Lucknow has a history of besieged Englishman fighting against the odds but the white flag of surrender was hoisted long ago in this World Cup campaign.
India’s 100-run victory was hard for a shattered England to swallow because they thought they were in with a chance at the halfway stage after a decent bowling performance restricted their target to a very gettable 230. “We fancied ourselves” admitted Jos Buttler. It was not to be.
Another batting collapse of four for nine ripped the heart out of their top order and condemned them to a fourth World Cup loss in a row for the first time. Mohammed Shami, four for 22, and Jasprit Bumrah, three for 32, were just too hot for broken batsmen to handle.
The walls of the Lucknow Residency still bear the pockmarks of cannon shot from the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and the comparison between ragged, desperate English is apt after a torrid few weeks for Buttler’s men, who are five defeats from six.
Buttler now drags his defeated troops to Ahmedabad to face the old enemy, Australia, who can deliver a galling finishing touch. Australia will knock them out with a victory and also push England to the brink of elimination for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which requires them to finish in the top eight to qualify.
Not many were aware of that final scenario because England never imagined being in this desperate position at the bottom of the table. It is an extraordinary outcome for double world champions.
England were skittled for 129 in 35 overs, sparking a huge firework display that lit up the Ekana stadium and thrilled the blue-shirted masses of Indian fans. This was about as partisan as you can get in sport: 50,000 cheering every Indian moment, falling silent whenever England took a wicket or hit a boundary.
Mostly it was loud cheering, especially when India bowled. England’s run chase was over in a flash: Bumrah bowled Dawid Malan off an inside edge then knocked over Joe Root first ball, while Shami cleaned up Stokes for a 10-ball duck and had Jonny Bairstow playing on. At 39 for four, it was game over. Hope evaporated when Buttler was bowled through the gate by Kuldeep Yadav for 10 off 23 balls.
The two heroes of the 2019 final are in tatters. Stokes started unfit and is averaging 16 from three innings, walking off open mouthed after this ugly innings, while Buttler is averaging 17.50 and carrying the weight of World Cup failure on his shoulders. The others are not much better. Root is averaging 29 with a run of scores of 11, 3, 2 and zero and Bairstow 23.50.
They really have no chance when that happens. The only real bulldog spirit was provided by David Willey with three for 45 and two sixes. That the player in the World Cup squad without a central contract is their best performer speaks volumes for what has gone wrong.
England’s siege mentality would not have been helped overnight by former captain Eoin Morgan hinting at trouble in the camp by saying there has to be “something else going on” other than bad form.
Perhaps the contract wrangles had a bigger effect than imagined, or maybe Buttler is just not the man to lift a losing team, especially alongside a coach in Matthew Mott whose natural inclination is to defer to the captain and stay in the background. He is a bit like Trevor Bayliss in that respect, except he had Morgan as captain. The strong leadership of the Bazball Test team is markedly absent.
England rallied with the ball, Buttler making a brave call on “gut feel” by inserting India because he wanted to make them set a total for the first time in the tournament. Willey and Chris Woakes recognised the slow surface and dragged back their lengths, mixing up cross seamers and slower balls to make scoring hard for India’s free-flowing players.
Willey landed the biggest of them all when he dismissed Virat Kohli for a nine ball duck and gave his all, chipping in with further wickets, dismissing KL Rahul to break a 91-run stand with Rohit Sharma in the first over of his second spell. He added Suryakumar Yadav just as he looked dangerous in the final overs. Woakes was much more consistent and Adil Rashid bowled with good control and turn to offer decent back up. Rohit was the dangerman but even he could not find his range on a two-paced pitch, slowing up and falling for 81 when he holed out off Rashid.
This is a fine India seam attack, boasting three outstanding pace bowlers, and with England’s confidence so fragile, it would not take much to push them over, as became apparent after Bumrah made the breakthrough bowling Malan.
The Root dismissal next ball summed up England’s tournament. Bumrah angled one in and Root missed trying to work to leg and reviewed a plumb leg-before. This most level of sportsmen was raging when it was upheld despite a small flicker on ultra edge suggesting he may have got some bat on ball, but it was not conclusive enough to overturn the decision.
Bumrah was on a hat-trick but had to wait for the first ball of his next over which Bairstow nervously played out but it was brief respite as the big guns fell silent again for England. Liam Livingstone top scored with 27 but even his end was grim, reviewing an lbw that hit middle stump. Moeen Ali nicked Shami behind for 15 as his poor World Cup continued.
This cannot go on. England must make changes against Australia and if that means axing one of the big names then so be it because blind loyalty is getting them nowhere.
India v England: As it happened . . .
4:38PMJubilation for India; disappointment for England
Chris Woakes
At the half-way stage we felt we were in a pretty good position.
Taking early wickets putting them under pressure, and we fielded exceptionally as well.
The wicket wasn’t easy to bat on, but certainly felt under the lights it might get a little bit easier. But then losing wickets in clumps, two in two balls, and losing a few after that, it’s hard to come back from that.
I think if we could buy some confidence at the minute we’d spend a lot of money on it. When you haven’t got confidence you tend to play some rash shots with a bit of indecision.
You need to make that t decision out there in the moment. First and foremost we needed to build partnerships to get close to that score, and we didn’t do that.
I don’t think we’re embarrassed because you put yourself out to be judge every day when you turn up for training and you perform for England. I think frustrated is the biggest thing.
It’s hard to put your finger on why such a talented group haven’t got it right. Clearly, we’ve got some players out of form.
4:21PMEngland's batting collapse
After a reasonable start, it all went pear-shaped for England. Stokes and Root both went for ducks, and they lost four wickets for just nine runs.
4:13PMPlayer of the Match Rohit Sharma
After the first 10 overs, it was important to stitch a partnership. You have to play the situation as well and not just play your shots. If you have that experience, you should use it. But I still thought we were 20-30 runs short. The new ball was a bit challenging and as the game went on, the ball got softer and it was not easy to rotate strike.
4:11PMThe standings aren't looking rosey for England...
4:09PMJos Buttler: 'We're a long way short of our best'
[I’m] very disappointed. I think at the halfway way stage chasing 230 we fancied ourselves and then...same old story.
I wasn’t sure if the dew comes or not, just a gut feel said we wanted to chase. That’s as good as we’ve been with the ball through the tournament. At half-way if you had said we would be chasing 230 we would have been happy with that.
