Social media Banter
Wasim Jaffer and Michael Vaughan frequently exchange lighthearted jabs on social media.
Their online rivalry often sparks whenever india or england face setbacks.
The latest exchange came after England’s poor ODI performance against South Africa.
England’s ODI Struggles
England were bowled out for just 131 runs in the first ODI of the three-match series against South Africa.
The defeat dropped them to eighth place in the ICC ODI rankings.
This marks a steep fall since their 2019 world cup triumph.
Jaffer’s Playful Dig
Seizing the opportunity, Jaffer shared the ODI rankings table on X (formerly Twitter).
He highlighted India’s No. 1 spot while mocking England’s No. 8 position.
Jaffer cheekily remarked that England’s standing was “against the spirit of cricket”, a reference to past debates about England’s ethics in the sport.
England’s Decline in ODIs
England’s ODI woes stretch back to their disappointing 2023 world cup campaign.
Their struggles continued into the Champions Trophy, which led to Jos Buttler losing the captaincy.
Harry Brook took over leadership, but the team’s fortunes remain unchanged.
South Africa’s Dominance
In the series opener:
Keshav Maharaj bowled with discipline, dismantling England’s fragile batting.
Aiden Markram scored a blistering 23-ball half-century, guiding south africa to a 7-wicket win.
Harry Brook’s Reaction
Brook admitted it was “not a great start” to the series.
He said the batting collapse was due to a lack of partnerships and minor pitch difficulties.
Acknowledged South Africa’s superior bowling effort.
Emphasized the need for england to play aggressive cricket — “go out and bang it, then take wickets quickly.”
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