VIEW SCORECARD

An early upset against Pakistan? It can happen. “We had a bad day in the field,” said Eoin Morgan after England’s 14-run defeat at Trent Bridge three weeks ago. “I wouldn’t say we were more anxious than normal.”

How about last week’s loss to Sri Lanka? Against a side which arrived at the World Cup with one win in their previous 15 ODIs against Full Member nations, England collapsed from 127-3 to 212 all out in pursuit of 233– the lowest target they’ve failed to chase down since 2014.

Again, Morgan insisted that nerves played no part. “We’ve shown throughout the World Cup we can perform under pressure,” he said.

But, with the notable exception of Ben Stokes, the evidence is mounting to suggest that is not the case, England’s 64-run defeat to Australia at Lord’s being the latest example of a previously all-conquering side falling dramatically below their usual standards.

Another headache they have been unable to alleviate is the form of Adil Rashid. Nobody has taken more ODI wickets since the last World Cup than England’s leg-spinner, but in this tournament he has only managed seven in seven matches at an average of 52 (not helped by the four catches dropped off his bowling, as well as Jos Buttler’s botched stumping today).

His googly has lacked its usual venom, perhaps a result of a persistent shoulder niggle, and he has been unable to make the match-defining breakthroughs in the middle overs which he has done so consistently over the last four years.

But the loss of Roy to injury and the dip in form of Rashid are not enough to explain England’s drop-off.

All is not lost for England, of course. Based on their form leading up to this tournament they would have been confident of beating India and New Zealand. But the last few weeks have shown us that means very little at all.

VIEW STATS & SCORECARD