Personally, I felt like I wanted to try and soak some pressure up, come through that phase, build a partnership and kill that momentum that India had.
We’re just falling short whichever way we’re doing it at the minute.
The answer’s on a postcard I think...Some top players and we’re a long way short of our best.
I thought the ground fielding was as good as it’s been. At that point it felt like today was the day that it was all turning round. Then the way we batted didn’t back that up.
4:01PMEngland's torrid World Cup campaign in numbers
Lost to 🇳🇿 by 9 wickets
Beat 🇧🇩 by 137 runs
Lost to 🇦🇫 by 69 runs
Lost to 🇿🇦 by 229 runs
Lost to 🇱🇰 by 8 wickets
Lost to 🇮🇳 by 100 runs
England are living a World Cup nightmare 😱 #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/ikNYfo0zkr
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 29, 2023 3:58PMA reminder of the final wicket
3:53PMIndia win!
It’s all over for England. India win by 100 runs - it has been a demolition job by the Indian seamers today. Bumrah took three and Shami took four. They march on unbeaten, with six wins in as many games now, and also reclaim their top spot.
England, meanwhile, stay rooted to the bottom. They batted poorly once again today with Root and Stoke both going for ducks. Their highest score was a modest knock of 27 for Livingstone. Mathematically, the tournament isn’t over just yet for England, but this is the first time they have lost five matches at a World Cup. There seems little way back from here.
3:52PMWicket!
With Wood on strikes, Bumrah beats him with simple line and length. Wood shuffles across the crease to open up the off-side, but the ball whistles straight through him to hit middle and off.
3:50PMOVER 34: ENG 129/9 (Willey 16 Wood 0) (T: 230)
David Willey refuses to go down without a fight, catching hold of Bumrah’s short ball with a late hook for six.
3:47PMWicket!
Adil Rashid b Mohammed Shami 13
Rashid is skittled with the final ball of the over. After a series of short balls, Shami pitches one up. Rashid shapes to drive, but the ball just cuts in, catapulting off-stump clean out of the ground. FOW: 122/9
3:45PMOVER 33: ENG 112/8 (Willey 9 Rashid 5) (T: 230)
England’s flame is still just flickering. Rashid gets across his wicket and tickle down to fine leg for four. Shami then diddles him with a bouncer that trampolines off the pitch, catching the top of the handle. Luckily for Rashid it stops dead. Desparate to catch hold of something, he chases two pulls - the first catching thin air, the second coming off his arm. Both are appealed but called wide. Rashid shows resourcefulness to cream a drive through deep extra cover.
3:41PMOVER 33: ENG 112/8 (Willey 9 Rashid 5) (T: 230)
The express train Bumrah steams back into the attack - that will come as no relief to England fans. But David Willey is not fazed, dispatching the opening ball with a baseball shot for six over mid-wicket. England, at last, have something to cheer about. He pulls hard at another bouncer - this one angling into his visor - but can only cuff it for a single. Rashid then flails on the pull, toeing it just beyond the back-pedaling slip. England living dangerously, but that was a more optimistic over.
3:35PMOVER 32: ENG 104/8 (Willey 2 Rashid 4) (T: 230)
It’s death by a thousand cuts now for England. Rashid shows gumption to drive Kuldeep, but the bowler’s variation outfoxes Willey, who struggles to get to the pitch. Just two singles from the over.
3:32PMOVER 31: ENG 102/8 (Willey 1 Rashid 3) (T: 230)
It has been an abject batting display from England, but that is not to take away from the brilliance of India’s bowling attack. Jadeja varies his pace, first skidding one through before luring Rashid into playing. The new-arrival dabs off his pad for a single to farm the strike.
3:30PMOVER 30: ENG 101/8 (Willey 1 Rashid 2) (T: 230)
England see at the over with both Willey and Rashid getting off the mark. It would take a miracle for England to dig themselves out from here. Really a case of clinging on at this point.
3:28PMReview
Liam Livingstone lbw b Kuldeep 27
It’s about as plumb as they get. There’s no bat involved from Livingstone, and he gets the length all wrong. Although he’s a long way forward, the ball is hitting low on the pad, with ball tracking showing it carrying through to middle and off. Livingstone walks. FOW: 98/8
3:25PMWicket!
Livingstone steps down the pitch and sweeps across the line of a faster ball from Kuldeep. It looked to be pitching in-line on first viewing, but Livingstone immediately reviews.
3:23PMOVER 29: ENG 98/7 (Willey 0 Livingstone 27) (T: 230)
If England weren’t already under the kosh, the required run rate has now gone up to above a run a ball. That wicket maiden from Jadeja won’t help their cause. Mind you, it was well seen out by David Willey.
3:21PMWicket!
Chris Woakes st Rahul b Jadeja 10
As easy as you like for Jadeja. Woakes comes down the wicket, looking to fire through the off-side. Jadeja reacts, hanging the ball a little wider and out of range of Woakes’s wheeling swing. Rahul takes and stumps with ease. FOW: 98/7
3:17PMOVER 28: ENG 98/6 (Woakes 10 Livingstone 27) (T: 230)
Kuldeep comes on for his sixth over. Livingstone steals a single before Woakes flicks off the pads. The decibel-count in the stadium remains phenominal - one can only imagine what it must sound like out on the pitch. After one skids through from Kuldeep, Woakes gambles on the sweep but mistimes it, clothing to backward square. He runs a single to farm the strike with the final ball.
3:13PMOVER 27: ENG 94/6 (Woakes 8 Livingstone 25) (T: 230)
The commentary team banter back and forth about the dew. Bad news for India we thought, but it’s England who have perhaps fallen victim. Luckily for England, the required rate remains less than one a ball, but Jadeja has kept the two batsmen contained here. Just three from the over. India were on 116 at this point (minus the wickets...).
3:09PMOVER 26: ENG 91/6 (Woakes 7 Livingstone 23) (T: 230)
Tremendous thrust from Woakes, lofting over over extra cover for four. That’s one way to build confidence against an in-form Shami, who has the best figures of the tournament of 5/54 against India. Woakes cuts another two through the covers before wildly swiping at thin air with the final ball of the over.
3:05PMOVER 25: ENG 81/6 (Woakes 1 Livingstone 22) ENG 84-6 (T: 230)
Thanks Kieron, Cam taking over here. And what a crucial time this is for England. Woakes gets off the mark with a push to long off, but Jadeja keeps Livingstone penned back in his crease. Just three singles from the over.
