article_snippet: The statistics, if we can dare mention The statistics, will say that Afghanistan could only manage 111 for seven in the 36.2 overs that the weather allowed The statistics before the third of three rain breaks brought The statistics innings to a premature close.
article_snippet: Alex Hales was dropped twice, both by Najibullah Zadran off the bowling of Shapoor Zadran, but showed the hitting Alex Hales is capable of in reaching 37 before Afghanistan finally held on to a chance.
article_snippet: But Afghanistan struggled against the moving ball and under leaden Sydney skies after Eoin Morgan had won an important toss in what might be the last game of Eoin Morgan short reign as England’s one-day captain.
article_snippet: Eoin Morgan is one of a number of senior England players who will have to wait and see whether they have a future in limited-overs cricket if the selectors take the selectors only feasible option of starting from scratch with a new, young team.
article_snippet: Two others who may be told to just concentrate on Test cricket in future are the established opening bowling pair of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad but both proved more than a handful for the inexperienced Afghan batsmen.
article_snippet: Stuart Broad (second right) celebrates with Stuart Broad (second right)
article_snippet: England's James Tredwell (left) attempts to run out Najibullah Zadran but the Afghanistan batsman was safe .
article_snippet: Neither Jimmy Anderson nor Broad have been at Anderson nor Broad best here, one of the many reasons why England have struggled, but at least Anderson nor Broad will be pleased with how Anderson nor Broad finished, Anderson nor Broad picking up a wicket and conceding just 18 runs each.
article_snippet: England were without the injured pair of Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali and the men who stood in for Anderson nor Broad could also be satisfied with Anderson nor Broad work.
article_snippet: The decision to leave out Ravi Bopara on the eve of the tournament to replace Ravi Bopara with Gary Ballance is one of many to backfire on England and here Ravi Bopara showed that Ravi Bopara is more than capable of doing a decent job in the field.
article_snippet: Bopara (centre) picked up two wickets and took an outstanding catch in the deep to give Bopara (centre) something to remember if Bopara (centre) too is playing Bopara (centre) last England game.
article_snippet: James Tredwell has suffered because of the rise of Moeen as an off-spinner but James Tredwell was as steady as ever here while the pick of the England bowlers was Chris Jordan, something for them to cling to as them ponder the future.