England v Netherlands: Cricket World Cup 2023 – live | Cricket World Cup 2023

thirty third over: England 186-5 (Stokes 31, Moeen 3) Another quiet over from Van Meekeren – two singles and a large. Looks like Stokes and Moeen try to construct a platform for a slogorama on the demise. How the hell has it come to this?

“The sun has set on a great white-ball team – but does the past month suggest the shadows are lengthening for the current Test team?” says Max Williams. “Root, Stokes, YJB, Woakes, Wood all had stinkers. I’ve always had a nasty hunch that this summer’s Ashes signified the end of something rather than the start.

“Incidentally, how do we reckon the World Cup would’ve gone had we literally just played the Test team? And more pertinently, recruited the Test coach? We play Test matches like ODIs and ODIs like T20s – so you have to assume the Bazball mentality would’ve done OK, provided we brought Baz along. Obviously there’s a lot of player overlap but the camaraderie, joy and fearlessness that define the Test side has been sorely lacking here. Or maybe everyone just needed a break and this disaster was inevitable. Who knows?”

Well, fairly. I feel you’re proper in that we’ll by no means see an England Test crew with greater than six or seven of the XI that beat Australia on the Oval. But although it’s unlikely, it’s not past the realms that the England crew for the primary Test on the Gabba in 2025-26 will embrace Duckett, Crawley, Root, Stokes, Brook, Bairstow and Wood.

thirty second over: England 183-5 (Stokes 30, Moeen 2) England have scored 53/4 within the final 12 overs.

“I’d imagine England would prefer not to throw out the baby and the bath water, so how does this look as a sort of interim post-WC ODI XI?” says Mike Jakeman. “Duckett, Malan, Crawley, Root, Brook, Buttler, Jacks, Ahmed, Wood, Atkinson, Archer (or Tongue).”

I prefer it, although I wouldn’t have Root decrease than No3 and I’d transfer Duckett all the way down to play towards the spinners. I’d personally embrace Rashid and rotate with Rehan Ahmed, or play each in sure video games, although I can see either side of that argument. The solely different factor is that ideally you’d like a new-ball professional who swings it.

All that stated, for the Caribbean collection in December I’d relaxation Root, Buttler, Wood and doubtless Rashid. Play a brand new facet in that collection, bar perhaps Malan, and go from there.

thirty first over: England 180-5 (Stokes 25, Moeen 1) Under regular circumstances that might be an excusable shot from Buttler – proper concept, dangerous execution and all that. But given how a lot he has struggled, perhaps he wanted to be a bit smarter and provides himself 20-30 balls to get his eye in.

Or perhaps it’s simply a type of spells than even the best gamers need to endure. As he walked off he throw his bat up within the air as if to say, effectively, fuck it.

WICKET! England 178-5 (Buttler c Nidamanuru b van Meekeren 5)

thirtieth over: England 178-4 (Stokes 27, Buttler 5)

twenty ninth over: England 174-4 (Stokes 25, Buttler 3) Buttler, England’s best white-ball batter, has had an inexplicably dreadful match, with scores of 43, 20, 9, 15, 8, 10 and 1. He has a small second of fortune when a flashing lower bounces not far wanting third man. Netherlands need to assault Buttler right here, as a result of considered one of nowadays he’ll get his eye in, and when that occurs any person goes to endure.

Stokes, who appears to be like as fluent as at any stage on this World Cup, swivel-pulls de Leede easily for 4 extra. He has 25 from as many balls, Buttler 3 from 7.

twenty eighth over: England 167-4 (Stokes 19, Buttler 2) A quiet over from Ackermann. I’m spending an excessive amount of time modifying emails and never sufficient time watching the amtch, although there may be an end-of-term feeling to the entire thing. Dr Butler stated we will get the Subbuteo pitch out.

“I think the age thing around this England lot is a bit of a red herring: early 30s really isn’t that old these days – loads of successful teams are in this age bracket,” says Phil Harrison. “I just think this has been a hideously misconceived and poorly executed campaign. I’m sure this’ll be the end of Stokes, Malan, Woakes, Moeen, Willey, Wood and possibly even Bairstow as ODI players. But personally, I’d like Buttler to stick around – and I also think Rashid should be encouraged to carry on too, if only to help with Rehan’s development. But he’s actually bowled pretty well here and doesn’t deserve to be lumped in with the general catastrophe.”

