Read Ali Martin’s match report
That’s all for today, and for England’s World Cup. No need for any essays, postmortems or books, because their greatest player has summed up the campaign in three words. But at least it had a happyish ending.
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Jos Buttler reflects on the tournament
It’s nice to put in a good performance and finish that way. Ultimately it’s been a disappointing tournament. It’s sinking in more right now, actually, and it feels a bit emotional.
We started really well today and the guys in the middle set it up brilliantly. We know that’s what we’re capable of but we haven’t shown it enough. We should have been able to cope without Ben [when he was injured for the first three games]. Lots of us haven’t performed to the level we wanted to.
We said before the game that, if this is going to be the end of an era, let’s try to make some really good memories out there and walk off the field with some big smiles. Wherever we go from here, today was a good day.
[On David Willey] He’s been fantastic, ever since he came into the squad after the 2015 World Cup. It’s a hallmark of his game that he always finds his way – he’s got great skills but he’s a fierce competitor and a great team man. He’ll be really missed in that dressing-room.
[On the future] We don’t need a drastic change of style like in 2015. We want to build something new, but that doesn’t mean you need to have a huge clearout and start again. We need to push on and use this as motivation to get better and become a really top team again.
Babar Azam’s verdict
Our performance in this tournament has been very disappointing. We tried our best but a couple of loose games cost us. There were too many mistakes in the bowling, fielding and batting. You need to take wickets in the middle overs and our spinners didn’t do that enough.
We’ll take some positives from the tournament and discuss the future in the next few days. I’d like to stay on as captain.
The player of the match is David Willey
It’s been a really disappointing tournament for us, but personally it’s been nice to perform and enjoy my last few games. To go out on 100 wickets is special to me.
We’ve got a phenomenal group of players, with masses of talent, and there’s no doubt we’ve underperformed here. [Did the contract situation give you extra motivation?] Yeah. Keysy [Rob Key] said to me, ‘Hopefully you can prove me wrong.’ Maybe I’ve done that over the last few games [lifts his player of the match award]!
Look, some people may have frowned upon the timing [of Willey announcing his retirement] but there aren’t many opportunities to walk away on your terms. I wanted to enjoy my last three games without looking over my shoulder and thinking, ‘One bad game and I’m out of the side.’
I was never the best player growing up or when I was in academies. I’ve been resilient enough to keep chipping away and find a way to be part of this incredible group of white-ball cricketers. I’m immensely proud of that. Every game has been special.
I’ve had a great support network around, especially my wife, so a massive thank you to her.
The World Cup win in Australia – I had my family there and my kid running round in confetti. I didn’t play in the competition itself but that moment was special, especially as I’d fallen out of love with cricket [after 2019] and then forced my way back in the team.
So England end their miserable World Cup with a couple of comfortable victories, thereby ensuring the new team will play at the Champions Trophy in 2027. David Willey, playing his last game for England, shakes hands with his teammates and then the opposition. The fast bowlers, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, were particularly affectionate towards him.
Willey looks shattered, no surprise after bowling two five-over spells in that heat. It wasn’t a fairytale ending but it was an uplifting one – he took three wickets to end his ODI career with exactly 100, and the last wicket also took his bowling average below 30.
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England win by 93 runs
WICKET! Pakistan 240 all out (Rauf c Stokes b Woakes 35) Haris Rauf launches Chris Woakes high in the air to mid-on, where Ben Stokes makes an awkward catch look routine.
43rd over: Pakistan 244-9 (Wasim 16, Rauf 35) Rauf edges a couple of boundaries off Willey, one to fine leg and the other to third man. He’s having a great time, swinging at everything, and has reached 35 off 20 balls.
Wasim, who looks like he can play, drives inside out over extra cover for another boundary. That brings up the fifty partnership in just 31 balls. They might as well go out in style.
David Willey finishes his spell – and his England career - with figures of 10-0-56-3. The last of those wickets was the 100th of his ODI career.
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42nd over: Pakistan 231-9 (Wasim 12, Rauf 26) Pakistan are going out with a bang. Rauf pulls Atkinson flat and hard over midwicket for six, then launches the next ball into outer space. Atkinson calls for the return catch but can’t lay a hand on it. It looked like the ballw as swirling all over the place.
Atkinson does well thereafter, conceding just a leg bye and a single from the last four balls. Pakistan’s last pair have added 40 in 4.2 overs, the second highest partnership of the innings.
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41st over: Pakistan 222-9 (Wasim 12, Rauf 18) Wasim joins in the fun with a nonchalant flick-pull over midwicket for four, then survives a dodgy England review for LBW. It pitched outside leg and I suspect Buttler only went upstairs because Willey was bowling. They’d like him to take the last wicket.
I say! Mohammad Wasim has Willey’s last ball for a marvellous straight six. A top-order batter would have been proud of that shot.
40th over: Pakistan 209-9 (Wasim 1, Rauf 17) Haris Rauf’s high-octane World Cup was never likely to end quietly. He blasts successive deliveries from Atkinson for four and six, the second a sweet ping over square leg, and then swipes another mighty six over long-on.
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39th over: Pakistan 193-9 (Wasim 1, Rauf 1) A lovely inswinger from Willey somehow misses both the off stump and Haris Rauf’s inside edge. Rauf slugs the next ball just short of Stokes at mid-on. Two from the over.
38th over: Pakistan 191-9 (Wasim 0, Rauf 0) “Stuart Broad was quoted in a recent article in the Guardian as saying he doesn’t know what the spirit of cricket is,” says Chris Fowler. “I think Shadab congratulating Rashid after being dismissed by him would be a bloody good place to start in his search. You can’t imagine Harry Maguire shaking Ansu Fati’s hand after being twisted inside-out by him for the winning goal.”
WICKET! Pakistan 191-9 (Afridi LBW b Atkinson 25)
Gus Atkinson has his second wicket. Shaheen Afridi played down the wrong line of a rapid, wicket-to-wicket delivery that would have hit off and middle halfway up. He reviewed the decision, just in case, but it was plumb.
37th over: Pakistan 186-8 (Afridi 21, Wasim 0)
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WICKET! Pakistan 186-8 (Salman c Stokes b Willey 51)
Salman drags a slower ball from Willey to mid-on, where Stokes takes a good catch. That’s his 100th ODI wicket, and his teammates are visibly chuffed for him. Willey will always have bittersweet World Cup memories, but he should take so much pride in how well he has played in this tournament. It’s testament to his skill and especially his character.
