T20 World Cup: Three video games to avoid wasting Brendon McCullum’s job? No excuses if England fail once more in Tremendous 8s

England’s efficiency within the group stage was undoubtedly unconvincing.

They had been taken to the ultimate ball by Nepal and misplaced to West Indies in Mumbai, earlier than edging to wins over Italy and Scotland in Kolkata.

Batters received in and received out – Tom Banton’s 63 not out the one actual match-defining rating. Even the ever-reliable Adil Rashid has gone for 9 runs per over or extra in three of the 4 video games.

It means England have proven little to counsel they will threaten late into the match thus far.

Without enchancment this may probably be a fourth underwhelming main match in a row since they received the T20 World Cup in 2022.

But Brook’s feedback additionally mirror a few of the difficulties confronted by the key nations at this World Cup – a match through which no group has constructed a wholly compelling case to counsel they are going to be champions.

Players from the lower-ranked groups expressed their keenness to carry out, not simply to trigger an upset but in addition to show they’re deserving of the higher alternatives they so desperately search.

The Test-playing sides, in distinction, had every thing to lose. Just ask Mitchell Marsh when he will get off his flight to again to Australia on Saturday.

And for all their struggles to complete matches with ease, England had been additionally forward in all three video games in opposition to their lower-ranked opponents.

Nepal’s chase seemed to have stalled, Scotland had been 127-8 and Italy 1-2 within the first over of their chase.

Most former England captains wouldn’t admit it, and perhaps Brook has proven he would, however it might solely be human to chill out in these conditions.

Most of all, nevertheless, England are hoping familiarity brings an upturn in fortunes.

They returned to Sri Lanka on Tuesday, first spending two nights in Colombo earlier than taking the winding drive to Pallekele.

Colombo was the place Brook stood in entrance of his team-mates in late January and apologised for his late-night antics in Wellington and the following fallout – an try to attract a line beneath the Ashes defeat.

Pallekele was the place England received all three T20s in opposition to the exact same group they now face.

England mentioned they had been badly ready for the Ashes and now admit to being underprepared for this group stage. For the following activity they might hardly have had higher preparation.

“It’s just about reading the pitch and the conditions as quickly as possible and communication’s key,” mentioned Brook, when requested what he realized from beating Sri Lanka.

“We obviously had that last game where we only got 130, but that ended up being a winning score.

“You by no means fairly know what is going on to occur with the pitch and till you find yourself enjoying on it.”