Topley relieved England of sticking to their attack first and asking questions later on the ODI scheme – Gudstory

“[The New Zealand game] “Things didn’t go as planned,” Topley said. Sky Sports. “So it’s good to play with a similar plan, but prove that this is the right way to go about things. It’s a team effort at the end of the day. Obviously everyone wants to play like that, when you get left out, it’s really nice.” About how you respond. You want to come in and make an impact, and getting those early wickets definitely calms some nerves for me.

“Over the years, I’ve seen there’s an implosion in this team, but if you do it the right way, the way you want to play, you can live and die by the sword,” he said. “When you have talented players in the changing room – especially in Championship cricket – when it comes to those tough matches, it is dangerous to face a team that plays like that.

“Knockout cricket is a lot more mental than it is now [about] Talent on the field. If you are in front of the competitor, I think you will enter with an advantage immediately. “It has proven successful in the past, and it may continue for a long time.”

Bangladesh’s victory was a landmark occasion for Topli in more ways than one. At the age of 29, this was his maiden Over-50 World Cup appearance, and the first time he had played in any ICC event since his short-lived role in England’s run to the World T20 final in 2016, also in India.

After recovering from a career-threatening back injury, Topley missed England’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign in Australia last winter after sustaining a freak ankle injury in training. His hopes of participating in this tournament were dashed earlier this year as well, when he dislocated his shoulder while making his debut in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

“I definitely feel like I have unfinished business going into the World Cup,” he said. “It’s nice to be fit, but I’m a bit undercooked, so hopefully I’ll peak in time. I haven’t played a lot of cricket this summer, I’ve been wrapped in cotton wool, so thanks everyone I’ve gotten here.”

On this evidence, Topley has confirmed his place in England’s plans for this tournament, admitting that – from the first time the team trained in midfield in Dharmasala – that position was more likely to suit left-arm spinners who bowled high kicks. .

“I told Woody that [Mark Wood]When we were bowling in the middle during training, it was more swinging here. In certain stadiums around the world, it does more, where the ball hits the ground and flies across.

“I saw the referee pick a really nice ball, and because I was opening the game with Wes [Chris Woakes]We wanted different endings. There’s usually another left arm and we both want the same ending. The wind was blowing over my left shoulder, and I had a really good ball… I thought today was going to be a good day for me. Sometimes you get that feeling.”

It proved so, as Topley scored twice on his debut, while Tanzid Hassan and Najm Hussein Shanto both dueled on the outside flanks to be caught at slip and groove respectively. He then followed that up with what was arguably the ball of the day, a wicked shot that traveled the perfect length to clip the bails of Bangladesh dangerman Shakib Al Hasan.

“I fell a little bit,” Topley joked. “It was a little more angular than the others… but that’s where you want it, and you want to put it in the right area. But it’s all about style. You just want to check the way you approach things, and today was one of those days where I felt… It’s like you’re checking the right boxes.”