3:01PMOVER 24: ENG 81/6 (Woakes 0 Livingstone 20) England require 149 more runs to win
Chris Woakes is the new man in. It looks like Shami might have a problem with his contact lens. After a short delay action resumes. Replays have shown that Livingstone was lucky not to be given LBW off Kuldeep a few overs ago. A wicket maiden from Shami.
That is all from me. I will leave you in the capable hands of Cameron Henderson who will take you through to the conclusion of this match.
2:56PMWicket
Moeen c Rahul b Shami 15
Mohammed Shami is coming back on to bowl and immediately gets the breakthrough. His first ball induces the edge from Moeen and it is a simple catch for Rahul with the gloves. England needed that partnership to grow, not end. FOW 81/6
2:53PMOVER 23: ENG 81/5 (Moeen 15 Livingstone 20) England require 149 more runs to win
These two are slowly building a partnership, which is what Sharma and Rahul did for India. They showed the way, how to bat on what is not the easiest of pitches to bat on.
2:51PMOVER 22: ENG 79/5 (Moeen 14 Livingstone 19) England require 151 more runs to win
Livingstone sweeps Kuldeep away, probably the first time one of this pair has played an aggressive shot. He is rewarded with a four as Siraj cannot cut it off.
2:47PMOVER 21: ENG 72/5 (Moeen 13 Livingstone 13) England require 158 more runs to win
England still have nearly 30 overs to bat here so plenty of time for Moeen and Livingstone to build their partnership. England nudge four singles from Jadeja’s second over. They do not need to take too many risks at the moment because if they do they do not have enough wickets remaining to justify that.
2:44PMOVER 20: ENG 68/5 (Moeen 11 Livingstone 11) England require 162 more runs to win
Kuldeep gets one to turn on Livingstone and it goes between bat and pad, but importantly for England it misses the stumps, just. Only one run came from that Kuldeep over, who has only gone for eight runs in four overs with the wicket of Buttler.
2:40PMOVER 19: ENG 67/5 (Moeen 10 Livingstone 11) England require 163 more runs to win
Ravindra Jadeja is on to bowl for the first time today. I do not think there is anyone in the world who gets through their overs faster than Jadeja. Three runs come from his first over.
2:38PMOVER 18: ENG 64/5 (Moeen 9 Livingstone 9) England require 166 more runs to win
Livingstone slashes one away behind square on the off-side for a couple. England’s run-rate is slow but the required rate is not getting out of hand so England do not need to panic about that. What they will panic about is the wickets.
OVER 17: ENG 61/5 (Moeen 8 Livingstone 7) England require 169 more runs to win
England get back for two after Livingstone cuts it behind square to wide third-man. I was just about to say that the boundaries have completely dried up but Livingstone pulls one away down to fine-leg for four.
OVER 16: ENG 54/5 (Moeen 7 Livingstone 1) England require 176 more runs to win
Liam Livingstone is the new man in and boy do England have a huge job on their hands to win this game. Remember England were 30/0 in the fifth over.
2:26PMWicket
Buttler b K Yadav 10
Well, Buttler will be doing no more at the crease. What is he doing? It is a good leg-spinner by Kuldeep but Buttler misses it by a mile. That is Kuldeep’s stock delivery and he just missed it. It did turn quite a bit but a player of Buttler’s ability should not have got out to that. FOW 52/5
2:24PMOVER 15: ENG 52/4 (Moeen 6 Buttler 10) England require 178 more runs to win
Good running between the wickets by England as Jos Buttler guides one wide of third-man for a couple and then sprints a quick single to mid-on. England need to run well between the wickets as the boundaries are hard to come by at the moment. The fifty is up for England. Five runs from Siraj’s over. Is this England’s moment to counter-attack with Bumrah and Shami out of the attack or continue to gradually build the partnership?
2:19PMOVER 14: ENG 47/4 (Moeen 5 Buttler 6) England require 183 more runs to win
India turn to spin for the first time in this innings and it will be the leg spin of Kuldeep Yadav. England get a couple of singles from Yadav’s opening over.
2:11PMOVER 13: ENG 45/4 (Moeen 4 Buttler 5) England require 185 more runs to win
Three from Siraj’s latest over and it is time for drinks. I think England need a break!
2:07PMOVER 12: ENG 42/4 (Moeen 3 Buttler 4) England require 188 more runs to win
Only one run coming from Shami’s latest over. His figures are ridiculous; four overs, 2-5.
2:03PMOVER 11: ENG 41/4 (Moeen 2 Buttler 4) England require 189 more runs to win
Siraj is back into the attack and concedes just one run from the over. Plenty of you are getting in touch in the comments section at the bottom of the blog. Keep your views coming!
- Stephen Clues: “Back to the 90s, selecting thirty-something’s on the basis of their history in Test matches- Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Moeen, Woakes. Time to start again with fresh young players and new leaders.”
- AE Ward: “Should we have had Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett in this 50 over competition?
- John Lewis: “Jason Roy should never have been binned for Harry Brook”
- Graham Donnelly: “When it was announced “England unchanged” this morning it was meant to be a statement. It turned out to be a prophecy.”
OVER 10: ENG 40/4 (Moeen 1 Buttler 4) England require 190 more runs to win
Moeen survives Shami’s hat-trick ball. There have been two hat-trick balls in the space of a couple of overs. This tournament has been like watching the same horror movie over and over again. Apt as we are at Halloween!
That is the end of the first powerplay and I think it is safe to say India won it.
1:54PMWicket
Bairstow b Shami 14
Another one has gone down and it is a second inside edge dismissal. It hits Bairstow’s pads and goes onto the stumps. What is going on? This is just summing up England’s whole tournament. FOW 39/4
OVER 9: ENG 39/3 (Bairstow 14 Buttler 4) England require 191 more runs to win
Kohli puts Bairstow down. Bairstow goes hard at short, wide ball from Bumrah and it flies to Kohli’s right but he cannot grab it. That could have been four down for England. Do not forget England were 30/0 a few overs ago. England get a four of the final ball of Bumrah’s latest over as he guides the ball with soft hands down to third-man. Siraj should have stopped it.