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36th over: Pakistan 177-7 (Salman 51, Afridi 12) Salman dances down to a flighted delivery from Rashid that takes a leading edge and drops short of Woakes in the covers. The penultimate ball of a beautiful spell almost cleans up Afridi, who gets his bat down at the last minute.
Rashid stays on 199 ODI wickets after a charming spell that merited better figures than 10-0-55-2. That was lots of fun.
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35th over: Pakistan 174-7 (Salman 50, Afridi 10) David Willey, on 99 ODI wickets, replaces Moeen Ali, who gave it a rip in a spell of 10-0-60-2. Afridi flicks an attempted yorker for a single, then Salman steals two to deep midwicket to reach a defiant half-century from 42 balls. Well played.
34th over: Pakistan 171-7 (Salman 48, Afridi 9) Rashid’s googlies are turning a long way. Afridi isn’t picking them either, so he gets down the other end as soon as possible. Three runs from another classy, mischievous Rashid.
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33rd over: Pakistan 168-7 (Salman 47, Afridi 7) Salman pumps Moeen down the ground for six, then edges past short third man for four. It’s a good thing he did because he was halfway down the pitch when he made contact.
“If Mohammad Wasim had toppled Rashid at the death,” says Tim Featherstone-Smith, “would that have been the most runs ever scored in an over that included a hat-trick?”
It went for 16, so it must be close. I wondered about Steve Finn against Australia at the 2015 World Cup, but that over only cost eight.
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32nd over: Pakistan 156-7 (Salman 36, Afridi 6) Shaheen Shah Afridi slog-sweeps his second ball for six, because apparently that’s normal behaviour these days.
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WICKET! Pakistan 150-7 (Shadab b Rashid 4)
Rashid is putting on a clinic. Shadab, trying to drive, is bowled neck and crop by a gorgeous googly, and even makes a point of congratulating Rashid on his way off. That’s Rashid’s 199th ODI wicket, 196 of which have come since Eoin Morgan recalled him in 2015.
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31st over: Pakistan 149-6 (Salman 35, Shadab 4) Shadab Khan gets off the mark with a delicate late cut for four.
“If I was doing the England rebuild I would start with only two names on the sheet,” says Peter Rowntree. “Harry Brook and Dave Willey. I am sure that Big Dave made the decision to retire from international cricket before this tournament. He simply wanted to play a World Cup and perform well in it. He can put a tick in both boxes.
“I am also sure that his retirement has more to do with wanting to spend more time with his family and to do everything possible to win either a T20 or 50-over ball competition for Northamptonshire before he hangs up his boots, say in two seasons.
“England however need Dave Willey, to help bowlers in the rebuild and then to become the white-ball bowling coach. They would be mad not to have this man playing a central part in our white-ball future.”
What makes you think he’d be a better coach than, say, Chris Woakes? (That’s a genuine question, not a confrontational one.) Personally I think it’s the perfect time for him to retirefrom international cricket and set up a franchise pension. At times he’s probably been selfless to a fault.
WICKET! Pakistan 145-6 (Iftikhar c Malan b Moeen 3)
Iftikhar charges Moeen and blasts the ball miles in the air towards mid-off, where Malan backpedals urgently to take a fine two-handed catch.
30th over: Pakistan 145-5 (Salman 35, Iftikhar 2) Salman started nervously, especially against Rashid, but he’s playing pretty well now. A firm sweep brings him four more, then he chips Rashid classily over wide mid-on for another boundary. He has 35 from 32 balls.
“As Jos kept the spirit of S Broad alive with an absurd review,” writes Adam Roberts, “we got Atherton at his driest: ‘There have been some eccentric decisions by Jos Buttler in this tournament .. (beat) .. and there’s another’.”
Now there’s a man who paid attention when he worked with Richie Benaud.
29th over: Pakistan 135-5 (Salman 26, Iftikhar 2) Salman sweeps Moeen’s first ball firmly for four, and Pakistan take a single off each of the last five deliveries. Even that doesn’t keep them up with the required rate, which is now 9.66.
It’s slightly odd to think that England, who had a shocker for the ages, will finish only two points behind Pakistan, who were serious semi-final contenders until two days ago.
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28th over: Pakistan 126-5 (Salman 19, Iftikhar 0) Iftikhar Ahmed is the new batter.
WICKET! Pakistan 126-5 (Shakeel b Rashid 28)
Saud Shakeel is bowled round his legs by Adil Rashid. He missed a sweep at a big-spinning googly that turned from well outside leg stump to hit middle. Rashid is having fun out there, playing with all his toys – I’ve rarely seen him turn a googly that much.
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26th over: Pakistan 122-4 (Shakeel 28, Salman 16) Four more down the ground from Salman, this time back over Moeen’s head. It wasn’t perfectly struck but he split the two fielders running round.
“Think I’ve got something in my eye, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Thanks, Eoin, Jos, Ben, Adil, Jofra, and everyone else. It was quite the ride. And who wants to win all the time anyway? Winning is overrated. I’m Scottish, so I know what I’m talking about here. As a great philosopher once wrote, naughty naughty, very naughty if you want to see the rainbow you’ve got to put up with the rain.”
And people say she’s just a big p- oh never mind. (It’s not completely over by the way – most of this team will play in the T20 World Cup next year.)
26th over: Pakistan 115-4 (Shakeel 26, Salman 11) Rashid is bowling some very slow deliveries, below 45mph. After resisting a couple of tempters, Salman belts the ball back over Rashid’s head of four.
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25th over: Pakistan 108-4 (Shakeel 24, Salman 6)
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24.5 overs: Pakistan 107-4 (Shakeel 23, Salman 6) Salman survives a run-out chance after being sent back by Shakeel. He would have been out had Malan picked up cleanly at mid-off; he didn’t and Salman was just safe – despite not grounding his bat – when Buttler eventually broke the stumps.
Salman’s weird innings continues with a straight drive that hits the non-striker Shakeel on the hand. There’s a break in play while he receives treatment.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Mark Beadle, “have to say, among Jesus & Mary Chain songs, it’s usually Sidewalkin sliding into my head. How do you feel about April Skies as the soundtrack to this England series?”
Why not? It’s the last day of term, we can do anything. Get the Subbuteo out.