Yes, it’s value reminding ourselves that Australia and New Zealand have squads with an equivalent common age to England. Experience urged a type of squads would have a poor match, however no one anticipated to have an all-time shocker.

As you say, it’s a mixture of issues. That stated, a few of these gamers have numerous miles on the clock, whether or not that’s bodily, mentally or each. Of the thirtysomethings on this squad, I’d hold Buttler and Rashid for future ODI squads, plus maybe Malan – to clean the transition, as a result of it is advisable to win video games to take care of confidence – and Root. Livingstone may come again sooner or later.

twenty seventh over: England 164-4 (Stokes 18, Buttler 0) Netherlands are proper again on this recreation. The final seven overs have introduced three wickets and solely 32 runs. “Root and others have been so emasculated,” says Ian Copestake, “that I think they no longer have middle stumps.”

WICKET! England 164-4 (Brook c Ackermann b de Leede 11)

twenty sixth over: England 163-3 (Stokes 17, Brook 11) Stokes appears to be like in good contact after that lengthy, barely torturous internet towards Australia on Saturday. He drives Van Meekeren for 4 and muscle tissues a pull that’s glorious stopped on the boundary by Ackermann.

“Going back to our Pink Floyd discussions,” says Krishnamoorthy V, “I tried to match each team in this tournament to one of their albums. I can’t find one for Bangladesh. Nick Hornby or Simon McMahon could chip in.”

This is Krishnamoothy’s checklist. Pink Floyd are a international language to me however I assume/hope/pray it’s going to imply one thing to some to you.

• A saucerful of secrets and techniques – India

• Ummagumma – England (as a result of it is mindless)

• Atom Heart – Mother Australia

• Meddle – Pakistan

• Obscured by clouds – Netherlands

• Wish you have been right here – Sri Lanka (the 1996 crew)

• The Wall – New Zealand

• A momentary lapse of cause – South Africa

• The Piper on the Gates of Dawn – Afghanistan

twenty fifth over: England 156-3 (Stokes 11, Brook 10) Stokes drives his county team-mate (type of) de Leede straight down the bottom for 4. That’s a beautiful shot. This appears to be like a extremely good pitch, particularly when the 80-85mph seamers are bowling.

“Hi Rob,” says Gareth Wilson. “It would be hugely ironic and very much in keeping with England’s muddled selection strategy if they drop Livingstone, an excellent T20 player, for a T20 tournament based on how he played in ODIs.”

Yeah that distinction is actually vital. But it will also be fairly slippery as a result of poor kind in ODIs should have an effect on confidence in T20s, and Livingstone’s T20 performances have additionally declined of late. I’d give him as many possibilities as potential, thoughts, and he’s one of many few gamers on this squad who I’d take to the Caribbean subsequent month. Not positive you possibly can take each him and Moeen to the T20 World Cup although.

twenty fourth over: England 149-3 (Stokes 5, Brook 9) Harry Brook, who has escaped the scarring of this match, will get goung with luxurious, back-to-back boundaries: a pristine on-drive adopted by a superbly positioned cowl drive.

“Just looking at your list of young players who could/ should be at the core of a revamped white ball squad,” says Geoff Wignall, “and though they’re younger than the incumbents, Ben Duckett is 29 and Jofra Archer will be in April. For sure they both deserve places if fit, but they’re hardly in the first flush.”

That’s why I wrote youthful slightly than younger. At least that’s what I meant to do. If there’s a typo or a literal, it’s not my fault – my mind isn’t younger sufficient!

twenty third over: England 141-3 (Stokes 5, Brook 1) At one stage Logan van Beek had figures of 4-0-44-0. Now they’re 6-0-49-1 and he has performed an element within the runout of England’s finest participant as effectively. See, it’s by no means too late to show your life round.

twenty second over: England 139-3 (Stokes 4, Brook 0) Running between the wickets is a window into the soul of a crew, and England have had some stinking run-outs on this match. That was a decent single, so you might apportion blame both manner. “It’s almost as if Malan forgot Root was no longer in,” says Ravi Shastri.

Either manner Malan goes for an excellent 87 from 74 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes. His detractors will level out that over 60 per cent of his runs have been scored towards Bangladesh and Netherlands, and that’s honest sufficient, however he has nonetheless had a extremely good match. Same with David Willey. It should be so onerous to summon the psychological power to play near your finest once you assume or know you’re unloved; to take action when your crew can be a whole mess is totally admirable.

