Tag: England

Australia can deliver the final blow to old enemy England’s dismal ICC World Cup 2023 campaign on Saturday with memories of their acrimonious Ashes series still fresh.

Jos Buttler’s defending champions sit rock bottom of the 10-nation group with one win in six games, requiring a mathematical miracle to squeeze into the semi-finals.

On Saturday, they face an Australian team who come into the game at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad with four straight wins.

However, the five-time winners will be without two key players, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh.

England’s most recent loss was a 100-run thrashing at the hands of unbeaten India in Lucknow where coach Matthew Mott faced down questions over the team’s brittle batting line-up and claims of dressing room unrest.

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Opening batsman Dawid Malan slammed reports of Mott, who had conceded the ICC World Cup 2023 campaign was over for the 2019 champions, losing the confidence of the players.

“Motty is not the one walking out on the field,” Malan told BBC.

“As players, we need to take responsibility when we cross that rope. We are being given everything we need to perform. The facilities and work, everything is being done as it always has been.”

He added: “It is really hard to sum up. We just can’t seem to get anything going at the moment or any rhythm or momentum. We’re not used to being in that position.”

England’s only win in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 so far was against Bangladesh.

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They lost to Afghanistan while in their last two games, their batting folded for 156 (against Sri Lanka) and then 129 (India).

Defeat to Australia will not only knock them out of contention for a semi-final spot but also put them in danger of missing the 2025 Champions Trophy.

England must finish in the top seven places to qualify for the 50-over tournament in Pakistan.

“I’m pretty sure I’ll be done for that but I’d love the guys to play in that,” the 36-year-old Malan said. “Hopefully we can find the momentum and finish the World Cup on a high.”

The two fierce rivals played out an exhilarating and often bitter Ashes this year with the five-match Test series ending 2-2.

Australia hold the aces in the 50-over format with 87 wins over England in 155 matches and in nine World Cup meetings the Aussies remain 6-3 ahead.

But when they met in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals, England triumphed and went on to win their maiden World Cup.

Australia started this World Cup with two losses but bounced back and are fresh from their record 309-run hammering of the Netherlands last week.

But the former champions have been dealt two blows after Maxwell fell off a golf buggy and suffered concussion while Marsh has left for home due to personal reasons.

Maxwell blasted the fastest World Cup century off just 40 balls to tear into the Dutch attack in New Delhi.

His omission paves the way for Marcus Stoinis to return.

Marsh has amassed 225 runs including a classy 121 in a 259-run opening partnership with David Warner against Pakistan.

Coach Andrew McDonald said Maxwell’s injury does leave them “a fraction exposed at the back end” but Stoinis “does become available”.

Cameron Green also comes into the picture for the all-important match with Marsh’s place up for grabs.

Marnus Labuschagne is expected to retain his place despite his 18 in the team’s previous win — a thrilling last-ball finish in Dharamsala — over New Zealand.

The middle-order batsman said England remain a “dangerous” team and “let’s not get sucked into how they’re performing”.

Australia, led by Pat Cummins, are currently in third spot and well-placed to reach the semi-finals after winning four games.

READ: David Willey to retire from international cricket after ICC World Cup 2023

In-form all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of Australia’s ICC World Cup 2023 clash against England, head coach Andrew McDonald said on Wednesday.

According to the details, Maxwell suffered a concussion due to falling off a golf cart this week.

He fell on his back off the buggy after playing a round of golf, ahead of his side’s all-important contest against defending champions England on Saturday.

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As per Cricket Australia’s concussion protocols, Glenn Maxwell’s condition will be monitored for a few days.

“He’s doing fine, he’ll start some light exercises today and we feel as though it will be a reasonably straightforward return to play protocol,” McDonald told reporters.

“I suppose the fortunate part was there was no other injury sustained which could have been a lot worse than it is. I think it rattled everyone to be fair once it came to the conclusion there was a concussion and he was going to miss a game.

“There was nothing untoward in the behaviour throughout the day, it was a clear-cut accident. Unfortunately, it’s compromised what we are doing as a team.”

For the unversed, Maxwell missed Australia’s away series against South Africa before the ICC World Cup 2023 with an ankle issue.

He also broke his leg, last November, in a freak accident at a birthday party in Melbourne.

Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell has turned up to be a crucial asset for Australia with his hard-hitting ability and as a disciplined off-spinner.

In his side’s ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against the Netherlands, Glenn Maxwell stunned the World Cup by smashing the fastest World Cup hundred.

The right-handed batter decimated the Dutch bowlers to bring up a 40-ball hundred.

He finished at a 44-ball 106 that featured nine boundaries and eight sixes.

Glenn Maxwell also became the first batter in ODI history to score a century after having faced the first ball after the 40th over.

READ: Quinton de Kock sets unique records with New Zealand ton

England seamer David Willey said on Wednesday he will retire from international cricket following the ICC World Cup 2023 after missing out on a national central contract.

The 33-year-old left-armer, also a hard-hitting lower-order batsman, was the only member of reigning champions England’s struggling 15-man squad in India not to be given a deal of any kind.

That decision left Willey in the strange position of trying to turn around England’s woeful title defence while knowing his bosses were not prepared to secure his future as an international cricketer.

“I never wanted this day to come,” said Willey in a post on Instagram announcing his retirement.

England have won just one of their six matches played and are currently bottom of the 10-team table of ICC World Cup 2023 in India.

Willey took 3-45, including dismissing star batsman Virat Kohli for nought, in Lucknow last weekend although his haul could not prevent England from suffering a 100-run defeat by the unbeaten hosts.

“From a young boy, I’ve only ever dreamed of playing cricket for England,” added Willey.

“So, with careful thought and consideration, it is with great regret that I feel the time has come for me to retire from all forms of international cricket at the end of the World Cup.

“I have worn the shirt with immense pride and given my absolute everything to the badge on my chest.”

David Willey made the announcement even though Jos Buttler’s men still have three group games to play in the ICC World Cup 2023, starting with a clash against arch-rivals Australia in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

Willey has played 70 one-day internationals and 43 Twenty20s for England.

He missed out on their 2019 World Cup triumph after he was dropped from the squad shortly before the tournament, with fast bowler Jofra Archer taking his place.

But David Willey was a member of England’s T20 World Cup-winning squad in Australia last year.

He insisted his decision to retire from international cricket had “nothing to do” with England’s performances, during the World Cup.

“I’m sure everybody who knows me does not doubt that, whatever my involvement in the remainder of this campaign, I will give my everything and more! That’s the only way I know,” he wrote.

READ: Shaheen Afridi soars to Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings summit

England coach Matthew Mott on Sunday said the team remains an “incredibly tight-knit unit” despite a 100-run thrashing by India which condemned the defending champions to a fifth defeat at the ICC World Cup 2023.

Mott’s claims came after former England captain Eoin Morgan insisted that there were splits in the camp which were causing the champions to underperform during the ICC World Cup 2023.

“I’ve never come across a sports team that has underperformed like this, given the level of expectation,” 2019 World Cup winning skipper Morgan told Sky Sports.

“There’s something within the team that is definitely unsettled. I think there’s something else going on – there has to be.”

However, Mott was quick to refute the claims.

“I don’t think that at all. I think anyone that’s inside our tent at the moment would say that despite our results, we’re an incredibly tight-knit unit,” he said.

“I can only say from my opinion the group’s been incredibly strong in that part. If you see our training sessions, they’re full of fun. People are putting their arm around each other, trying to help them.”

Pressed on the topic and Mott said: “Eoin’s entitled to his opinion. He’s obviously been away for a couple of weeks with the birth of his child.

“He hasn’t been in and around the rooms, but I’ll certainly take that up with him and have a chat to him.”

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Jos Buttler’s England suffered a fifth loss in six games at the ICC World Cup 2023 to all but slip out of the semi-final race.

Their bowlers kept India down to 229-9, but the batting once again collapsed to 129 all out against an Indian attack led by Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.

England’s batting folded for 156 in their previous loss to Sri Lanka, but Mott said the team will not throw in the towel in their next three matches.

“I think it’s tough. I’m sick of coming up and speaking to you guys about the same thing, but that’s what professional sport is,” he said.

“And we’ve got to keep pushing hard here. We’ve got a fair bit to play for to the back end of this tournament.”

“The first half we did our job the second half was one would rather forget and we’ve got to find a way. There’s some world-class players in there that unfortunately aren’t scoring the runs that they’re used to scoring.”

