From Ashes Heros to Whipping Boys for Minnows

It was only a few weeks ago that England's cricketers were being hailed as future World Champions coasting to an Ashes Series victory in Australia for the first time in  more than 20 years. Now almost half way through the group stages of the Cricket World Cup their record seems  very  different. A tie with India and  narrow wins against South Africa and the Netherlands have been over shadowed by  defeats at the hands of the Irish and, today, by Bangladesh.

They may still come good but they are not playing like world beaters. This is great for the neutrals who love a good upset but soul destroying for my pals down south who felt they had a reasonable expectation of doing well.

So much for the theory that in these days of 20/20 that there  is no place for the one day game!