Malan pushes Dutt into the covers, set off and was despatched again by Stokes. Van Beek acquired the throw in a short time and, although it reached the wicketkeeper Edwards nearly on the half-volley, he handled it brilliantly and broke the stumps with Malan’s bat on however not over the road.

WICKET! England 139-3 (Malan run out 87)

Run-out referral towards Malan! This appears to be like shut.

twenty first over: England 135-2 (Malan 86, Stokes 1) Ben Stokes is the brand new batter. Root has had tough spells in his profession however I’m undecided he has ever seemed as out of contact as he does proper now. He wants a vacation.

WICKET! England 133-2 (Root b van Beek 28)

twentieth over: England 132-1 (Malan 84, Root 28) The offspinner Aryan Dutt replaces Van der Merwe, who might change ends to pressure Malan to hit to the larger boundary. Seven from the over, all in ones and twos.

“When I moved to Spain in 2020 I always thought that, although following cricket would be harder (having to install VPNs and what have you), I’d at least be free from teasing by other people,” says David Govantes-Edwards. “At the end of the day, nobody here has the slightest clue about what’s going on in this most wonderful of games…

“Naturally, I had to move next door to a bike-rental shop that’s run by Ali, from Pakistan. He’s the loveliest of chaps, but you can imagine how sneakily I’ve been leaving the house these last three weeks, not always successfully. At the beginning I could at least make a little of a fight-back, but that’s gone for good now… Mother Cricket never lets you go, does she?”

She’s a sick twist all proper.

18th over: England 125-1 (Malan 82, Root 24) Malan costs Van der Merwe and blooters one other six to cow nook. Slow left-armer bowling to left-hander who’s hitting to the brief boundary = bish-bosh. Malan is eighteen away from his second century of the match; no different England participant has made one, not even the bowlers.

“Have the England batsmen considered throwing themselves head first off golf buggies?” asks Pete Salmon, a reference to yesterday’s astonishing innings from Glenn Maxwell.

18th over: England 117-1 (Malan 75, Root 23) The final time folks spoke about England having an opportunity to enhance their internet run-rate, Jos Buttler had simply put Afghanistan into bat, so perhaps this isn’t a shiny concept. But if England discover themselves in a successful place, the margin of victory is vital. Their internet run-rate is inferior to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Netherlands, the challengers for the final two Champions Trophy locations, and if England win right this moment they’ll be part of these groups on 4 factors.

This barely tedious digression involves you in affiliation with some boring center overs, the most recent of which, from Ackermann, yielded six singles.

seventeenth over: England 111-1 (Malan 72, Root 20) Malan slog-sweeps Van der Merwe’s first ball for the primary six of the innings. The heavy lifting performed for the over, he and Root acquire 4 low-risk singles. That’s drinks.

“Urgh, do we have to,” says Alistair Connor, quoting right this moment’s already award-winning preamble. “Yes, you damn well do. Bear in mind, Rob, that there is a significant and colourful minority among your readership who are not England supporters, and who are here today for the schadenfreude.

“Personally, I have a great love for this England side, and it’s mostly your fault (along with all your esteemed OBO colleagues). Following the epic exploits of a legendary line-op over the past decade or so has been quite a journey, and it’s on the OBO that it’s all happened, for me anyway.

“Also: England gave the world Shakespearian tragedy. There is always a rich comic element in the best tragedies. Play on!”

Believe me, England batting collapses are a part of the scaffolding of my life. Every scorecard triggers a exact reminiscence, often involving the abbreviation FFS.

sixteenth over: England 101-1 (Malan 64, Root 18) Colin Ackermann comes on to bowl his occasional offies. A single from Root, considered one of 5 within the over, brings up a low-key fifty partnership from 54 balls.

fifteenth over: England 96-1 (Malan 61, Root 16) Here’s the left-arm spinner Roelef van der Merwe. He performed towards England for South Africa on the 2009 Champions Trophy, the match wherein Eoin Morgan first demonstrated his coruscating brilliance in an England shirt. Four singles from the over; regardless of a sedate final half hour, England are nonetheless going at greater than a run a ball.

