England’s World Cup campaign is in tatters after losing to Bangladesh, who are into the quarter finals with one pool match to come against New Zealand.
Considering England’s form, this result can’t really be seen as the biggest upset of the tournament so far.
Pakistan’s win over South Africa probably rates number one as far as upsets are concerned, considering their poor form in their opening four games.
England is in disarray. Bangladesh batted well to make 275, but when you consider some of the totals teams have posted in this World Cup, the chase was quite paltry.
Bangladesh was helped by Mohammad Mahmudullah’s 103 and a gritty 89 from pint-sized wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim.
Once again England’s bowling, which has been suspect all tournament, couldn’t keep the pressure on after claiming two very early wickets. An injection of youth and variety is required in a bowling attack mainly containing all right-arm seamers.
As is England’s want, there was no blitzkrieg in chasing the target down. They were too conservative and steady. Aside from Ian Bell and Jos Buttler, they didn’t fire a shot.
The poisoned chalice of being England’s one day captain that passed over from the dropped Alastair Cook to Eoin Morgan has become even more poisonous, with Morgan falling for a duck again again. It might be time for Joe Root to assume that position. He has been England’s most consistent batsman in this World Cup.
They constantly pick the same players, so it just proves there is a huge lack of depth and quality of players coming through who are proficient in the shorter forms of the game.
As well as some players taking the fall for missing out on the quarters, coach Peter Moores must also be in the firing line.
These limp displays have been embarrassing, so changes need to occur, with another Ashes Series just around the corner.
For Bangladesh, their form, especially with the bat, had been good, although their bowlers had leaked big totals. But they would have still been confident going into this do or die encounter as they had beaten England before.
Their problem had been having the occasional exceptional victory, only to produce many shockers in a row despite having Test-playing status for more than a decade.
They have their fair share of experienced players, however, who have shone when required such as Mahmudullah, Rahim, all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, probably their best ever player, fast bowler Rubel Hossain, who took four wickets against England, and battle hardened skipper Mashrafe Mortaza. They need to keep stepping up.
Playing the undefeated New Zealand before the quarters is the best possible preparation for Bangladesh. Let’s hope making the World Cup final eight it gives them the confidence to perform well at consistently high levels in all forms of this game in years to come.
Unfortunately for England, missing out will hurt and really they would have only been making up the numbers in the quarters.
Their journalists back home are already having a field day. Imagine how much worse it will be when the players and the coaching staff land at Heathrow next week. I reckon they better keep their helmets handy!
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