Jos Buttler-led England succumbed to their fifth defeat in World Cup 2023. England are now out of the semi-final race and the only thing they will play for is the Champions Trophy 2025 qualification. With a 100-run loss to Rohit Sharma’s India, bottom-placed England have become the worst defending champions in the history of World Cups. England became the first side in history to side to lose five matches as defending champions.
The previous record was held by Allan Border-led Australia who lost four matches in the 1992 World Cup which was eventually won by Imran Khan's Pakistan.
England got bowled out for 129 in the run chase of 230. This is their lowest score in the ongoing World Cup. They were never bowled out for less than 200 in consecutive World Cup matches before.
In the loss to India, as many as six England batters got bowled. This was the third time Indian bowlers managed to get six bowled dismissals in ODIs. The previous two instances came against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in 1986 followed by West Indies in Kolkata in 1993.
The six bowled dismissals are the joint-second most in a World Cup game. In the 1975 World Cup, seven East Africa batters got bowled by England.
It was also the first instance of England losing four World Cup matches in a row.
Buttler was very disappointed with the way England could not stay in the game despite a brilliant bowling performance at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
“At the halfway stage, chasing 230, we would have fancied ourselves. Same old story. Very disappointed. I wasn't sure about the dew, the gut failed said we should chase. I think whichever way you want to go, you have to be committed. It's all about execution. It is. The answer is on a postcard, I think. It was a great start in the powerplay by the bowlers, the guys found some movement. The ground fielding was good. But the way we batted, we didn't back that up,” the wicketkeeper-batter said.
England will now face Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. They will face the Netherlands and Pakistan on November 8 and November 11 respectively.
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