“In terms of where we go from here. I think jettisoning a lot of players who aren’t performing, no matter how long they have done well for us, is the best thing to do,” says Stephen Brown. “There is a case to be made (by someone better informed and with more time than me) that part of our problem is the likes of Malan have come into the set up too late because we showed too much loyalty to Jason Roy even while he was having an extended barren run.

“Liam Livingstone is another who doesn’t seem to offer a consistent value to the team. Two half centuries in the 10 innings he batted before the World Cup is not mind blowing and while I accept the need for spinning options in India, again his figures do not jump out.

“I think Moeen’s column recently suggested we should be switching to the younger players, which is a fine idea, but doesn’t go far enough. We need to be more ruthlessly in picking on form as well. But perhaps we should just get through these next two games and hope some dignity can be restored first…”

I suppose there are few factors to make – how a lot crossover is or ought to there be in choice for the 2 white-ball codes, and how will you choose kind when hardly any of those gamers have been ODI regulars from 2021-23? I wouldn’t essentially agree that Malan suffered from extreme loyalty to Jason Roy as a result of they often opened collectively within the absence of Bairstow (and Roy performed fairly effectively within the 12 months earlier than the match).

In hindsight, successful the T20 World Cup was a combined blessing as a result of it cemented an it’ll-be-alright-on-the-night perspective and nearly definitely created a unconscious complacency. It’s genuinely unhappy however this stuff occur in sport, and I don’t assume it diminishes a fairly wonderful legacy.

14th over: England 92-1 (Malan 59, Root 14) No matter how dangerous his kind, Joe Root can at all times depend on his reverse scoop. He dumps Van Meekeren to 3rd man, the primary boundary of the innings from his fifteenth supply, and a classy flick via midwicket brings two extra. It would have been 4 however for a wonderful diving cease by O’Dowd.

thirteenth over: England 82-1 (Malan 58, Root 6)

twelfth over: England 78-1 (Malan 57, Root 3) It’s a little bit of a quiet spell, with simply 9 runs scored within the final three overs. Root is taking a while to get his eye in, a mirrored image of his low confidence. At his finest, as Ravi Shastri says, he breezes to twenty off 25 balls with out anybody noticing. Today he has 3 from 10.

“For all Bairstow’s failings lately, he’s not the only one by any means,” says John Starbuck. “Also, he has a value in being a very good second wicketkeeper if needed. Can Harry Brook keep well enough yet?”

Erm, I don’t assume so, though along with his pure expertise he’ll in all probability become the second coming of Alan Knott. The scrap for locations on the T20 World Cup might be fascinating. Eight of the XI who received final yr’s closing are on this squad. The exceptions are Alex Hales (who has retired), Phil Salt and Chris Jordan. Then you might have all of the youthful gamers: Duckett, Crawley, Jacks, Rehan, Tongue, Turner and – please, please – Jofra Archer.

If the Caribbean pitches are as anticipated, spin might be actually vital. Rehan Ahmed appears to be like the actual deal in T20 cricket so might effectively leapfrog Moeen and/or Livingstone.

eleventh over: England 73-1 (Malan 53, Root 2) Bas de Leede replaces Aryan Dutt, who bowled a helpful spell of 5-0-25-1. Malan leathers a straight drive that’s effectively stopped by de Leede in his observe via. “This is such a good pitch,” says Ravi Shastri on commentary. “Flat, like the expressway just behind this ground.”

In different information, apparently the forecast for tomorrow’s recreation between New Zealand and Sri Lanka is dodgy, which could possibly be a gamechanger. If that match is rained off, Pakistan and/or Afghanistan will transfer above them in the event that they win their closing recreation: Pakistan v England, Afghanistan v South Africa.

tenth over: England 70-1 (Malan 50, Root 1) Paul van Meekeren comes into the assault and surprises Root with a bit of additional bounce. Root drops the ball safely on the off facet, and the remainder of the over passes with out incident.

In different information, it is a longshot but when anybody studying a) is over 40, b) needs to play an everyday recreation of soccer and c) lives close to or in Bruton, Somerset, please get in contact. I’m making an attempt to organise an everyday recreation, as a result of I’m a community-facing particular person and that’s simply what I do to get match, have enjoyable, and so on.

ninth over: England 69-1 (Malan 50, Root 1) Joe Root’s run of scores on this match is a mathematical puzzle not even Max Fischer might remedy: 77, 82, 11, 2, 3, 0, 13.

