional Stadium.
“We’re disappointed because we were very up for the occasion and we didn’t deliver,” he said.
“So we’ve got to look at that and get ready for New Zealand going forward, which will be another tough game.
“Promisingly, on one hand, the trophy wasn’t decided yesterday. It was a result. We’ve got to look to improve and get better.”