1:45PMWicket
Stokes b Shami 0
England in big, big trouble. What a horrible shot from Stokes! He tries to smash Shami out of the ground and misses. Awful, awful cricket. FOW 33/3
1:39PMOVER 7: ENG 33/2 (Bairstow 13 Stokes 0) England require 197 more runs to win
Bumrah is on a hat-trick. But he does not get it. It is on target and hits Bairstow on the thigh pad but too high for a LBW. Bumrah bowls a maiden to Bairstow.
1:35PMOVER 6: ENG 33/2 (Bairstow 13 Stokes 0) England require 197 more runs to win
Ben Stokes has joined Bairstow at the crease. Why do England keep doing this with the bat? Mohammed Shami has replaced Siraj. Three runs come from Shami’s opening over.
1:29PMWicket
Root LBW Bumrah 0
Bumrah has Root first ball, plumb in front yet Root reviews. What are you doing reviewing that? That is so out! The review is lost and England once again find themselves in trouble with the bat. Two in two. The India fans are up and raucous. FOW 30/2
“It was a superb ball from Bumrah to Root who is always susceptible to ones angled into his pads when he first starts an innings. Root was not happy with the decision because he saw the small spike on the big screen but if thought he had hit it, why did he take so long to review? Think he was a bit desperate there.”
1:26PMWicket
Malan b Bumrah 16
Malan is finding it difficult against Bumrah, but so do a lot of batsmen against one of the world’s premier fast bowlers. And Bumrah has his man. Malan tries to force it through the off-side but he only gets an inside edge and it clatters into his own stumps. England did not want to lose an early wicket. FOW 30/1
OVER 4: ENG 26/0 (Bairstow 10 Malan 12) England require 204 more runs to win
Bairstow drills Siraj’s first ball of his second over through cover for four. Terrific shot. Halfway through the over Siraj has taken his boot off and after a short delay we are ready to get going again.
That was a little fortunate for Bairstow. He tries a huge shot over Siraj’s head but only gets an inside edge. Siraj has now hurt his hand stopping a forceful Bairstow drive. The last ball of the over brings Bairstow a couple of runs.
1:14PMOVER 3: ENG 20/0 (Bairstow 4 Malan 12) England require 210 more runs to win
After bowling a wide, Bumrah gets one to go across Malan but fortunately for the England batsman he misses it. They then appeal for a LBW but pitched outside leg stump. Malan gets an inside edge on Bumrah’s next ball and it squirts away for a couple. That was a probing over from Bumrah.
1:09PMOVER 2: ENG 17/0 (Bairstow 4 Malan 10) England require 213 more runs to win
Mohammed Siraj opens the bowling from the other end and is first ball is a wide down the leg-side. He follows that up with another wide a few balls later.
Malan then deposits Siraj for six over wide long-on to get off the mark. What a shot that was on zero. He plays an even better shot next ball with a drive past mid-off for four. Siraj’s radar is a little bit scattergun at the moment.
OVER 1: ENG 4/0 (Bairstow 4 Malan 0) England require 226 more runs to win
Bumrah has two slips in place. India have to attack and need to take early wickets defending 229. Bumrah gets one to nip back aggressively but it misses the inside edge of Bairstow’s bat. Rahul does well behind the stumps to prevent it running away for four byes.
Bairstow gets underway off the final ball of the first over with a slap for four through cover point.
Start of the run-chase
The players are back out in Lucknow and England need 230 runs to win. Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan are opening. Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the first over.
12:56PMConditions in England's favour?
“Could the dew be a factor? The groundstaff are using the interval to brush the outfield with tarpaulin pulled by motorised grass cutters to try and disperse the dew which would help England if the ball skids onto the bat quicker.”
12:55PMNasser Hussain on Sky Sports
“You look back to what happened against Afghanistan and South Africa, where twice people felt he [Buttler] got the wrong decision with the toss.
“Here again he went to field in the heat, when the ex-captains are saying ‘no, no, bat first’. I think that was a brave thing to do but the right things to do.
“Then his bowling changes – bowling Woakes seven on the bounce, then bringing back Willey and using Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali when it was a left-hand/right-hand combination.
“I thought Jos Buttler had a really good 50 overs there.”
12:45PMSky Sports' Michael Atherton
“Much better and well done to them because they came into this under significant pressure, confidence looked low and were getting criticism from all quarters.
“They were excellent in the field, other than the blemish when Moeen Ali dropped the skier at mid-off.
“Their ground field was really sharp, which is usually a good litmus test of the spirit of a team, and their bowling has been much better.”
12:43PMThe thoughts of Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports
“I was quite happy England were playing India on there because on a flat pitch that just spins a bit, I think India are a very difficult side.
“I think the fact the pitch is a bit tired brings England into it and has done.”
12:41PMThe thoughts of England all-rounder Chris Woakes
“It’s been a tough tournament so it’s nice to get some rhythm, personally. It’s good to get a decent spell in the start and put them under pressure.
“Uncharacteristically I missed my lengths earlier in the tour but I felt in a good rhythm today. As bowlers we got the ball in the right areas and tested their batters.
“I think we fielded well which set the tone for us. The pitch will take a bit of a spin. I’d say it’s a bit two paced with the new ball. Hopefully, under lights, it will slide on a bit better. I’m no expert but hopefully it gets better.
“We’d have taken that score from a very good India side at the start of today.”
12:38PMThe thoughts of Nick Hoult at the interval
This is why England wanted Ben Stokes back in the team: to lead a run chase in a low scoring game on a pit of a pitch. England need 230 to beat India and breathe some life in their World Cup campaign.
India’s 229-9 was their lowest score in a home World Cup, not what a 50,000 full house braved the road blocks and security checks to see. It will not be easy on this low and slow surface that turned for Adil Rashid. India may already be regretting not picking Ravi Ashwin. But England have a chance and after the last three weeks, that is real progress, especially against the form team of the competition.
England’s bowlers justified Jos Buttler’s “gut feel” to bowl first and make India set a target for the first time in the tournament. Dave Willey’s 3-45 included Virat Kohli with the new ball for a nine ball duck; the only England player without a central contract knocking over the highest paid cricketer in the world.
Willey returned to break a 91 run stand between KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, and started his third spell with the wicket of the dangerous T20 king Suryakumar Yadav for 49.
Chris Woakes’s 2-33 was a recovery for him after being mauled in the first three matches and dropped. Rashid bowled with good control for 2-35, which included 2 for six in his final three overs as Rohit slugged a googly to deep midwicket.
England broke partnerships just at the right times and Buttler marshalled his attack well. His bowling changes worked and England were far sharper in the field. They looked more like their old selves.