He will get off the mark with a bread-and-butter single. Dutt undoes the nice work of the previous couple of overs with an extended hop that’s slapped for 4 by Malan. A piece off the pads takes him to tranquil half-century from 36 balls with 10 fours. As Malcolm Tucker may say, England’s World Cup failure is NHFP.

eighth over: England 63-1 (Malan 45, Root 0) Malan is taking part in fantastically. He crashes a pull over midwicket for 4, pings a sq. drive to the fence and belts a drive via the diving further cowl. Three boundaries within the over and 9 within the innings already for Malan.

Seven of these have come off poor Logan van Beek, who has T20 figures of 4-0-44-0.

seventh over: England 48-1 (Malan 31, Root 0) It appears to be like like there are 9 matches earlier than the T20 World Cup – 5 within the Caribbean subsequent month, then 4 towards Pakistan in May. Trouble is, most of this squad will certainly be given subsequent month off, particularly because it’s an ideal probability to launch a brand new ODI period.

WICKET! England 48-1 (Bairstow c van Meekeren b Dutt 15)

sixth over: England 47-0 (Bairstow 15, Malan 30) This is the sixth successive toss that Jos Buttler has received, which makes England’s failure much more stunning. Then once more, they successfully misplaced the toss in the important thing video games towards Afghanistan and South Africa as a result of they made the mistaken determination. In hindsight, that brutal final hour and a half within the subject towards South Africa was when this crew died.

Van Beek continues, conceding 5 singles from his third over. Bairstow has 15 from 16 balls, Malan 30 from 20. I ponder what number of of this crew will make subsequent yr’s T20 World Cup. They need to freshen the crew up, however equally you can also make a case for every thirtysomething particular person geting one other probability. It’ll solely seven months away. I suppose it’s going to rely upon kind within the preparatory matches, assuming there are some.

fifth over: England 42-0 (Bairstow 13, Malan 27) A greater over from Dutt, three singles from it.

“Where would the shock-o-meter register,” says Krishnamoorthy V, “should Pakistan trounce India in the semis and clinch the trophy after beating SA in the finals?”

It would register in my beating coronary heart, that’s for positive. After the unforseeable surges of 1992, 2009 and 2017, Pakistan successful a significant match ought to by no means be a shock. That stated, I anticipate New Zealand to undergo.

4th over: England 39-0 (Bairstow 12, Malan 25) On commentary, Eoin Morgan is speaking about his golden duck when England made 498/4 towards the Netherlands. “Bit two-paced that wicket,” he says. “Tinge of green… You know it’s time to go when your team nearly scores 500 and you can’t even get off the mark!”

Malan has began superbly. A straight drive off van Beek takes him to 24 from 12 balls, all in boundaries, however he breaks that run by pulling the subsequent for a single. In the context of England’s surprising match there’s one thing fairly poignant concerning the performances of Malan and David Willey, who’ve waited so lengthy to play in an ODI World Cup.

Bairstow continues England’s assured begin with a crisp flick via midwicket for 4. It could be similar to this crew to attain 1000 right this moment.

third over: England 29-0 (Bairstow 7, Malan 20) Malan makes it 5 boundaries within the first eight balls by slapping Dutt via the covers and edging the subsequent ball huge of the keeper. England look within the second to take out their frustration on the Netherlands bowlers.

“Morning Rob,” says Guy Hornsby. “This feels like a very cricketing hangover after the otherworldly feats of Glenn Maxwell yesterday. The can’t-walk-but-I’ll-slap-you-for-six-anyway section of that innings is barely believable. And it’s perfect that it’s England, of course, queueing up for another banana skin. Could you imagine any of that team today doing event 30 per cent of that? It’s hard to remember we were world-beaters, such is the slump. I’m glad Atkinson and Brook are in, but can anyone explain why Stokes isn’t flying home and preparing for a knee op now? Barney’s article seems very apt. Who is running the show here, exactly?”

I feel that’s a bit harsh. I’d have requested Stokes if he needs to go house, however in a state of affairs like this England can’t actually win. Imagine if he went house, then a batter acquired injured and a lightweight prime order (Livingstone at No5) was skittled right this moment or towards Pakistan. When you lose six video games in a row, nothing you are able to do will cease the bloodlust.

There is a part of me that wonders what Stokes taking part in at, as he appears very laissez-faire about his knee harm, however he’s England best ever cricketer (IMO) and has enriched our lives a lot. I’d forgive him nearly something.

