Report Card: England

Results summary

Beat Bangladesh by 8 wickets

Beat New Zealand by 87 runs

Beat Australia by 6 wickets (or 40 runs on DLS Method)

Lost to Pakistan by eight wickets

What went wrong?

The inability to keep momentum going. It’s hard to pin down a cause. Eoin Morgan’s men were exactly as he and coach Trevor Bayliss have asked: fearless, which often meant brilliant. After claiming a pre-tournament series against South Africa, then three quality wins of very different sorts to top the pool stage, England were expected to cruise into the final over an unpredictable Pakistan.

But on the day, England was utterly outplayed. Critics said they had gone into their shells, but it was more an inability to shelve the attacking mindset when required. Being bowled out for 206 was a product of the whole batting order playing big shots on a slow pitch that didn’t suit the approach. Then in defending the target England often bowled too short and let Pakistan get away.

The nature of ‘fearless’ cricket means you’re going to fall in a heap once in a while. Unfortunately for England it can happen in a game that mattered.

Positives to take home?

Plenty, and England already are home. Low travel miles should definitely make this list. The relentless positivity on the England camp was shown in the way they backed Jason Roy, giving the struggling opener all three pool games before finally bringing in Jonny Bairstow. It wasn’t so much for Roy’s benefit, but to show all players that playing attacking cricket wouldn’t cost you your place if you failed.

That positivity showed in the varied way England tracked down wins. Bangladesh set 305, but Joe Root and Eoin Morgan smoothly bettered it. New Zealand was on track to do the same to England, but was derailed by some brilliant defensive bowling. Australia had England on the ropes, before a countering flurry by Morgan and Ben Stokes sealed the rumble in the Edgbaston jungle.

England’s second tier of pacers stepped up: Mark Wood, Jake Ball and Liam Plunkett all impressive. Adil Rashid’s leg-spin was key when he was belatedly brought into the team. Jos Buttler clicked in the middle order, Root was supreme without one-day captaincy to worry about, and Morgan set the tone he demands in a team that bats to 10. If this unit can’t bring home prizes, England never will.

Areas for improvement?

It’s that inability to progress in a big tournament that will chafe most, given England has still never won a 50-over global event. That’s no particular shame for a football team, but cricket doesn’t offer as many competitors.

Perhaps the current players don’t care about this record; perhaps the supposed monkey on the back is more an organ-grinder’s macaque than King Kong. But the concept of that burden will keep being spoken about until England can shrug it off.

**What next?**England’s packed home summer will give little time to reflect. Three T20s against South Africa precede four Tests, then three against West Indies, followed by five ODIs. England’s international summer doesn’t finish until September 29, then a month later they’ll be in Australia preparing for the Ashes and a tour of New Zealand. Take a deep breath.

Overall gradeB+