Last week I defended the World Cup format in anticipation of the dead rubbers many believed would soon be on the horizon.
A week on and theres no such debate, with Englands defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia and Pakistans win over New Zealand today ensuring theres plenty left to play for.
England are feeling the pressure, and with Pakistan now just a point behind ahead of their final two games against winless Afghanistan and Bangladesh its only going to ramp up more.
Read more: Morgan admits England struggling with the basics after Australia defeat
Eoin Morgans side are used to winning one-day international series, but a World Cup is completely different kind of pressure and they dont seem to be dealing with it.
Credit must go to Australia, who came into Tuesdays game at Lords with momentum and continued it through a solid start by Aaron Finch and David Warner and deserved the victory.
The pitch offered enough and England were unlucky, but they seemed to bowl a touch too short early on.
I dont think you can fault Jofra Archer, who just bowled his natural areas. I was also more of a hit-the-deck bowler, so I know what its like to have your skills not suited to the conditions.
Mark Wood is a quick, skiddy sort of bowler, so England didnt really have someone to partner Chris Woakes, like Australia had with Jason Behrendorff to back up Mitchell Starc.
Chasing 285-7 England were once again too inconsistent. They are clearly missing the dominant, aggressive figure of Jason Roy, who so often sets the tone at the top of the order.
England have been without Roy for three games due to a hamstring tear and his understudy, James Vince, just hasnt got going, making scores of 26, 14 and 0. He was never going to be the same player as Roy and the lack of opening partnerships has been a clear problem.
After two concerning defeats England play India at Edgbaston on Sunday in a huge game. They may have lost their prized No1 ODI ranking to Virat Kohlis side today, but I still think theyre the best team in the world.
Englands trademark dominant style has disappeared of late, perhaps due to the different nature of the pitches theyve played on, but theyve shown previously that they have what it takes to win in any conditions.
Last week I defended the World Cup format in anticipation of the dead rubbers many believed would soon be on the horizon.
A week on and theres no such debate, with Englands defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia and Pakistans win over New Zealand today ensuring theres plenty left to play for.
England are feeling the pressure, and with Pakistan now just a point behind ahead of their final two games against winless Afghanistan and Bangladesh its only going to ramp up more.
Read more: Morgan admits England struggling with the basics after Australia defeat
Eoin Morgans side are used to winning one-day international series, but a World Cup is completely different kind of pressure and they dont seem to be dealing with it.
Credit must go to Australia, who came into Tuesdays game at Lords with momentum and continued it through a solid start by Aaron Finch and David Warner and deserved the victory.
The pitch offered enough and England were unlucky, but they seemed to bowl a touch too short early on.
I dont think you can fault Jofra Archer, who just bowled his natural areas. I was also more of a hit-the-deck bowler, so I know what its like to have your skills not suited to the conditions.
Mark Wood is a quick, skiddy sort of bowler, so England didnt really have someone to partner Chris Woakes, like Australia had with Jason Behrendorff to back up Mitchell Starc.
Chasing 285-7 England were once again too inconsistent. They are clearly missing the dominant, aggressive figure of Jason Roy, who so often sets the tone at the top of the order.
England have been without Roy for three games due to a hamstring tear and his understudy, James Vince, just hasnt got going, making scores of 26, 14 and 0. He was never going to be the same player as Roy and the lack of opening partnerships has been a clear problem.
After two concerning defeats England play India at Edgbaston on Sunday in a huge game. They may have lost their prized No1 ODI ranking to Virat Kohlis side today, but I still think theyre the best team in the world.
Englands trademark dominant style has disappeared of late, perhaps due to the different nature of the pitches theyve played on, but theyve shown previously that they have what it takes to win in any conditions.
