A World Cup defence that faltered from the outset and long since rendered futile has seen the last of its mathematical fingernails prised from the rock face, England falling to a 33-run defeat in soupy Ahmedabad and at the hands of their arch-rivals Australia.
There was no controversy to deflect from the result, no what if moment to console the increasingly beleaguered Jos Buttler as, for the sixth time in this campaign, his England side ended up second best on the day. Their remaining two games still come with the incentive of finishing in the top eight and securing qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy but right now, welded to the foot of the table, you would not bet on it.