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24th over: Pakistan 104-4 (Shakeel 22, Salman 4) Rashid is toying with the new batter Salman Ali Agha, who edges short of slip and then plays and misses outside off stump. Salman tries to hit his way out of trouble and mishits a pull that drops just in front of Atkinson, ruinning back from midwicket. An outstanding over from Rashid, with at least four false strokes and possibly six out of six.
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23rd over: Pakistan 100-4 (Shakeel 22, Salman 1) Moeen has bowled well and is getting plenty of purchase. Moeen is a strange bowler – he can look so innocuous, but at his best (think the India Test series of 2018) he is a serious handful.
“Watching the cricket on and off as I ease myself into the Saturday of a long weekend, I can’t help noticing how many laughs and smiles are on the faces of the England players,” writes Adam Roberts. “They’re just really happy to be going home, aren’t they?”
Yup. I’m glad they ended with a couple of convincing wins (probably), even though it means little in the grand scheme.
WICKET! Pakistan 100-4 (Rizwan b Moeen 36)
A dismissal for the ages. Rizwan charges Moeen, bowling round the wicket now, and misses an almighty mow across the line. The ball turns through the gate to bowl Rizwan, who then falls over in pain due to cramp. Eventually he gets to his feet and hobbles from the field. Comedy gold.
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22nd over: Pakistan 100-3 (Rizwan 36, Shakeel 22) One of the worst reviews of the tournament from England. Rashid, back in the attack, bowled a delivery to Shakeel that turned down the leg side and was called wide. England thought there might have been an edge and sent it upstairs, but replays showed a chasm between bat and ball. I suppose Buttler’s view was blocked so he was going solely on noise.
21st over: Pakistan 94-3 (Rizwan 32, Shakeel 21)
20th over: Pakistan 89-3 (Rizwan 28, Shakeel 20) Shakeel drives Atkinson handsomely over mid-off for four more. Three singles make it a decent over for Pakistan, though it’s still not enough to keep up with the required rate of 8.34.
19th over: Pakistan 82-3 (Rizwan 26, Shakeel 15) Shakeel gets four with a neat reverse sweep off Moeen.
“NZ vs SA in the final would be a neutral’s dream,” says Anul Kanhere. “Also extending their rugby rivalry to a different sport.”
Grant Elliott will have a helluva lot injury requests if that happens.
18th over: Pakistan 75-3 (Rizwan 24, Shakeel 10) Pakistan are going nowhere. Another over of wicket-to-wicket hustle from Atkinson yields just a single, which means they need 263 from 32 overs.
“The way openers reacted to Dipak Patel opening the bowling in 1992 reminded me of those experiments with rats,” writes Gary Naylor. “The rodents would continually repeat the same action and be baffled why the reward was no longer forthcoming. Until it eventually dawned on them to try something else and... hey presto! Now I’m not saying drilled, coached sportspeople come below rats in powers of imagination or problem-solving, but...”
It’s so easy to forget how groundbreaking it was. In 720 previous ODIs a spinner had opened the bowling on only five occasions. Australia, who were hosts, holders and the best team in the world, never truly recovered from his opening spell in the first game of the tournament.
17th over: Pakistan 74-3 (Rizwan 23, Shakeel 10) Shakeel sweeps Moeen for successive boundaries. The first was top-edged over short fine leg, the second lapped delicately past the keeper.
This is probably Moeen’s last ODI so he’d love a wicket or two. His overall World Cup record is disappointing: 24 with the bat, 52 with the ball. And yet his T20 World Cup record is fine, so there goes that narrative.
16th over: Pakistan 64-3 (Rizwan 22, Shakeel 1) Atkinson zips a sharp delivery past Shakeel’s attempted cut. He has good rhythm in this spell and has conceded only eight from three overs. And because of that, the required rate is now above eight an over.
“Surely Willey should be more ambitious and try to get two more wickets,” says Kim Thonger, “then he could brand himself Willey 101. Nobody will forget that.”
15th over: Pakistan 61-3 (Rizwan 21, Shakeel 0) The new batter is the left-handed Saud Shakeel, so it’s a good time for Moeen Ali to come into the attack. He starts well: plenty of turn, a bit of bounce and five consecutive dot balls to Shakeel.
Semi-finals of #CWC23 🔒
— ICC (@ICC) November 11, 2023
15, Nov: 🇮🇳 🆚 🇳🇿, Mumbai
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14th over: Pakistan 61-3 (Rizwan 20, Shakeel 0) The required rate has crept above 7.5.
WICKET! Pakistan 61-3 (Babar c Rashid b Atkinson 38)
A lovely moment in the burgeoning international career of Gus Atkinson, who has picked up the great Babar Azam.
He dug in a short ball, with the usual tight line, and Babar slugged a pull straight to Rashid at midwicket. Babar’s highly frustrating tournament – 320 runs at 40, good enough for most players but not him – comes to a tame end.
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13th over: Pakistan 57-2 (Babar 38, Rizwan 17) When this World Cup is over, I won’t miss OBOing the more boring middle overs. There are only so many ways you can say ‘five low-risk singles from the over’, and I’ve just used up the main one.
“Anyone else thinking 99 wickets would be the perfect way for Willey to finish?” says Shaun Clapperton. “So close, but still the nearly man.”
I wasn’t, but I am now – that’s a great observation.
12th over: Pakistan 52-2 (Babar 35, Rizwan 15) Gus Atkinson replaces Woakes, whose erratic new-ball spell of 5-0-27-0 belonged to the first half of the tournament. He hits an awkward length straight away, and his wicket-to-wicket line means there’s not much width to work with either. Two singles from the over.
11th over: Pakistan 50-2 (Babar 34, Rizwan 14) Here he is, the unsung giant of England’s glory years. Adil Rashid has taken 194 ODI wickets since the 2015 World Cup, more than anyone in the world. But the ‘how many’ is less than important than the ‘who’, and especially the ‘when’: proper batters in the middle overs, when England were traditionally toothless.
Rashid’s third ball deceives Rizwan, who responds by smearing a slog-sweep for four. Pakistan have recovered well from their false start.
10th over: Pakistan 43-2 (Babar 32, Rizwan 9) Babar is squared up by a good delivery from Woakes, but that’s a rare blemish in what has been so far been a gorgeous innings. After four dot balls, he clips Woakes elegantly through midwicket for his sixth boundary.
9th over: Pakistan 38-2 (Babar 27, Rizwan 9) Willey is bowling very straight. Only the odd ball is swinging but that’s enough to keep the right-handers on alert. Three low-risk singles from the over.
