Andrew Strauss insisted he felt no shame at being the first England captain to lose to Bangladesh after the Tigers at last won a match this year.
Bangladesh’s dramatic five-run success in the second one-day international at Nevil Road in Bristol on Saturday, saw them level the three-match series at 1-1 and end a run of 24 consecutive defeats across all formats stretching back to November last year.
PHOTO: REUTERS
It also meant they had defeated England for the first time, having lost all of the previous eight Tests and 20 one-day internationals between the two countries.
“They were going to beat us at some stage and we were just hoping it would be some stage in the future,” said Strauss, who had the meager consolation of knowing England were the last major nation to succumb to Bangladesh. “That has been and done now.”
He was adamant losing to Bangladesh was not as bad as being captain of the England side skittled out for just 51 in an innings and 23-run Test defeat by the West Indies in Jamaica last year.
Strauss, asked if Saturday’s loss represented his worst day in cricket, replied: “No is the answer to that. Getting bowled out for 51 in Jamaica was worse than this, but it’s not fun to stand up here after losing in this fashion.”
“All we can do now is go forward and make amends,” the opening batsman added ahead of the series finale at Edgbaston today.
Strauss made no attempt to hide from the manner of this England loss, their third in four games following two defeats by world champions Australia at the end of what was still a 3-2 one-day series win for Strauss’ side.
England, who had beaten Bangladesh by a commanding six wickets in Thursday’s first one-day international at Trent Bridge, appeared to be halfway to another victory after holding the Tigers to a seemingly poor total of 236 for seven, but they were bowled out for 231, the match ending with three balls to spare when Jonathan Trott, who made an one-day best of 94, was caught behind off seamer Shafiul Islam.
Ian Bell, Trott’s Warwickshire colleague, came into this match on the back of his 84 not out at Trent Bridge, but he was unable to bat in his No. 3 position having broken a bone in his left foot after landing awkwardly following a fruitless attempt to hold a diving catch during Bangladesh’s innings.
Bell, who faces several weeks on the sidelines, did emerge as England’s last man when, with 10 needed off the final over, he walked out wearing a surgical boot and accompanied by runner Eoin Morgan, but he didn’t face a delivery with Trott, who scored at under a run-a-ball and with only eight boundaries, taking a pair of twos before he was dismissed.
“When you’re chasing 230-odd, if you don’t get bowled out you win the game, it’s as simple as that,” Strauss said. “We’ve only got ourselves to blame, but we also have to give credit to Bangladesh.”
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