Rohit’s 87 from 101 threatened to be so much more when he heaved two sixes off Willey’s second over but even his shotmaking was made difficult by the pitch as soon as England found the right length, bowling a little shorter, mixing up their pace with slower balls and cross seamers.
12:28PMWicket and end of the innings: IND 229/9
Bumrah run out Buttler 16
That is a terrific last over from Woakes. He goes for just four runs off the final over of the innings and Bumrah is run-out off the last ball. India finish on 229/9 and England require 230 runs to win just their second game of the tournament. FOW 229/9
12:22PMOVER 49: IND 225/8 (Bumrah 14 Kuldeep 8)
Mark Wood is back into the attack. Five runs come from the 49th over.
12:16PMOVER 48: IND 220/8 (Bumrah 12 Kuldeep 6)
Chris Woakes, who bowled seven overs up front to start the innings, returns to the attack to replace Wood. His first ball nearly yields a wicket off the outside edge of Bumrah’s bat, but it falls just short of Rashid at short third-man. Bumrah gets back-to-back twos.
“The ground DJ introducing the next bowling change: “Every batter chokes, his name is Chris Woakes”
12:12PMOVER 47: IND 214/8 (Bumrah 7 Kuldeep 5)
One Yadav replaces another as Kuldeep comes in after the wicket of Suryakumar. He flicks the final ball of Willey’s over to fine-leg for four. Willey strayed too straight there. Willey finishes his 10 overs with 3-45.
“There is nothing like the silence of an Indian cricket ground when one of their wickets goes down. The sound level drops from thousands of cheering voices as the ball goes up in the air to an absolute zen like hush when it is caught by a fielder. There have been more of those moments in this innings than expected thanks to England’s bowling performance led by David Willey. An outstanding 3-45 from him.”
12:09PMWicket
Suryakumar c Woakes b Willey 49
Willey gets his third wicket and that is a crucial one in the shape of Suryakumar, who falls one short of his fifty. He tries to launch Willey over the off-side but he skies it to Woakes at deep cover. FOW 208/8
12:07PMOVER 46: IND 208/7 (Bumrah 6 Suryakumar 49)
Suryakumar comes slightly across his stumps and flicks Wood over fine-leg for six. That brings up the 200 for India. Suryakumar cuts away and wants to come back for two but cannot. Bumrah is on strike and gets off the mark with a hoick through wide mid-on for four.
Wood should have his second wicket but Moeen drops it. It is skied by Bumrah and it is a simple catch but Moeen cannot hold on. England’s fielding has been good today but that was awful from Moeen.
OVER 45: IND 195/7 (Bumrah 0 Suryakumar 42)
David Willey is back into the attack. Suryakumar takes a single off the third ball. Just one run off the 45th over. Bumrah has now faced 12 balls and is yet to get off the mark, which shows just how important the wicket of Jadeja was.
11:56AMOVER 44: IND 194/7 (Bumrah 0 Suryakumar 41)
Really good fielding from Rashid at third-man. Suryakumar cuts away behind point and it looked like it was going for four. But running round to his right Rashid does well to get down to keep it to two. Interestingly Suryakumar takes a single two balls into the over which leaves Bumrah to face Wood, who is steaming in. Wood is too quick for Bumrah and it is dot balls off the rest of the over.
11:50AMOVER 43: IND 190/7 (Bumrah 0 Suryakumar 38)
Suryakumar will be keen to face as many balls as he can between now and the end of the innings. He cuts behind square off Rashid for a couple. He then unleashes a sweep which bisects the boundary fielders for four. He takes a single off the fifth ball of the over. How has that not hit the stumps? Rashid bamboozles Bumrah with a googly and somehow it does not make contact with the stumps. That is the end of Rashid’s 10 overs; he has figures of 2-35.
11:45AMOVER 42: IND 183/7 (Bumrah 0 Suryakumar 31)
Jasprit Bumrah is the new batsman. Wood is bowling quickly and these Indian tailenders will not be enjoying this. That is a wicket maiden from Wood in the 42nd over. Great bowling.
11:42AMWicket
Shami c Buttler b Wood 1
Mark Wood is back into the attack and gets another breakthrough. Wood is too quick for Shami and all the Indian batsman can do is get an inside edge through to Buttler. It took a while for the umpire’s finger to go up but Shami knew it and was walking. FOW 183/7
11:39AMOVER 41: IND 183/6 (Shami 1 Suryakumar 31)
Mohammed Shami joins Suryakumar at the crease. That was a big wicket as India have a long tail.
11:38AMWicket
Jadeja LBW Rashid 8
Rashid thinks he has Jadeja LBW and the umpire agrees. Jadeja reviews. He is a long way down. Is it going over or turning too far? It remains out as it was just clipping the top of the leg stump. That was very, very close. That could so easily have been missing. England are into the India bowlers. FOW 182/6
“Odd choice by the ground DJ to play Baddiel and Skinner’s Three Lions after the Jadeja wicket. Not sure they ever expected football’s coming home to be chanted at a cricket ground in Lucknow. There was a huge cheer when the big screen showed umpire’s call on the leg before, most fans forgetting Jadeja had been given out.”
11:34AMOVER 40: IND 180/5 (Jadeja 7 Suryakumar 30)
England have been so much better today, both with the ball and in the field. They have been much tighter with the ball and taken their chances. Ten overs to go.
11:29AMOVER 39: IND 172/5 (Jadeja 5 Suryakumar 28)
England are just one wicket away from the bowlers. It is a long tail for India so England know how important breaking this partnership will be. Just the one run from Rashid’s latest over.
11:27AMOVER 38: IND 171/5 (Jadeja 5 Suryakumar 27)
Six runs come from Moeen’s seventh over. What do you think a good score would be for India? 250? 275? Have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.
11:24AMOVER 37: IND 165/5 (Jadeja 1 Suryakumar 25)
Livingstone fortunately looks ok. Jadeja has joined Suryakumar at the crease and gets off the mark with a single.
Wicket
Sharma c Livingstone b Rashid 87
Adil Rashid comes back into the attack and he gets the dangerman. Sharma tries to take him on over mid-wicket and Livingstone comes in to take a great diving catch. That is a massive moment. Livingstone is in some pain there after huge amount of earth is dug up from his dive. FOW 164/5
OVER 36: IND 163/4 (Sharma 87 Suryakumar 24)
Moeen goes up for an appeal for LBW as Sharma attempts a sweep. England think about a review but decide against it. It looked like it hit him outside the line of off stump. A few balls later Suryakumar connects well with a sweep behind square on the leg-side and it runs away for four.
