Skip to main content
Work with the NEU
Where has it all gone wrong for England at the World Cup?
England's Ben Stokes plays a shot during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match between England and Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, India, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.

ENGLAND have accepted their chances of defending their World Cup crown are over after slumping to a fourth defeat in their first five matches in India.

The abject run of form has seen the 2019 champions slip to ninth in the table and invited an early inquest into exactly what has gone wrong with a side who were once trailblazers in the 50-over game.

Here, we look at five reasons for their current plight.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
England's Joe Root during day three of the Fourth Rothesay Men's Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, July 25, 2025
Men’s cricket / 25 July 2025
25 July 2025

Root and Stokes grind down weary India to stretch lead beyond 100

England's Harry Brook during a press conference at Edgbaston, Birmingham, May 28, 2025
Men’s Cricket / 28 May 2025
28 May 2025

Smith set to open batting in first of three ODIs against the West Indies at Edgbaston

England's newly appointed white-ball captain, Harry Brook, a
Men’s cricket / 10 April 2025
10 April 2025
New white-ball skipper insists no amount of money could sway him