Jos Buttler called the Champions Trophy a brutal format before the start of the tournament but in the end it proved mercifully short. Had this been a World Cup, stretched out over weeks to milk even more television money, England could easily have surpassed that bleak title defence in India 18 months ago by way of ignominy.
Instead, it was off to the airport, via the hotel, after this third and final defeat; the first time they have exited a global event without a single group win. South Africa, who topped Group B with a crushing seven-wicket win here in Karachi, were due to fly to Dubai on Sunday, even if the farcical schedule – dictated by India having to play all their matches in the Gulf state – meant they do not know whether this will actually be the scene of their semi-final.