11:10AMOVER 35: IND 155/4 (Sharma 85 Suryakumar 18)
Willey strays too straight and short and Suryakumar flicks it away for four. That is a really nice push past mid-off for two, with long-on coming round to stop the boundary. That is repeated next ball, exactly the same shot, exactly the same outcome.
11:07AMOVER 34: IND 147/4 (Sharma 85 Suryakumar 10)
Suryakumar gets the sweep out but Bairstow is well-positioned at deep backward square leg to restrict it to a single. That shows the importance of where you place certain fielders off certain bowlers. Moeen restricts India to just two singles. He has gone for just 19 runs off his five overs so far. With this balance to the England side Jos Buttler has so many more options he can turn to and can rotate his bowlers depending on what they need at certain moments.
11:03AMOVER 33: IND 145/4 (Sharma 84 Suryakumar 9)
India’s final total will be heavily determined by when England dismiss Sharma. Get him soon and England could really restrict India. If Sharma continues to go through the gears England could let India out of the hole they were in earlier in the innings. Four runs from Willey’s seventh over.
10:59AMOVER 32: IND 141/4 (Sharma 82 Suryakumar 7)
Moeen continues and India get four singles from his latest over.
10:56AMOVER 31: IND 137/4 (Sharma 80 Suryakumar 5)
Suryakumar Yadav is the new man at the crease. He gets underway second ball with a four down to the long-on boundary, but that was very close to a return catch for Willey.
10:51AMWicket
Rahul c Bairstow b Willey 39
David Willey comes back into the attack and breaks the partnership. I was just about to write that England needed a wicket and Willey has delivered. Rahul tries to charge him and it is skied up in the air off the splice of the bat. Bairstow takes the catch at mid-on and England have a crucial breakthrough, although they might have preferred the man at the other end. FOW 131/4
⚠️ WICKET ⚠️
KL Rahul makes a crucial error hitting it up high and the party atmosphere amongst the India fans here has mellowed again ❌ pic.twitter.com/0arrQRNNBp
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 29, 2023 10:46AMOVER 30: IND 131/3 (Sharma 79 Rahul 39)
Mid-off is in the circle and Sharma targets that off Moeen. He comes down the wicket and lifts it for four. Sharma is looking dangerous. Moeen does hit Sharma’s pads off the last ball but nothing is given. England decided against a review.
10:42AMOVER 29: IND 125/3 (Sharma 74 Rahul 38)
Sharma comes down the wicket to Livingstone and chips it over mid-wicket for four. That was a very well-controlled shot. He follows that with a couple more down to wide long-on. That was not far away from picking out Moeen at mid-wicket.
10:39AMOVER 28: IND 118/3 (Sharma 67 Rahul 38)
This partnership is looking a little bit ominous, as is Sharma who is onto 67. A couple of runs from Moeen’s second over.
10:36AMOVER 27: IND 116/3 (Sharma 66 Rahul 37)
Sharma gets the reverse sweep out for the first time today as he beats Wood at short third-man for four. Next ball he beats Wood to his right this time as his late cut goes for four more. That was slightly aerial but Sharma gets away with it.
OVER 26: IND 105/3 (Sharma 58 Rahul 34)
Moeen Ali has come on to replace Wood. Five singles come from Moeen’s first over.
10:28AMOVER 25: IND 100/3 (Sharma 57 Rahul 30)
Rahul gets a thick outside edge off Livingstone and it runs away for four down to third-man. A wry smile from Livingstone after deceiving Rahul yet being hit for four. That is a more emphatic shot. Rahul sweeps it away behind square on the leg side for four more. Nearly three straight boundaries as Rahul cuts it past point. Malan restricts India to just two. That was poor running between the wickets from the India pair.
That is the halfway mark of the India innings.
10:24AMOVER 24: IND 89/3 (Sharma 57 Rahul 19)
This is excellent bowling from Wood and he is causing problems for Sharma. Wood half appeals for a LBW but Sharma just got an inside edge on that ball.
Sharma decides to go on the attack against Wood and hoicks over mid-wicket. It was not the best contact and it plugs in the deep for a couple of runs. That takes him to his 54th ODI fifty. He then flicks a ball that is sliding down leg from Wood for six over fine-leg. Sharma plays that shot so well.
OVER 23: IND 81/3 (Sharma 49 Rahul 19)
Liam Livingstone has come on to replace Rashid. Willey looks like he has hurt himself fielding at cover; he stops a powerful drive from Rahul and looks in some pain. But he looks fine to continue. Livingstone starts with a maiden.
OVER 22: IND 81/3 (Sharma 49 Rahul 19)
That is a great ball from Wood, who is back on after treatment on his finger. As Sharma tries to tuck into the leg-side, Wood gets the ball to rise on him a little and it comes off the edge but it lands safely. Three singles from Wood’s fourth over.
10:09AMOVER 21: IND 78/3 (Sharma 48 Rahul 17)
Mark Wood has popped off the field, receiving a bit of treatment on his finger after he was struck on the hand whilst bowling in that last over.
Sharma sweeps Rashid behind square on the leg-side for four. Remember he overturned a LBW decision off Wood on 33. Sharma has just gone past 18,000 runs in international cricket.
OVER 20: IND 73/3 (Sharma 44 Rahul 16)
England’s fielding today has been impressive. Livingstone does really well on the cover boundary to stop a two and those small things make a big difference. Just the three singles from Wood’s latest over.
10:00AMOVER 19: IND 70/3 (Sharma 43 Rahul 14)
India get three singles from Rashid’s fifth over.
“It is one of the truisms of cricket that fielding reflects a team’s mindset and England have been so much sharper today. The early wicket helped of course but it is noticeable how switched on they have been compared to recent performances. Willey owed his Kohli wicket to a brilliant diving stop at cover by Dawid Malan that kept him on strike and, crucially, on zero. Kohli lost his shape and head two balls later, holing out to mid off. Two overs later and a shy by Stokes at mid off, picking up a parry by Malan, hit the one stump he was aiming for but Rohit was home.”
9:56AMOVER 18: IND 67/3 (Sharma 42 Rahul 12)
Unlucky for Wood and England. He does not have a slip in place and the ball flies off a thick outside edge from Rahul for four, beating third-man to his left.