2nd over: England 19-0 (Bairstow 6, Malan 12) Dawid Malan vrooms serenely out of the blocks, timing Logan van Beek for 3 successive boundaries: a flick behind sq., a candy off-drive and a good sweeter cover-drive.

Malan is the one England batter who has had a half respectable match: he’s on 298 runs, with Joe Root the subsequent finest on 188, though 140 of these got here towards Bangladesh. He and Harry Brook are the one batters with a strike fee in extra of 100.

1st over: England 6-0 (Bairstow 6, Malan 0) The offspinner Aryan Dutt begins to Jonny Bairstow, who had had an more and more determined match: 141 runs at a mean of 20, and 85 of these got here within the first two video games. He will get off the mark with a brusque sweep not far away for 4, then swaggers down the wicket munching his gum. A squirt previous level brings two extra.

“Good morning Rob,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “There were a lot of discussions on Angelo Matthews in the OBO yesterday till the MadMax screening took over. The irony of the jump in focus from one for whom time ran out to one for whom time stood still can’t be ignored.”

Heh, superb. It’s the perfect ODI innings ever, proper? Or, no less than, it’s the perfect massive ODI innings ever. It’s very onerous to check it to nice innings in lower-scoring video games, for instance Graham Gooch towards the 4 horsemen in 1986.

From the archive (and in pressing want of an replace)

If you had the fortune to be born a cricket nerd, you may like this: a retro draft based mostly solely on kind within the 1999 World Cup. It’s not usually Geoff Allott and Henry Olonga are picked forward of Curtly and Courtney.

Anyway, again to right this moment’s recreation. Here are Ali and Barney’s previews.

This is such an excellent interview with Stuart Broad by Donald McRae. A few highlights.

“It’s deeper than you think,” Broad says of McCullum’s philosophy. “He’s been extremely disciplined along with his language. At no stage has he ever been damaging or vital. Rather than being like a head coach, he’s extra of a psychologist.

“He would say to Zak Crawley: ‘I don’t need you to common 40 by getting 40 each recreation. I choose you to go nought, nought, nought, 70. Win me that recreation.’ Like Zak did at Old Trafford – bang, [189 – although England’s victory push was ruined by rain]. So he actually drives house the optimistic messages. I watched him earlier than the Old Trafford Test. Jonny was having a troublesome time and so Baz performed golf with him, sat subsequent to him at dinner, threw him underarms at coaching. He spent numerous time reinforcing Jonny’s strengths. And Jonny goes out and will get 99 [not out]. It’s fairly spectacular.

McCullum hates the expression ‘Bazball’ however, as Broad says with a smile, “It’s made the dictionary. The Aussies spent the last six months denying the fact it exists. Every interview they say: ‘Bazball is not a thing.’ But I will win that argument 100 times out of 100. I just show them the economy rates of bowling figures.”

Team information

England win the toss (but once more) and bat

This is the saddest factor you’ll learn right this moment (except you heard about it two days in the past – it’s new(s) to me)

Eff Marhaba Sports India, eff YouTube, eff all of it.

Of course we now have to. England are taking part in at a World Cup and societal norms dictate that, irrespective of how extreme the ennui engendered by a tragicomic title defence, it will be poor kind to disregard the sport and liveblog repeats of Frasier as an alternative.

And whereas this seems like the ultimate Test of an Ashes tour gone dangerous, there may be truly lots to play for. England must win no less than one and doubtless each of their final two video games to qualify for the 2025 Champions League, an vital ceremony of passage for the subsequent era of ODI gamers.

Overnight stories additionally counsel Matthew Mott’s employment prospects might hinge on right this moment’s end result. My hunch is that he’ll keep regardless – he has a World Cup to defend subsequent yr – however you possibly can perceive the notion that defeat to the Netherlands could be a humiliation too far, even when it’s a bit insulting to a formidable facet who’ve enriched this match. And who, lest we neglect, are above England within the desk.

England butchered 498 for 4 towards the Netherlands in Mott’s first recreation as white-ball coach. That was 17 months and a lifetime in the past, when Eoin Morgan was nonetheless captain and England’s aura was intact.

It has disappeared ceaselessly on this World Cup, a genuinely unhappy manner for England to exit a stage they owned for therefore lengthy. Let’s see whether or not they have one final domineering efficiency in them.

Preamble