That’s Willey’s Powerplay work over for the tournament. He took six wickets in the first 10 overs at this World Cup – only Marco Jansen and Dilshan Madushanka have more.
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8th over: Pakistan 35-2 (Babar 25, Rizwan 8) Woakes isn’t bowling brilliantly here. A short ball is pulled contemptuously for four, flashing past midwicket before you could say “get that filth out of my sight”. The commentators reckon this chase is achievable for Pakistan as there is likely to be dew later on.
Now, this has nothing to do with England v Pakistan at the 2023 World Cup, but some stats are too good not to share. While doing some research for a Nessun Dorma draft on the 1992 World Cup, I totted up Dipak Patel’s figures during the 15-over Powerplay at the start of an innings. In that tournament Patel became the first spinner in ODI history to regularly open the bowling, and his combined figures in the 15 overs were 47-7-106-4. In the Powerplay!
7th over: Pakistan 30-2 (Babar 20, Rizwan 8) You can stick a Q next to New Zealand’s name: they have officially qualified for the semi-finals. Realistically they did so two days ago, but it’s always nice when things are confirmed. New Zealand will play India, who they beat in the 2019 semi-final, in Mumbai on Wednesday.
A bit of semi-final news South Africa have confirmed that Temba Bavuma has a hamstring strain and will be monitored over the next few days. Why the hell did he stay on the field yesterday?
6th over: Pakistan 28-2 (Babar 20, Rizwan 6) Babar drives Woakes between extra cover and mid-off for four; it was in the air but perfectly placed. The next ball is poor: short, wide and slammed to the cover fence. Babar is off to an unusually fast start, 20 from 20 balls.
“The disintegration and subsequent slight re-emergence of the England ODI side during this tournament feels like the break-up of a long-term romantic relationship,” weeps Tom Van der Gucht. “One where the nagging frustrations and pettyy disagreements have built up to a massive row where all grievances were aired in a fiery manner involving recriminations and mudslinging from which there’s no return.
“Then, after hitting this painful low point and agreeing it’s over, once calm again, you reconnect enough whilst packing up and moving out to remember what made your relationship special in the first place. But, it’s too late. You’ve grown apart... You’ve grown as individuals... You’ve grown take each other for granted. However, there’s no turning back now.
“It’s time to move on. A sad time. Yet, something new and exciting waits on the horizon... And, after a few awkward early dates as you get to know each other as well as a few abandoned romances that weren’t really up to it, you might just find true love again... Here’s to the next iteration of the England ODI team.”
Have you been watching Rescue Me again?
5th over: Pakistan 18-2 (Babar 10, Rizwan 6) David Willey in wicketless over shock. This is a bittersweet ending to his England career, but it’s so good that he finally got to a) play and b) perform at a World Cup.
“It was a pleasure watching this team (even as an Indian fan),” writes Anul Kanhere. “The audacity and danger it exuded. The remarkable transformation from 2015, that run to the 2016 T20 World Cup final where one man’s bat stole the show, the menace of the batting that stretched to the last man and broke scoring records at will, the ability to trust a young rookie bowler, the resurgence after their backs were to the wall on 2019 and the nerve and sheer bloody-mindedness to emerge victorious in the greatest one-day game ever.
“This team’s glorious heights will more than compensate for the chaos that has enveloped them for now. All good things come to an end. I think they exhausted their fairytale four years ago. Now to rebuild and push the game further. ‘If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same.’”
Nicely put. I’d dispute only one thing: 2019 was the greatest finish to an ODI, but as a 100-over game (okay, 102 overs) I don’t think it comes close to the 1999 semi-final between Australia and South Africa.
4th over: Pakistan 17-2 (Babar 9, Rizwan 6) Muhammad Rizwan clips Woakes stylishly through midwicket for four. In other news, Australia have warmed up for Thursday’s semi-final against South Africa by beating Bangladesh. Mitchell Marsh clattered 177 not out.
The result also means England have effectively, though not mathematically, qualified for the 2027 Champions Trophy. It’s nice when you move into a new house and the previous owners have left you something.
3rd over: Pakistan 10-2 (Babar 8, Rizwan 0) “Forget the Doors – surely Blur is all the bittersweet soundtrack you need,” says Max Willians. “To The End lyrics hitting different, as the kids say.
What happened to us?
Soon it will be gone forever
Infatuated only with ourselves
And neither of us can think straight any more
Well, you and I collapsed in love
And it looks like we might have made it
Yes it looks like we’ve made it to the end.
Look, I don’t choose what my subconscious decides to sing, which is why I’m so familiar with Cracking Up by Jesus & Mary Chain.
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WICKET! Pakistan 10-2 (Fakhar c Stokes b Willey 1)
Ninety-nine ODI wickets for David Willey! Fakhar’s first big stroke is also his last, an on-the-run slap that doesn’t beat Stokes at mid-on.
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2nd over: Pakistan 10-1 (Fakhar 1, Babar 8) Chris Woakes shares the new ball. Since the revolution began in 2015 he has taken 125 wickets at 28, behind only Adil Rashid (a long way behind). He’s been England’s new-ball banker for almost all of that time, most memorably on that delirious morning at Edgbaston when England hammered Australia in the 2019 semi-final.
Fakhar Zaman, whose last innings was that monstrous 126 not out against New Zealand a week ago, takes a single from his fifth ball. He usually takes an over or two before he starts walloping everything for six.
A bit of reading for you: Barney Ronay’s Indian diary.
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1st over: Pakistan 8-1 (Fakhar 0, Babar 8) That wicket puts Willey top of England’s bowling averages for the tournament with nine wickets at 22.55, a nose ahead of poor Reece Topley. He also bowled very well in India in the World T20 seven years ago.
The new batter Babar Azam gets going with two gorgeous boundaries, a straight drive and a wristy clip through midwicket.
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WICKET! Pakistan 0-1 (Abdullah LBW b Willey 0)
There’s one of them! Abdullah Shafique has gone second ball, trapped in front by a classic inswinger to the right-hander. He flicked across the line, missed and was plumb in front.
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For the last time as an England player, David Willey takes the new ball. He’s on 97 ODI wickets, and few would begrudge him three more.
Thanks Tanya, hello everyone. I can’t be the only person whose subconscious is singing The Doors. This is the end of an unimaginably glorious era of 50-over cricket for England. It started on a mundane Tuesday in June 2015, when England roared to a record total of 408/9 against New Zealand, and peaked on a balmy Sunday at Lord’s in July 2019.