9:52AMOVER 17: IND 62/3 (Sharma 42 Rahul 7)
Sharma manages to find a gap with an emphatic drive through cover for four, the first boundary Rashid has conceded today.
9:46AMOVER 16: IND 55/3 (Sharma 37 Rahul 5)
England think they have a massive moment! Woakes comes out of the attack to be replaced by Mark Wood, who himself has not had a great tournament. And he pins Sharma in front and it is given out. Sharma has reviewed and the technology says it was missing the stumps, just. Hmmmmm. Typical of cricket then next ball as Sharma cuts it away for four.
Time for a drink.
9:38AMOVER 15: IND 50/3 (Sharma 33 Rahul 4)
That is a superb ball from Rashid as he gets one to turn past the edge of Sharma’s bat. Just the one run from Rashid’s over. Sharma has just gone past 1,000 ODI runs in 2023 at an average of 55. Talk about a man in form and how England would love to dismiss him soon.
9:36AMOVER 14: IND 49/3 (Sharma 33 Rahul 3)
Woakes is bowling a seventh straight over, which is no surprise considering how well he has bowled today and the issues he has caused the dangerman Sharma, who decides to attack Woakes. He comes down the ground, which he has done a number of times today, and hits over mid-on for four. That will probably be Woakes’ last ball of the spell and it has been a great opening spell after a difficult tournament for the Warwickshire man.
OVER 13: IND 42/3 (Sharma 28 Rahul 1)
How does Sharma now approach this? Can he go as hard as he would if India were only one wicket down? Two runs from Rashid’s second over and England have a grip on the game at the moment. But they cannot let India away here. England need to keep their foot on India’s throat.
9:28AMOVER 12: IND 40/3 (Sharma 26 Rahul 0)
What a brilliant start this has been by England, where has this been for the rest of the tournament? KL Rahul has come out to join Sharma at the crease.
9:26AMWicket
Shreyas c Wood b Woakes 4
Woakes is going to continue. India were 22/0 off three overs. Eight overs later India have lost two wickets and scored just 17 more runs.That is a beauty from Woakes. He gets one to nip away from Shreyas, who is dragged into a drive. It goes just past the edge. Next ball Woakes finds the edge but like Sharma earlier, it falls short of Root at first-slip. Root has now come closer. But Woakes has his man now. He bowls back of a length and Shreyas tries to pull, but only finds the splice. It loops up to Wood at mid-on, who takes an easy catch. FOW 40/3
9:21AMOVER 11: IND 39/2 (Sharma 26 Shreyas 4)
With now four fielders allowed outside the circle, Jos Buttler has turned to spin as Adil Rashid is coming on to bowl, replacing Willey, who bowled well in the first powerplay. Sharma vs Rashid is going to be a fascinating and key battle. Four singles come from Rashid’s first over.
9:18AMOVER 10: IND 35/2 (Sharma 24 Shreyas 2)
Sharma is having some luck here. Woakes does drop short and wide, but Sharma’s uppercut flies over Root at slip. That is the end of the first powerplay and England have won it. They just need to get the wicket of Sharma quickly.
9:15AMOVER 9: IND 31/2 (Sharma 20 Shreyas 2)
Has Sharma been run-out? A Shreyas drive is stopped by Malan at cover and turns down a single. Sharma has to get back to his crease as Stokes fires in the throw. Stokes hits the stumps but Sharma just about gets back in. So close again to a third wicket for England. England have started really well with the ball and in the field. A maiden over for Willey and England have made a great start to this game, in stark contrast to the rest of the tournament. But Sharma is still there.
“This is exactly what England needed: two wickets with the new ball and Virat Kohli gone for a nine ball duck, the longest of his career. It is fair to say the noise level has dropped a thousand notches. Credit to Dave Willey, who has been tremendous at this World Cup despite being the only player in the squad not to receive a central contract. He has the tenacity England need in this desperate position and was clearly working to a plan there for his IPL team-mate Kohli.”
9:09AMOVER 8: IND 31/2 (Sharma 20 Shreyas 2)
Nearly another for England. Shreyas tries to flick into the leg-side but gets a leading edge. It just goes over cover but that could so easily have been a third wicket for England.
Woakes is bowling his best at this tournament by an absolute mile. He gets one to nip back into Sharma, who leaves it. It hits the pads but it was going over. Sharma then comes down the wicket and pulls away to deep square-leg for a couple.
9:06AMOVER 7: IND 28/2 (Sharma 18 Shreyas 1)
Just the one run and the massive wicket of Kohli in Willey’s fourth over. If they can get Sharma here England will be in dreamland.
9:04AMWicket
Kohli c Stokes b Willey 0
What a massive wicket! Kohli had faced eight dot balls and decided to come on the charge to Willey. It comes off the splice of the bat and loops up to Stokes at mid-off for the easiest of catches. Lucknow falls silent. FOW 27/2
9:00AMOVER 6: IND 27/1 (Sharma 18 Kohli 0)
After striking Sharma on the pads, next ball he finds the edge of Sharma’s bat but it falls agonisingly short of Root at first slip. How did that not carry? He played with hard hands but it is short of Root. The last ball is left well by Sharma not far from the off stump.
A maiden over from Woakes. This is much better from Woakes today. He has bowled three overs, one for eight.
8:55AMOVER 5: IND 27/1 (Sharma 18 Kohli 0)
After a period of silence after the wicket, the noise levels increase massively as Virat Kohli comes out to bat. Probably India’s two favourite cricketers currently at the crease. Willey comes close to Kohli’s wicket second ball as he gets him feeling outside the off-stump. Just the one run from Willey’s third over.
8:51AMWicket
Gill b Woakes 9
England appeal for an inside edge from Gill but the umpire remains unmoved. England think about a review but decline the option. It looked like it clipped the pad rather than the bat.
But a few balls later Woakes has his man. He nips it back into Gill and it smashes into Gill’s stumps. The old adage: “You miss, I hit.” Lucknow is silenced. FOW 26/1
8:46AMOVER 3: IND 22/0 (Sharma 17 Gill 5)
With the way Sharma has played in this tournament England will be desperate to get him early before he gets going. Willey has started off well to him so Sharma decides to charge him. He lifts it over mid-on for four to get off the mark. He did not get brilliant contact on it but with Willey not the fastest he can advance down the wicket.
