England out of the Cricket World Cup: Five ways it all went wrong for Eoin Morgan's side
England's fate was sealed after they slumped to defeat against Bangladesh
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It all ended, fittingly enough, with a whimper, as England's 15-run defeat to Bangladesh confirmed their earliest-ever exit from a World Cup.
Since being trounced in their opening clash against the co-hosts Australia Peter Moores' side have barely looked at the races, their only victory coming against Scotland, who have never won a World Cup fixture.
With this Friday's final match with Afghanistan now a meaningless dead rubber, here are the five key factors that contributed to England's humiliating early exit:
Anderson and Broad were shadows of their former selves
England's two foremost strike bowlers have taken 444 ODI wickets between them, but managed just seven scalps between them in almost eighty overs. Against Bangladesh Jimmy Anderson gave a tantalising indication of his potency in swinging conditions, but England's talisman has too often resembled cannon-fodder during the tournament, while Stuart Broad's bowling lacked any semblance of the pace and aggression that should have made him a handful on hard, bouncy wickets.
Broad hits the deck against Bangladesh (Getty Images)
The selectors ignored James Tredwell
The failure of Anderson and Broad to make an impression makes England's steadfast refusal to pick Tredwell even more baffling. The 33-year-old has become the side's most consistent one-day performer in recent seasons, with a career economy rate more miserly than any other member of England's attack. The fact that Moeen Ali has been England's least expensive bowler in the tournament refutes any notion that conditions would have been ill-suited to the canny Kent off-spinner.
England failed to capitalise when they were on top
Apart from their embarrassing, freakish capitulation to New Zealand, Peter Moores' side had their moments in all their World Cup clashes, but failed to press home their advantage whenever they threatened to gain the upper hand. They allowed Australia to rebuild and post 342 after taking early wickets, stagnated after a fast start with the bat against Sri Lanka, and twice let Bangladesh off the hook to allow them to reach 275.
They inexplicably kept faith with Gary Ballance
It is tempting to view players through rose-tinted spectacles when they aren't being picked, but could Alex Hales really have done any worse than Ballance? The breakout star of last summer's Test campaign was thrown into the side without any preparation to occupy the crucial number three spot, and looked horribly short of form throughout. Hales, England's best T20 player, batted well enough when finally brought in to face Bangladesh, but it was all too little, too late.
Eoin Morgan still couldn't buy a run
The England captain cut an increasingly forlorn figure as his horror run continued, managing to eke out just 90 runs in five innings at a pedestrian strike-rate of just under 65. His repeated inability to kick-start England's innings in the middle-overs left far too much responsibility on the shoulders of Jos Buttler, and piled the pressure on a quiet skipper who needs to lead from the front.
Eoin Morgan trudges off the pitch after another duck (Getty Images)
England's World Cup in numbers
12.2 - The overs it took for New Zealand to beat England's total of 123 in their second group game.
49 - The amount of runs Steven Finn went for in two overs against New Zealand.
6.00 - The combined economy-rate of England's bowlers during the tournament
9.00 - The batting average of Gary Ballance, who scored just 36 runs in four innings.
16 - The number of sixes hit by England in their five fixtures. Only Scotland have managed less.
16 - The number of sixes hit by West Indies' Chris Gayle in his 215 against Zimbabwe.
654 - total of runs scored by Australia and Sri Lanka against England
0 - The number of centuries scored by a Bangladesh batsman in a World Cup before Mahmudullah's 103 against England.
233 at 58.25 - Ireland's Ed Joyce has scored more runs in the tournament at a higher average than any England player, in one less match. Joyce used to play for England, but was axed after the 2007 World Cup.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments