2019 was just a blip, England cricket team back to their usual standards in Cricket World Cup

'We are not defending anything'

England head coach, Matthew Mott, didn't mince words when he admitted that their performance at the 2023 World Cup has been nothing short of a disaster. The defending champions, who had high hopes of retaining their title, are now on the brink of elimination following their fourth consecutive defeat. While it is not mathematically impossible for them to make a comeback, the writing on the wall suggests that England's World Cup journey is nearing an unceremonious end.

For England fans, this situation has an all-too-familiar ring to it. The white-ball team, which once held both the ODI and T20 World Cup trophies, has now fallen into disarray. The path to greatness took years to build, only to crumble unexpectedly. England's victory during the 2019 World Cup came after meticulous planning over four years, but this current team had primarily focused on Test and T20I cricket. Their lack of exposure to 50-over cricket, combined with not fielding their best XI when they did play, has contributed to their current plight. 
 

Several key players had not participated in domestic 50-over cricket for years. Ben Stokes, for example, last played such a match in England in 2014, while captain Jos Buttler's last 50-over domestic game was in 2016. While this may not have hindered them during their 2019 World Cup win, it is certainly a factor in their current woes.

England at the ODI World Cup 

England's track record in World Cups before their 2019 triumph was riddled with disappointments. They finished as runners-up in 1992, but the period between 1992 and 2019 witnessed a string of disastrous campaigns. In 1996, England had a lackluster campaign, culminating in a quarter-final exit. They won against minnows but struggled against stronger teams. In 1999, England started strongly but lost crucial matches to South Africa and India, missing out on the Super Six stage by a narrow margin.

The 2003 World Cup marked the beginning of England's troubles, including a forfeit to Zimbabwe, thumpings from Pakistan and India, and a group-stage exit. In 2007, England reached the Super Eight stage but failed to make it to the semi-finals. In 2011, England reached the quarter-finals but was outclassed by Sri Lanka. The 2015 World Cup was a complete disaster, marked by poor performances and a group-stage exit. It eventually led to significant changes and a rebuilding process that bore fruit in 2019. 
 

Preparations far from ideal for 2023 World Cup 

Returning to the 2023 World Cup, England's preparations were far from ideal. The team had limited practice with only one series against New Zealand, during which several selection dilemmas arose. The last-minute inclusion of Harry Brook and the puzzling situation with Jofra Archer's fitness alluded to a lack of clear planning.

In the tournament itself, England's tactical choices, such as team composition and decisions at the toss, have backfired. Playing on turning tracks and batting second against strong spinners contributed to their struggles. Their announcement of central contracts added to the off-field distractions, affecting the team's focus.

As the tournament progressed, England's performance deteriorated, culminating in a disheartening loss to Sri Lanka. It is clear that their World Cup journey is effectively over. The question now is whether the players will want to stick around for the next edition in 2027, given the allure of franchise leagues.

Captain Jos Buttler, in his post-match press conference, faced questions about his leadership. While it is a challenging moment for England, there might be potential for a rebuild under Buttler's leadership, as Alastair Cook led a successful revival after the 2013-14 Ashes. However, with just four matches remaining in the current World Cup and vultures circling over the once-great team, it is a race against time to salvage whatever they can from this campaign.

The transition from T20 World Cup glory to World Cup 2023 misery has been a bitter pill for England fans to swallow. The hope of resurgence remains, but for now, they are in the throes of a cricketing nightmare they hope to awaken from soon.