Next ball Willey drops short and Sharma dispatches him over mid-wicket for six with disdain. Off the final ball of the over Sharma charges Willey again and launches him over mid-on for the second six of the over. Already England are under pressure and Sharma is looking ominous.
OVER 2: IND 4/0 (Sharma 0 Gill 4)
Chris Woakes, who has had a terrible tournament so far, will open the bowling from the other end with two slips in place. England need Woakes to find some form and rhythm in this game. But third ball he drops too short and Gill punches him away off the back foot for four through cover point. First boundary of the match. Dot balls for the rest of the over though so just four from the second over.
Atmosphere in Lucknow
“Incredible atmosphere already even though half the fans are still navigating the road closures and security around the ground. Thousands stood singing loudly for the India national anthem and it feels like 90 percent of the crowd are wearing the blue replica shirt of India.
The Ekana Sportz City is a new stadium, built in 2017 with decent facilities for the crowd. Next door is a massive shopping mall complete with Marks and Spencer and H&M. Modern India on show. The last time England played in Lucknow was in 1993, a warm-up before the first Test. The city has changed, modern touring has changed too: they wouldn’t bother with a warm up now.”
OVER 1: IND 0/0 (Sharma 0 Gill 0)
Here we go in Lucknow. Rohit Sharma will face the first ball of the match from David Willey.
Good start from Willey as he gets one to go past the outside edge of Sharma. Not really close to the edge but Willey got Sharma feeling for it outside his off-stump. A few balls later Willey gets Sharma to nibble at another one but again goes past the edge of the bat. The last ball also goes past the edge ad that is a maiden over from Willey. A really good start for him and England.
8:29AMSky Sports' Nasser Hussain
“England need to silence the crowd, spoil the party.
“Three weeks ago this would have been a box-office game – world champions vs home nation trying to become world champions – so England need to remind people how good a side they are.
“Buttler is key. Not Buttler the captain but Buttler the batter. He has been lacking in this tournament.”
8:28AMReady to go in Lucknow
Anthems done, we are now just minutes away from the first ball going down.
8:24AMAnthem time
The players are out onto the pitch and it is time for the national anthems.
Reminder of the team news
England: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (c/wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
8:17AMFormer England captain Eoin Morgan on Sky Sports
“Bowling first is not a decision I would have made, given conditions and the state of play England find themselves in.
“When you are battling to compete in a tournament, you always turn to your strongest suit and their strongest suit is batting. In order to get themselves in the game, I would have batted first.
“It is going to be a huge challenge for Woakes, Wood, Willey and the spinners. If Gill and Rohit get going they can be very difficult to stop, so to bowl first was an interesting decision from Buttler.
“England have been so low on confidence and that has been visible on the field.”
8:14AMRight decision to bowl first?
“Jos Buttler has chosen to bowl first, which feels like the right call despite the mauling England suffered doing so against South Africa. India have chased in all five of their wins so far and of course Virat Kohli is the master of such things so make them bat first and play a different game. It requires England to strike with the new ball, and that has been a problem for them, but Australia reduced India to two for three in the opening game, the only time they have wobbled.
“It will be interesting in front of a passionate home crowd if that happens again. How will they react? England will have to deal with the heat of the day at 31C but it is not humid like Mumbai so should not be as draining. England have stuck with an unchanged side, India too which means no Ravi Ashwin on what is expected to be a turning pitch. England will be happy about that. Shame Buttler has not picked Harry Brook, England going with experience rather than looking to the future.”
8:11AMIndia captain Rohit Sharma at the toss
“It looks like a good pitch. It is a new surface that has been laid here and it has played quite nicely in the tournament.
“It is important to get the two points, whatever it takes to do that. We have played some good cricket and hope we can continue.”
Sharma declared at the toss that he would have batted first anyway.
8:06AMIndia also unchanged
8:05AMEngland unchanged
8:04AMEngland win the toss
Jos Buttler has called correctly and has decided to have a bowl first.
England are unchanged.
8:02AMTime for the toss
The two captains, Jos Buttler of England and Rohit Sharma of India, are out in the middle and we are ready for the toss.
7:59AMYour predictions
How do you think England will fare in Lucknow against India today? Will the horror show that has been this World Cup continue or can England actually turn up? You can have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.
7:57AMComing to the end?
Are England’s golden white-ball generation coming to the end of the road? Nick Hoult has given his say on the failings of the golden generation during this World Cup.
Fancy a bet?
Having a bet on today’s match? First take a look at these free bets and betting offers.
7:45AMMuch hope?
How much confidence do you have that England can beat the hosts and currently unbeaten India? A few years ago we would all be very confident and buzzing for the game, but there is a real feeling of trepidation and fear going into this one.
7:42AMBack to the bad old days
England have made so many mistakes during this tournament. They have not been sure of the balance of their side and have been chopping and changing, so unlike the England ODI side of the last eight years. According to Will Macpherson, this World Cup is more akin to the bad old days of the 1990’s.
Time for change?
It is safe to say that this World Cup has gone nowhere near to plan. According to our very own Nick Hoult, England have hit rock bottom. Is it time to back youth? To read more, click here.
How much worse can it get for England?
England are nearly out of the Cricket World Cup and they face the daunting task of facing India today in Lucknow. The hosts have won five from five whereas England have lost four out of five. The performances from England so far have been woeful, more akin to what they were like in the bad old days of English ODI cricket. It is a far cry from what we saw from England not just in 2019 World Cup but also in the four-year cycle building up to that tournament.
Captain Jos Buttler admitted after a heavy eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the week that his team’s chances of progression to the semi-finals are virtually over.
“It certainly looks that way and that’s incredibly disappointing. It would need a few miracles. You get on the plane with high hopes and a lot of confidence and belief that we can challenge for the title, so to be sat here now with the three weeks we’ve had is a shock to everyone.
“I’ll walk back in the dressing room after this, look at the players sat there and think ‘how have we found ourselves in this position with the talent and the skill that’s in the room? But it is the position we’re in, it’s the reality of what’s happened over the last three weeks and that’s a huge low point.”
England have lost to Afghanistan in this tournament and been on the receiving end of thrashings by New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka. England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick knows that England have been nowhere near good enough in this tournament so far.
“It has been miles away from what we normally expect. We have not been up to what we expect and that is really disappointing. It is more disappointing in the team environment than anyone else. You have got to put your hand up and understand that criticism comes your way.”
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