The World Cup has been a source of immense disappointment for England, with the defending champions pushed to the brink of elimination after a resounding eight-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in the 25th match on Thursday.
England's struggles continued, with their fourth loss in five games relegating them to ninth place in the 10-team table.
To keep their semi-final hopes alive, they now must win their remaining four matches, including clashes against India, Australia, and Pakistan.
Jos Buttler, the England captain, expressed his frustration, acknowledging that the tournament had been "incredibly disappointing." As the leader of the team, he keenly felt the weight of their underperformance, stating, "We've been short of our best by a very long way. I'm disappointed for myself and the boys that we've not shown a good account of ourselves."
Buttler's individual struggles at the World Cup have mirrored England's difficulties. He has faced a challenge to find form, with just 52 runs to his name in the four matches following an opening score of 43 against New Zealand.
England's coach, Matthew Mott, conceded that the team would face harsh criticism for their lacklustre efforts. The team's sole victory came against Bangladesh, and a shocking loss to Afghanistan added to their woes. Mott emphasised the need for introspection, acknowledging, "We've got some serious soul searching to do."
While Mott still believed in the team's potential, he acknowledged their inability to perform when it mattered most, expressing, "Unfortunately, we're out of form at a very bad time for us."