“Whatever happens, this doesn’t define you,” said Ben Stokes to Jofra Archer before he bowled the Super Over. It was an ingenious, empathic line, and it was wrong. That over defines Archer, and that tournament defines the greatest England cricket team of my lifetime. It has ended miserably, but we should never forget how much joy they’ve given us.
Sky are talking about air pollution – which is great to see. Fabulous to see the international players federation FICA making a stand. At last, player safety being talked about in terms of heat, air pollution and climate change. And with that, I had you over to Rob Smyth who will take you through Pakistan’s chase. Thanks for all the emails, goodbye!
Pakistan need 338 in just the 6.4 overs to qualify for those semi-finals. They were good in the field today, Afridi’s slippery hands aside. Rauf was superb at the end.
“Anything above 260-270 would have been good,” says Eoin Morgan. Pakistan will do well to catch England today.
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A much better performance by England, on a tricky pitch and against some high quality bowling. Stokes, just on the eve of his knee operation, has hit a purple patch; Root passed fifty without ever hitting text-book touch; Bairstow powered away at the top, Willey and Brook – at opposite ends of their careers – played rocketing cameos. Even Buttler managed 27. And all under the haze of difficult levels of air pollution.
Pakistan need 338 to win!
50th over: England 337-9 ( Woakes 4, Rashid 0) Willey plays a kind of hockey scoop off Wasim’s first ball for four. The next is lamped straight for six – what satisfaction! Wasim wobbles his lips like a frog. Four more - this time a golf shot, over wide long off for four. Wasim strikes back at the last, with two wickets in two – but misses out on a hat-trick as another zinger goes leg-side.
WICKET! Atkinson b Wasim 0 (England 336-9)
Gorgeous! An off stump zinger that bamboozles Atkinson. Wasim now on a hat-trick!
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WICKET! Willey c Iftikar b Wasim 15 (England 336-8)
Willey walks off with a smile, hair as immaculate as ever, after getting a leading edge well caught by Iftikar sprinting in at mid-on . A cameo to remember in his final innings.
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49th over: England 322-7 ( Woakes 4, Willey 1) The zing bail is broken by Moeen’s wicket, we wait, and wait, while a replacement is tried. Two dots, a leg bye and a wicket in Rauf’s first four balls. Willey gets off the mark with a single in the last innings of his career. Woakes leans into an immaculate cover drive for four.
WICKET! Moeen b Rauf 8 (England 317-7)
Brilliant bowling from Rauf! A cutter that zips through the defences to tickle off stump.
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48th over: England 316-6 ( Moeen Ali 8, Woakes 0) Buttler pulls Wasim’s first ball for four, before the run-out, sent on his way with a mouthful from Rauf. An 88-metre six from Moeen brings the thrills before Diwali tomorrow.
WICKET! Buttler run-out (Rauf) 27 (England 308-6)
Astonishing fielding! England try to steal a single but Buttler is beaten by a screamer from Rauf at third.
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47th over: England 304-5 ( Buttler 23, Moeen Ali 1) This is a much bigger score than people were predicting at the start of play – England have done well on this stop-start pitch. Brook reaches outside off stump, as if hoovering behind the sofa, to scoop Rauf for four and tumble onto his back in the process. Rauf respons with a yorker but finishes on the ground, breathing heavily. He drinks water as the physio comes out – but it doesn’t seem to be too serious as he continues. An overthrow brings England another single, and Rauf much annoyance. But next ball, he collects Brook.
WICKET! Brook c Afridi b Rauf 30 (England 302-5)
This time Afridi holds on! A super catch with both hands caught on the slide at mid-off, Brook done by a slower ball.
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46th over: England 296-4 ( Buttler 22, Brook 24 Wasim starts with a wide but then manages to hold the horses, restricting England to just seven from the over
“Regarding Chris Fower’s scrambled eggs (Over 36), one word: ugh,” writes Jonah Sack. “Make curds, not slop.”
45th over: England 289-4 ( Buttler 20, Brook 20) An astonishing six from Brook who leans back and flicks, sending Afridi’s first ball back over his head for six. A full toss is fired through point for four and another full toss frying panned over long-on. Afridi’s ten overs have cost an eye-popping 72.
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44th over: England 269-4 ( Buttler 19, Brook 1) Buttler is wearing his lucky boots. Gets a life when Wasim can’t hold onto a reverse-sweep at backward point – collects four. Then another as he lofts Shadab into the murk, and Rauf catches on the boundary, before throwing the ball into the air as he steps fully back over the rope, and catching it again in the playing surface. But in the slip between taking the catch and throwing it in the air, a rogue heel does for him.
43rd over: England 257-4 ( Buttler 8, Brook 0) Apologies, just realised my overs were completely out of sync.
WICKET! Root c Shadab b Afridi 60 (England 257-4)
A slower ball, a leading edge, as Root is squared up, and the ball squeezes high to Shadab who scampers to collect with both hands at point.
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42nd over: England 256-3 (Root 60, Buttler 7) Root sweeps Shadab forward of square for four. And Buttler too finds a chink of light, as he reverse sweeps with gusto. On Sky, Nasser reveals that this is the first time all tournament that Buttler is batting in the last 10 overs.
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41st over: England 245-3 (Root 54, Buttler 2) Can Buttler find some form late in the day too? Picks up a couple of singles.
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WICKET! Stokes b Afridi 84 (England 240-3)
A late reverse-swinging golden egg that pings back Stokes’ off stump. Off he must go, for possibly the last time in an ODI.
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Fifty for Joe Root!
40th over: England 240-2 (Root 51, Stokes 84) Darkness has fallen over Eden Gardens now, it shimmers with light. From the dug-out, applause, as Root reaches fifty off 65 balls – his third of the competition. He wipes his face with a towel, gulps down water. I wonder how he’s coping with the air pollution – after the game with South Africa he said “it just felt like you couldn’t get your breath. It was like you were eating the air.”
Robert Lewis, spoiler below from John Starbuck: “I read Vikram Seth’s ‘A Suitable Boy’ when it came out (1993), partly because of good reviews and partly because I’d enjoyed his sonnet-based novel ‘Golden Gate’. Soon after, it was touted for the Booker Prize but tuned down flat even for the longlist.
“ The reason was its length (1474 pages in paperback) and the later consensus was that, in attempting to marry family saga with mildly satirical politics, set during India’s independence emergence, it was just too baggy to work. Had Seth removed all the political rambling it might have won awards. Mind you, there were plenty of people who did struggle through it but it’s not one I shall ever re-read. Apologies to Robert Lewis if I gave too much away there.”
