ANTIGUA — Whatever happens during the rest of this T20 World Cup , one thing is clear: England ’s white-ball teams have suffered a stunning fall from grace in recent months. The high-point of the “white-ball revolution” was the 50-over World Cup win of 2019 , sealed by an unforgettable Super Over victory against New Zealand at Lord’s. Three years later they became the first country to unite both men’s world crowns after winning the T20 World Cup in Australia .
These successes came during a golden run that saw England reach at least the semi-finals in five successive major tournaments from 2016 to 2022. Read Next Jonny Bairstow is in last chance saloon with England But in the intervening months they have flatlined, first seeing their 50-over title defence fall apart in humiliating fashion in India last autumn and now relying on Scotland to lose against Australia in their final Group B match to keep alive their chances of progressing in this T20 World Cup. Big wins against Oman and Namibia are required by Jos Buttler ’s men here in Antigua this week to see them through to the Super Eight stage on net run rate.
But it’s not a given. Were they to get through, England would still be in the mix to win the tournament. After all, fortunes in T20 cricket can rise as quickly as they fall.
But the nature of their 36-run hammering by Australia in Barbados last Saturday suggests that’s unlikely. So how did we get here? You can pinpoint several things that have contribute.