After their disappointing start to this World Cup, England wanted to use this game to set a new level of performance, and in a way they did. This was a fresh low, and since arriving in India they have now lost four games, their confidence, their reputation and at times it seems all reason, and it isn’t over yet. In one of India’s most batting-friendly venues, against struggling, injury-ravaged opponents, England won the toss, chose to bat and were skittled for just 156, the lowest total registered on this ground in a one-day international. From there Sri Lanka’s second victory of the tournament was humiliatingly straightforward.
After a fortnight in freefall this was supposed to be the moment England’s bungee rope pulled taut and they started flying upwards. It turned out there were further depths to plumb, and with India next on Sunday they might be a long way from rock bottom yet.
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