World Cup dropped? England have been ordinary at best this World Cup.
© AFP
Three defeats in four matches has left English media and fans shell-shocked. Even the cricket team's best batting display was not good enough when the Three Lions were tamed by Sri Lanka at Wellington on Sunday - the match going in favour of the 1996 champions by nine wickets.
Reports all over the English press - which had previously slammed the shoddy performances - focused on the hapless situation of Eoin Morgan and his men. A Dailymail report, for instance, focused on the sheer juvenile nature of cricket from the national team. "Even when England put what looks like a challenging score on the board they are still brushed aside with contemptuous ease," read a report here. "Not for the first time in this World Cup they seemed like boys today in the men's world of modern one-day cricket." (Also read: Giving up hope is not an option for Morgan )
BBC was almost as scathing in its match report. "Sri Lanka thump sorry England," read the main headline. "If opening defeats by Australia and New Zealand and victory over Scotland were expected, then this fixture was supposed to be the best indicator of England's chances of progressing far into the World Cup. As it turned out, a third one-sided reverse at the hands of Test opposition leaves England clinging to their hopes of reaching the last eight." (England captain admits being thrashed by Sri Lanka )
Indeed, any hopes of progressing into the next round are fading at lightening pace. Currently placed sixth in Pool A - even below Bangladesh and Afghanistan, England have their backs firmly pressed to the wall. Former cricketer Geoffery Boycott feels even if the team advances into the quarters, it would be short stay. "Even if England do make it to the quarter-finals, it won't matter because they're not playing well enough to win," he was quoted as saying in media reports.
Fans though have mostly given up all hopes. "Just take the next flight home. Wellington to London is not expensive anyway," tweeted a supporter. "I've seen more commitment from a Sunday League pub team after they've quaffed a few pints. Absolute rubbish,"wrote another on the website of a popular English daily. "No worries we are still going to win )(some time in the next 20 year)."
If the scathing comments aren't hurtful enough, statistics are plain horrendous.
England have now lost nine ODIs after making 300-plus. The team is only the second to lose by nine wickets after setting a target in excess of 300. It is somehow clear then that even when doing right, England somehow manage to get it all wrong.
Morgan's men next face Bangladesh (Adelaide, March 9) and Afghanistan (Sydney, March 13). A win against the two comparatively smaller teams may seem apparent but the shaky English media and fans would be keeping their finger crossed.
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