Pom, pom beating England say Cheerio to 2015 World Cup

The only good thing England did to the game was to introduce it to the world. They planted the seeds of cricket, nursed and nurtured it and saw it grow in many countries in the world.

Early in the game they dominated it and produced some champions whose names will need reams of newsprint to mention. But greats and legends such as Sir Jack Hobbs, Wally Hammond, D.R. Jardine, Harold Larwood, Sir Leonard Hutton, Peter May, Colin Cowdrey, Tom Graveney still need mention.

But over the years with other countries developing and producing equally good or even better cricketers, the standard of the Pom's game plummeted. Now other countries have to show and teach them how to be worthy competitors in all forms of the game.

Arranged and sponsored

The first World Cup and the second was arranged, sponsored and conducted in England in 1975 and 1979. Subsequently the World Cup was taken to other cricket playing countries as well-which was a good thing.

But what must be anathema and galling to the Poms must be their inability to produce a team that can win them a World Cup. They have entered semi-finals, but in those finals they have choked and sadly have yet to win a World Cup.

They came to New Zealand and Australia a much hyped team by their countrymen and media and confident that they could for once take the Cup to the home of cricket. But sadly have fallen on the way side dumped in the first round.

Threatening bouncer

Now that must be a life threatening bouncer that has hit them. They came to Sri Lanka prior to the 2015 World Cup to fine tune their game and strategy. But the first shocks hit them when their regular skipper Alastair Cook ran into turbulence, failing with the bat consistently which necessitated his removal.

The England selectors with coach Peter Moores agreeing and the media baying for Cook's blood and saying enough is enough, souped Cook and gave the mantle of leadership to Irish born left handed batsman Eoin Morgan. Cook must be having the last laugh.

England had their sails torn apart in the very first game when New Zealand strong favourites for the World Cup muddied them black and blue in Wellington finishing the game in under 50 overs. That first game exposed the cracks in the team.

Lack bowling fire power

Then facing Sri Lanka and making a score of over 300, the Brits lacked the bowling fire power to curb the Sri Lankans. And Tillekeratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimnne and Kumar Sangakkara bloodied them with high class batting and put them on the skids, road to disaster and a road of no return.

With the Poms gasping to stay in the World Cup, it was a do or die game when they faced Bangladesh in a game they had to win to stay afloat in the 2015 World Cup. But Morgan's men could not play the correct tune in their cricketing organ and had to sadly wave GOODBYE and say CHEERIO to their failed World Cup bid that has shamed the players and the game.

It is said that when a captain wins the toss and puts the other side into bat that it smacks often of a lack of confidence . When asking a side into bat, it is essential that they be bundled out for a paltry score. A big score and the pressure is on the side chasing.

Competitive score

England put Bangladesh into bat and saw them make 275 for 7 which was a competitive score. A century from Mohamad Mahamadullah who became the first Bangladesh player to score a century in World Cup cricket and an encouraging knock of 89 from Mishfiqur Rahim helped Bangladesh.

England chasing saw their batting falling apart and that was the end of the line and then to the earliest airline to old blightey. England lost by 15 runs, being all out for 260. Bangladesh must certainly be wallowing in their success as they have proved worthy competitors in this World Cup.

England's big batting guns failed to fire. The bowling lacked swing and sting. Bowlers such as James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steve Finn are unplayable in home conditions that allow seam and swing. Playing away from home they are sadly just up and down.

England needed Pietersen

How England would have loved to have the South African born and former captain Kevin Pietersen with them. Pietersen took on the players and the establishment and dared to boldly say what he had to say as to what ails English cricket in his controversial autobiography. That apparently cooked his goose and also England's goose.

Had Pietersen been in the England squad it certainly would have added the nerve, sinew and muscle and made England a better and stronger attack force. What he said in his book should have been taken in the spirit in which it was said. He had the courage to stand by his conviction and he need not have paid the heavy price of being dumped.

England's drowning in the first round brings to mind the similar fate suffered by their national footballers in the World Cup in Brazil last year.

They were made to look larger than life by their handlers and their media. World Champions, they shouted and headlined. And what happened?

Out in the first round

The football team got blown out in the first round. Similarly the cricketers too have followed the example of their national footballers and have been knocked out in the first round. It must be galling and a bitter pill to swallow. But that is how the game goes.

It can be cruel at one time ad sweet the next.

It is customary for coaches, captains and managers to have their necks on the block once the World Cup is over. It will be no different this time round with the England team. Peter Moores the coach, Paul Farbrace the assistant coach and Captain Eoin Morgan will need to pack their bags.

Incidentally England bowled a 'doosra' and grabbed Farbrace who was coach of the Sri Lanka team. Sri Lanka beat them in a Test series for the first time in England, probably retribution for grabbing Farbrace from Sri Lanka.

By the way enjoy life now. It has an expiry date on it.

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