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39th over: England 235-2 (Root 48, Stokes 81) At last! Some sweeties for Root. Wasim serves up one too full, and one too wide, and Root sends both on their way for four.
“Scrambled egg for the dog, eh?” taps Chris Fower. “Lucky pooch.” I know, and not at dinner time either.
“There’s a whole thread to be opened about the correct consistency of scrambled eggs. My own opinion (and a blatant attempt to establish the inalterable truth) is that you should never be able to pick up scrambled eggs with a fork, unless you’re using in spoon position. More solid scrambled eggs are a failed omelette, nothing more.”
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38th over: England 223-2 (Root 38, Stokes 80) Root tries to reverse ramp Rauf, but, right now, the old magic just isn’t there. He makes contact next ball, but only for a single. Excellent by Rauf, just two for the over.
Good morning John Foster:
”Have they finally, at this last go, fixed the ‘England’ typeface/font on Stokes’ shirt? Haven’t been watching THAT closely (honest) but in all the previous matches it looked ‘wrong’ yet now it’s the same as the others. Could this be one of the positives the England management can take, going forward? A better-late-than-never execution of the kit person’s skill sets? Or is it rather a symbol of freewheelin’ individualism inevitably broken on the wheel of ECB micromanagement, conformity, and modern analytics? Could explain a lot…”
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37th over: England 221-2 (Root 37, Stokes 79) Babar – whose reviewing is not of semi-final quality – choses to send to the third umpire an lbw against Root off Wasim – going down. A good over, Root beaten by another as he tries to swing. Just one from teh over.
Hello Alistair Connor: ”For someone who grew up with the Stones (and, to be painfully clear, with the Beatles), the idea of the current England line-up receiving Mick speaks to me of “shagged-out former glories”. Given the shorter time-scales in sport, and to rub it in painfully : I don’t seriously rate anything the Stones have done since about 1975 (Goats’ head soup is an acceptable sing-along album, and that’s it).
“Sorry, but my earworm this morning is “Paint it black”.”
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36th over: England 219-2 (Root 37, Stokes 78) Stokes revs up: four straight down the ground, as the knee misbehaves again. Reverse-sweeps for six, tumbling over in the stroke and ending up on his back like a beetle. Changes his gloves. Four more as Salman is edged behind – Stokes beaten but past Rizwan. Stokes steals the strike.
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35th over: England 204-2 (Root 36, Stokes 63) Stokes stands and delivers, pow, over long on for SIX. His knee locks in the process. Four more, pulled with power. Wasim manages to reign him in third ball. It is difficult to tell from the television, but it looks as if there is quite a haze over the pitch too. If you’re there, please do write in. Floodlights on.
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Fifty for Stokes!
34th over: England 192-2 (Root 35, Stokes 52) Root looking more at ease too, smiling as he attempts a reverse paddle off Salman that hits the wrong side of his bat. Stokes nails the reverse sweep! And reaches his second fifty of the tournament, off 53 balls – eight boundaries.
“Hi Tanya,” hello Robert Lewis.
“I’m reading ‘A Suitable Boy’ a mega-long novel partly set in Calcutta at the moment (I love those long novels, perfect for the middle overs). Reminds me of the 15-year-old me who was taken to Lord’s by my big bro John when he was let down by a girlfriend. Hanif Mohammad crawled to about 80 all day, and I read a chunk of ‘War and Peace’. And yes, I do have very few friends.”
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33rd over: England 186-2 (Root 34, Stokes 47) A determined Stokes sweeps Iftikhar for four. Some smart fielding in the circle prevents another boundary. They take drinks.
32nd over: England 180-2 (Root 33, Stokes 42) Dab, dab, dab.
“That list of top nibblers - are you outside of your mind? Pat Cummins has constantly got his digits in his gob. It’s a wonder he can hold the ball.” Damn, how could I have forgotten Cummins – thank you Felix Wood.
31st over: England 177-2 (Root 32, Stokes 40) Bang! Stokes thrashes Iftikhar through long-on for four. Next to me the dog is illegally being fed scrambled egg
“Morning Tanya.” Nice to hear from you Brian Withington.
”When England sat down for their extensive pre-tournament forward planning (?), they would surely have been hoping to go into a potentially tricky final game against the unpredictably brilliant Pakistan with their status for the semi-finals already well assured, without exposure to irksome NRR calculation scenarios.” So true!
30th over: England 169-2 (Root 31, Stokes 33) Stokes attempts that reverse-sweep again, he can’t quite master it today. Scuttles a single, four off Shadab’s seventh.
29th over: England 166-2 (Root 29, Stokes 32) A thick, thick haze hangs over Kolkata, a pink sun hangs in the sky, only just visible.
“Good morning.” Hello John Starbuck! “I expect other teams have celebrity followers too. I understand that Mick Jagger was a useful net bowler in his early days, so it’s quite reasonable for him to watch the team, especially in a country he doesn’t have to pay tax in. All the more fun, though England don’t seem to be enjoying it much.”
28th over: England 16w-2 (Root 27, Stokes 30) Shadab, shirt untucked, Root goes past a thousand CWC runs – the first Englishman to get there – with an inside edge that skims the stumps – a career World Cup average of 45 despite a disappointing tournament.
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27th over: England 158-2 (Root 24, Stokes 29) Stokes unrecognisable from the jittery fellow who played the first few England games of this World Cup. Confidence fully back. He fires Afridi through mid on for four. Then leans back, showing all three stumps, and scythes him through cover for four more. And four more splattered straight down the ground. The fifty partnership comes up off 52 balls. Afridi throws his hat in the air in digust.
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26th over: England 146-2 (Root 24, Stokes 17) Shadab goes for three singles. Stokes nearly done by the sweep, as he drops, and misses. Shadab grins.
25th over: England 140-2 (Root 20, Stokes 15) Afridi drops Stokes (10) in his follow through, fumbling as if with a complicated knitting pattern as the ball pops into his hands, and out again. Next ball, as he likes to, Stokes smashes Afridi down the ground for four. A thick haze of pollution is visible as the camera pans down the (Hooghly (?) ) river. In the dugout, Jonny Bairstow bites his nails – he, Marnus Labuschagne, and Baz de Leede the World Cup’s most active nibblers.
