Only a few days ago, England seemed to have saved their cricket World Cup lives by defeating South Africa. Today, they achieved the near impossible by returning to their worst form and losing to Bangladesh and, at the same time, put themselves at dire risk of failing to qualify for the quarter final stage.
Their earlier defeat, at the hands of Ireland, was clearly due to a pathetic performance by the bowlers after the batsman had done their job more than adequately. Today, against the weakest of the major international sides (excluding Zimbabwe who hardly count) the batsmen only accumulated a very modest total and the bowlers then failed to bowl the opposition out. Not only this, but they allowed the Bangladeshi 9th wicket pair to rescue an almost lost position with an unbroken and winning partnership of 58. This was England at their very worst and particularly showed up their bowlers for what they really are - mediocre, at best.
England now have no way out. They must beat the West Indies next Thursday or accept that they are highly likely to be on a flight home long before the tournament reaches its climax. If they lose, their hopes will rest on an improbable victory by the Netherlands over Bangladesh on Tuesday, not something that anyone envisaged a few weeks ago. Even if they do beat the 'Windies', they may still be sweating on the outcome of the South Africa - Bangladesh clash on Saturday week.
Whatever happens, this England team are a pale shadow of those of even the fairly recent past and hardly deserve to progress further in the competition. When I think of the players of my youth, in the 1960s, and compare them with those of today, I weep.
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