England has given up their hope

Yes, England has given up their hope. This is by the likes of none other than their vice-captain Moeen Ali. One wonders whether they had given up even before the tournament began or just before the Sri Lanka game? As I write this, England just lost the game to Sri Lanka rather miserably. They are effectively knocked out of the World Cup. The defending champion is unable to proceed to the final 4 and goes out at the first opportunity. This is part and parcel of the game but what was appalling was the comment made by their vice-captain, Moeen Ali. It was outrageous to say the least.

“There’s no point playing the way we’re playing and then [we will] go out and go home and have regrets. I’ve always believed – and I believe still – that if we play how we play and we know we can play, most teams, we’ll beat… let’s at least go out with a bang, if we’re going to go out. And be entertaining. That’s really important, because that’s something we haven’t been at all.”

Moeen’s comments

First of all, I just cannot fathom how someone like Moeen Ali can be made the vice-captain? He has never been a performer to be considered a certainty in the first eleven. His best performances have come few and far between. On what basis was he made the vice-captain? I cannot think of anything else but his seniority. It is startling to find that England does not have anyone else who could have been the VC.

The same Moeen did not even find a spot in the eleven after the first game against South Africa. He was dropped for 4 consecutive games. On his return to the team against Sri Lanka, he did not perform any better. This time, he had a lot of time to build a proper innings because by the time he was in, England had lost half the side with more than 30 remaining. In the company of Ben Stokes, he could have built a decent total for him and his bowlers to defend but he didn’t.

“When Jos asks me what I think for the side and I don’t put myself in, or if I put myself in, that’s the hardest bit,” he said. “You try and do what’s best for the team as much as you can.”

A player who himself is not sure whether he is part of the best playing eleven, how can he be the VC? Imagine the helplessness of the captain, Jos Buttler. He is given the task of informing the VC that he is not part of the best playing eleven.

Go out with a bang

What makes the situation alarming is the fact that Moeen and the England squad, before the Sri Lanka game had already decided that if England did go out, they would like to go out with a bang. England still had an outside chance of qualifying. All they had to do was to play proper, consistent and fearless cricket that they have been known for over the last several years. Did that transpire on the pitch? Not really. England was confused and short on confidence. It clearly showed that even in the dressing room, England did not believe that they could reach the semi and that they have the personnel for such a late charge.

England was one of the favourites to not just reach the final 4 but to win the title itself. They have earned that right by their extraordinary performances over the last several years. Every cricket analyst would have had England among the top 3 who could win the World Cup.

Wrapping up England has given up their hope

Never in my wildest dream did I imagine England to go out so early in the tournament. Surely, Buttler’s captaincy tenure has ended. Unlike Morgan, Buttler hasn’t been that inspirational. Perhaps, England need McCullum for white-ball cricket too because Ashley Giles has fallen way too short.

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Temba Bavuma