Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ali Martin in Antigua

England’s T20 World Cup predicament goes far beyond their own failings

Jos Buttler of England stretches with his bat during the T20 World Cup match against Australia
Jos Buttler and England will be stretched seeking to progress to the Super Eights at the T20 World Cup. Photograph: Ricardo Mazalán/AP

They were showing India v Pakistan in the bar at Bridgetown airport on Sunday, this World Cup having been pleasingly visible in the Caribbean. But as England supporters watched that nail- biter unfold over a cold bottle of Banks before the flight to Antigua, Scotland were already in the land of sea and sun, gleefully lining up a week at the last-chance saloon for the Auld Enemy.

Coming 24 hours after England were out-thought and outplayed by Australia at Kensington Oval, and staged in parallel to Pakistan’s big flop in the Big Apple, that seven‑wicket victory against Oman at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium has put Richie Berrington’s side on the verge of swiping their boarding passes to the Super Eight phase. Knocking off a target of 151 with 41 balls to spare, supercharging their net run-rate in the process, they could scarcely have done more.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.