Australia making swift progress against Bangladesh, 100-1 off 15 chasing 307 in Pune – read all about it here:
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24th over: England 134-2 (Root 19, Stokes 10) Stokes tries to reverse-sweep Shadab, misses, stumbles, and the ball runs between Rizwan’s legs and down to the rope. Sweeps conventionally next ball, but straight to the fielder.
23rd over: England 128-2 (Root 18, Stokes 9) Rauf, cartwheeling approach. England happy to dab singles here and there, he and Root exchange grins.
More on the Stones from Daniel Forman:
@tjaldred there’s a song on the new (quite good actually) Stones album called Mess It Up. Or I suppose You Can’t Always Get What You Want in the World Cup. But if you try *sometimes* you might get what you need for the Champions Trophy
— Daniel Forman (@dannyforman) November 11, 2023
22nd over: England 125-2 (Root 16, Stokes 8) A loopy full toss from Shadab, Root tucks in with a smile: four.
“Morning Tanya,” hello again Krishnamoorthy V.
“Cant resist the invitation to the Mick Jagger incident
Did he sing You can’t get what you want Or Gimme shelter ?”
21st over: England 118-2 (Root 10, Stokes 7) Stokes pushed backwards and jackknifed as Rauf hits him on the pad. Babar considers an appeal. Stokes then powers four through point.
“Morning Tanya,” Simon McMahon, hello. “Good start this from England. After Stokes’ hundred in the win over The Netherlands, looks like they’ve timed their run well as we head towards the knockout …”
20th over: England 112-2 (Root 9, Stokes 2) Root and Stokes watchful of Shadab .
“Thank goodness for OBO,” glad to be of service Showbizguru.
“Up most of the night here in Florida plagued by ankle bites from no-see-ums after a liquid day on the beach.
“They’re irritating little blighters which you can’t see - hence the name - which deliver a painful nip that develops into a crazed itch when the booze has worn off.”
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19th over: England 110-2 (Root 8, Stokes 1) Two half-centuries for Bairstow in this World Cup – he’d have hoped for more. I’m not sure how fully recovered he is from that golf injury more than a year ago. Stokes arrives at the crease, for his last innings before he goes under the knife in an attempt to mend that troublesome knee.
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WICKET! Bairstow c Salman b Rauf 55 (England 108-2)
Bairstow slams the ball …straight into Salman’s breadbasket at extra cover.
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18th over: England 106-1 (Bairstow 57, Root 7) A handful of singles.
17th over: England 102-1 (Bairstow 55, Root 5) Bairstow picks up four from Wasim’s first ball, after an appalling bit of fielding on the rope by Fakhar. Wasim not impressed.
“Kia ora Tanya,” Hello Graeme Simpson!
”Emailed Rob and Tim over the last week or so advising never count Pakistan out.
“I was directing Crowe on Crowe, a profile of Marty Crowe during the 1992 Cricket World Cup and was on Eden Park in Auckland with my crew as the Blacks Caps took a lap of honour after their semi final defeat.
The doco ended on a freeze frame of a very staunch Marty waving to the crowd fade to black, fade up Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits as the first verse kicked in. Cue tears…
The week before we’d been in Christchurch to record Marty being interviewed by his brother, Jeff. Part of that was at Lancaster Park, the day before NZ was scheduled to play Pakistan in the last of the round robin.
”The Pakistani team were also at the ground for the captain’s run.
What was striking was Imran Khan in an immaculate uniform, nose in the air, being followed a metre or 2 back by the rest of the squad, all looking a bit shabby.
”Never judge a book etc. The following day they handed NZ their first loss of the tournament - and, then, that doomed semi.
The Blacks Caps backed into the semis on runs differential in 2019 ahead of Pakistan and it looks like the same this year.
With India waiting again.”
At least no England and a count back of boundaries…”
Sky just put up what Pakistan would have to do in different scenarios– not going to happen.
Fifty for Jonny Bairstow!
16th over: England 96-1 (Bairstow 50, Root 4) A fifty for YJB, who has found some form – if rather late in the day. Off just 52 balls. Chest out.
Enough from me between overs on Afghanistan geo-political thoughts – not sure I’m doing it justice. Will try to find some more pieces to read in the break!
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15th over: England 90-1 (Bairstow 45, Root 3) England easily pick up six with careful gardening from Wasim.
“I don’t know much about the Sri Lanka situation but the comparisons between Afghanistan and apartheid era SA seem very wide of the mark” – writes Geoff Wignall.
“The sports boycott of SA had a real effect I believe, on a country where their cricketers and rugby teams were promoted for political purposes. The Afghani team can’t even play in their own country. It really is an apples and pears comparison.”
True – the Taliban don’t care if Afghanistan play international cricket or not which is a huge difference. The comparison with South Africa was just that the government was not generally considered legitimate.
I though Emma wrote nicely on this – back in September 2021.
14th over: England 84-1 (Bairstow 41, Root 1) Root off the mark immediately with a single. That must one of England’s highest opening stands of the tournament…
WICKET! Malan c Rizwan b Iftikhar 31 (England 82-1)
Malan whistles innocently but Rizwan isn’t trying one on this time. Malan top-edges a reverse sweep and a sprawling Rizwan catches on his belly in the dust.
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13th over: England 82-0 (Malan 31, Bairstow 40) Pakistan’s change bowlers able to exert more control. Mohammad Wasim full and on point.
“Given how popular cricket is in Afghanistan (I’ve seen that for myself), the ICC is one of the few international bodies who could actually have some leverage over the Taliban,” writes Martin Wright. “A shame they don’t consider using it. But the complexities of sub-continental geopolitics, which are way above my pay grade, could lie behind that....
“In other news, are England batting with the giddy freedom of dead men walking?”
Above my pay grade too, to be honest. I remember talking to Andy Flower about it soon after it happened and he was very clear that he thought that something that brought so much joy to the country shouldn’t be stopped because of the Taliban. And, also, that the Taliban really don’t care either way – they have no interest in cricket. But – personally – I think the situation has gone on for too long now.
And yes, England definitely playing with end of term, marker pen on shirts, freedom.
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12th over: England 79-0 (Malan 30, Bairstow 38) Malan takes a huge backlift to Iftikhar, and chops him into the ground. On the radio, they describe the pitch as “two-paced”. Certainly don’t fancy Pakistan chasing down England’s total in the blink of an eye.
11th over: England 74-0 (Malan 27, Bairstow 34) Wasim, too, tightens things up. Just a single a piece.
