Pakistan and New Zealand never made it past the first round. Australia were bundled out in the Super Eights. And if India beat South Africa on Saturday – “hoist Bharat’s flag” in Barbados as Jay Shah, their overlord, promised – England could claim a semi-final finish inflicted by a superb, unstoppable team to be pretty solid in comparison.
Jos Buttler felt getting that far in the T20 World Cup was “an achievement” but the struggle en route, and the gulf laid bare by the 68-run pasting in Providence, weakened the argument a touch. Ruthless though they were against the associates, England’s defeat by India was their third loss to full-member opposition, West Indies the only side of note beaten along the way. After a 50-over World Cup in which England lost badly to six of them, the case for retaining the status quo – his leadership axis with Matthew Mott – was not furthered, even factoring in Twenty20’s inherent volatility.