England languish bottom of the 10-team table with a chance of missing out on the 2025 Champions Trophy, where the top seven teams from this World Cup and hosts Pakistan are expected to compete.

However, Mott said they got to know about the qualification scenario only “about an hour and a half ago”.

“Well, the ICC (International Cricket Council) do change the rules quite a bit with qualification and to be honest I don’t think it would affect in any way the way we’ve played in this tournament so it’s not a big deal,” said Mott.

READ: India defend 230 against England to stay perfect in World Cup 2023

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana on Thursday said defending champions England “underestimated” his team in their key ICC World Cup 2023 clash.

The island nation bundled out a struggling England for 156 inside 34 overs and reached their target with 146 balls to spare in Bengaluru.

Jos Buttler’s England slipped to their fourth defeat in five matches to be on the brink of elimination in ICC World Cup 2023 while Sri Lanka kept their hopes alive of reaching the semi-finals.

“I think they underestimated our team because we also lost three games and we only won against Netherlands. I think they underestimated us,” Theekshana told reporters.

“That’s why the result went our way because we backed our strength, we went with a simple plan, so that’s why we won the game today.”

Maheesh Theekshana, who returned miserly figures of 1-21 with his mystery spin, added: “Our confidence as a team has increased a lot because we have won two matches so far. And this match is a match in which we got a very happy victory.

“As a team, we are looking to play well in the upcoming four matches and reach the semifinals.”

Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara stood out with figures of 3-35 before Pathum Nissanka (77) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65) steered the team home in an unbeaten stand of 137.

But it was the return of former captain Angelo Mathews that spurred the team on in the must-win match in the ICC World Cup 2023.

Mathews, who came in as a replacement for injured Matheesha Pathirana, made an instant impact with the first wicket of Dawid Malan, for 38, and later dismissed Moeen Ali, for 15.

Mathews, who has played 106 Tests and 222 ODIs for Sri Lanka since 2008, gave away just 14 runs in his five overs, which included a maiden as well, of medium-pace bowling.

“As a team, we are very happy that a very experienced player has joined our team. He has played in India. We have a lot to learn from him,” Maheesh Theekshana said of the veteran all-rounder.

“Even when we bowled, we used his experience in the match. The whole team is very happy to have such an experienced player on the team.”

Sri Lanka, who won the World Cup in 1996, have jumped to fifth in the 10-team table after their second win in five matches.

READ: Pakistan take on ruthless South Africa in must-win World Cup game

BENGALURU: England have won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka in the 24th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

England

Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Liam Livingstone, Jos Buttler (c)(wk), Ben Stokes, David Willey, Moeen Ali, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c)(wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 78, England 38, Sri Lanka 36, NR 3, Tied 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 78, England 6, Sri Lanka 5

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LONDON: Left-arm pacer Reece Topley has been ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2023 remainder, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed Sunday.

According to the ECB, Topley fractured his left index finger during England’s 229-run thrashing against South Africa on Saturday.

“England and Surrey seamer Reece Topley has been ruled out of the rest of the ICC Men’s World Cup after fracturing his left index finger during England’s defeat to South Africa on Saturday,” ECB stated.

Notably, Topley sustained a blow to the index finger of his bowling hand while attempting to stop the drive on his follow-through.

Initial reports suggested that the left-arm pacer may have cracked his finger. He was then taken for scans in Mumbai which revealed the full extent of his injury.

“Scans in Mumbai on Saturday, after the match at the Wankhede Stadium, revealed the full extent of the injury. Topley will return to the UK in the next 24 hours,” said ECB.

“He will work closely with the England and Surrey medical teams in respect of his rehabilitation,” the statement added.

It is pertinent to mention that the ECB is yet to announce Reece Topley’s replacement for the ICC World Cup 2023 but right-arm speedster Jofra Archer emerged as a strong contender, reports suggested.

England had a disappointing World Cup campaign thus far as the defending champions managed to win only one game out of four and currently sit ninth in the standings, trailing by Afghanistan, who upset them by 69 runs last week.

England’s squad for the World Cup 2023

Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.

READ: Imam-ul-Haq says Pakistan ‘will be a different team’ against Afghanistan