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1oth over: England 72-0 (Malan 27, Bairstow 34) Apologies, my television inexplicably turned itself off. Relief for Pakistan, as no boundaries off Iftikhar.
9th over: England 69-0 (Malan 26, Bairstow 32) Malan’s turn to get stuck in, and he powers Afridi for consecutive fours, bumptious and powerful.
Dhamma Service writes“The Taliban in Afghanistan is not even considered a government by most governments in the world. So no use comparing how any global organization deals with issues concerning Afghanistan (where the entire population is more or less hostage) and other countries like Sri Lanka supposed to have legitimately elected governments.” Yes that is true, although during the Apartheid era, only a tiny number of people were permitted to vote in South Africa and it didn’t stop Cricket from taking a stand.
7th over: England 69-0 (Malan 16, Bairstow 32) Spin, with Iftikhar. Jonny tucks in with four through backward point – Malan plonks the front foot and gets an outside edge – not where he intended but four nonetheless.
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7th over: England 49-0 (Malan 11, Bairstow 27) Jonny dig his front spikes into the pitch and with perfect balance, powers Afridi’s second ball through extra cover for four. Then an upper cut for six. The superbly coiffured Afridi is not impressed.
6th over: England 38-0 (Malan 11, Bairstow 16) Rauf proving expensive. A wide loops over Malan and the slips before running down to the rope, then Malan pulls inelegantly for four.
Ali Martin gets in touch with a tasty nugget: “It can often be the little things for Jonny Bairstow, with today the first time during this relatively new opening alliance with Dawid Malan that he did not face the first ball of the innings. YJB’s ODI average when doing so is 33, and 47 when he doesn’t. In his famous partnership with Jason Roy, YJB faced the first ball of the innings just once - the World Cup group stage match against West Indies in 2019, when Roy couldn’t bat due to a hamstring tear in the first innings, Joe Root opened and Chris Woakes then emerged at No3.”
5th over: England 26-0 (Malan 5, Bairstow 15) A classic YJB dispatch, clubbing Afridi leg side, then a quick single.He’s just starting to tick – I’m plumping fo a Jonny century today. Malan plays and misses.
And an email arrives. Morning Guy Hornsby: “Well this has a very after the lord mayor’s show feel about it Tanya. Looks like England are trying to help keep the score low enough for Pakistan to still be in with a chance! I have to say the situation with Afghanistan is so utterly dismal. The ICC have shown themselves to be real hypocrites, but no one is surprised any more, are they? I think it’s ok to be pleased for the men’s team while agreeing they shouldn’t be full members anymore, right? It’s almost as if the ICC don’t place womens’ cricket with nearly as much importance as men. Anyway, rant over, come on lads!”
Yes, I think there was a case for watching and waiting to start with – but not now.
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4th over: England 21-0 (Malan 5, Bairstow 10) Bairstow beaten by the first two balls but a thick edge brings a streaky boundary – and four more as Rauf drifts leg side and Bairstow nudges him past fine leg. Ah and that’s lovely, four through the covers for Malan – three fours from the over.
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3rd over: England 7-0 (Malan 1, Bairstow 0) Malan escapes first ball as he hits the ball straight back at Afridi who, in his follow through, can’t shape his hands in the right place to take the catch. Bairstow picks up a single but neither batter looks comfortable.
2nd over: England 6-0 (Malan 0, Bairstow 0) Haris Rauf’s first ball is an enormous wide that attempts to cross the Bay of Bengal before ending up past the boundary rope. In his previous game, Rauf was pancaked by New Zealand, finishing with 1-85. Lots of applause for his second ball which does land on the strip. A wide on the off side follows. Then a 93mph beauty that nearly draws in Bairstow. Once Rauf finds his line, Bairstow looks all at sea.
1st over: England 0-0 (Malan 0, Bairstow 0). Shahid Shah Afridi has the ball, and Malan plays out a maiden. Low and slow.
Air pollution
The air pollution is “very poor”- currently 199 AQI, which is rated unhealthy – 29 times the WHO recommened safe levels. On the radio, they report a haze over the ground.
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And here come the players:
Anthem time at Kolkata, as a man in the crowd pulls on a Rohit shirt the wrong way round. Harry Brook looks very jolly, Jos Buttler less so. David Willey sings his heart out.
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And the future of the Champions Trophy:
Our queen of women’s cricket, Raf Nicholson, on the ICC.
ICC in response to women cricketers in Afghanistan being banned and having to flee for their lives: "We do not get involved in Board affairs."
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) November 10, 2023
Also ICC: pic.twitter.com/ZGo6cszmVr
Teams - Pakistan
Pakistan XI: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Agha Salman, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf.
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Teams - England
England XI: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (capt, wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid.
Pitch Report
Conditions at Kolkata: black soil, lots of cracks, dry, not much live grass. Dinesh Karthick says pitch will turn, tricky to bat.
England win the toss and will bat!
Jos Buttler, forced smile and all, announces an unchanged team: “It is always nice to end that losing streak, we want to leave India with our heads held high.” And on David Willey, who plays his last international game today – “He’s been a great performer over a long period of time.”
Babar Azam wanted to bat because of net run rate – Pakistan’s theoretical push for the semis will now mean knocking off whatever England score in a sprinkling of overs. Challenge pretty much over.
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Our man on the ground tells me that England met Mick Jagger last night – insert Stones gag here.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka , have been suspended by the ICC over “government interference” – which, as many have pointed out, compares strangely with the treatment of Afghanistan, whose women’s team no longer exists after the Taliban takeover.
Ali Martin’s ode to the band:
Preamble
Once more unto the breach, dear friends. The roundabout slowly comes to a stop, and very soon both England and Pakistan can get off: battered and bruised. But first, they must play one last match. Pakistan can theoretically still reach the semi-finals, and knock New Zealand out, if they beat England by 290 runs – which, if it happened, would blow the final gasket on England’s disastrous campaign. England have no prizes to grab at, but a win would add a little honey to the saucer of sour milk, and could be added to the victories over Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
Many of those pulling on the dark blue of England won’t play another 50-over World Cup -if there is another 50-over World Cup. And who knows whether Babar Azam’s captaincy of Pakistan has long to run. All in all, a match to savour – careers to appreciate – just don’t mention what both teams came here to do.
Play starts at 8.30am GMT – a final chance to chew over what happened to one of cricket’s surethings in the hurly-burly of a World Cup campaign in India.
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