- author, Matthew Henry
- role, BBC sports reporter in St Lucia
Sometimes a loss in a big tournament can mean the beginning of a crisis.
Gareth Southgate will say that will happen even if his team doesn’t lose.
They picked the wrong team, were exposed to an Indian onslaught at the toss and performed badly, resulting in their worst defeat in white-ball cricket.
But England’s recent defeat to the Proteas was just that – a defeat.
England captain Jos Buttler has sat through a number of difficult press conferences in recent months.
Some people are frustrated, others are just sad.
Friday’s game, coming off a seven-point defeat at Darren Sammy Stadium in St. Lucia, was not one of those games.
Now is not the time for Britain to panic.
“It’s disappointing we didn’t go all the way, but we made a lot of really good plays today,” Butler said calmly.
It is true that England leave St Lucia with their semi-final hopes hanging in the balance, but it comes after a week in which there have been more positives than negatives.
Fans will be able to enjoy Gros Islet’s famous Friday night street parties in some comfort.
This World Cup has been a rollercoaster of emotions for England fans – frustration, disappointment, excitement, rain, Scotland-related resignation and tension – packed into less than three weeks.
England were beaten for 63 on the powerplay by South African opener Quinton de Kock, who has been England’s most frequent tormentor in recent years, but recovered impressively with the ball afterwards.
Adil Rashid, who spent as much time off the pitch as he did playing time due to illness in the last time the two teams met in a heavy defeat in Mumbai, provided a goal denial that the two veteran Italian centre-backs would be proud of.
South Africa hit eight boundaries in the first six overs but only one in the next six.
Bowler Jofra Archer, who was run out early by de Kock, gave up 21 in his first over but only 19 in the remaining three overs.
England, and later South Africa, also did their part to provide the matches with enough defensive highlights to fill an entire film.
Harry Brook and Sam Curran also took two fine catches, while Buttler produced what is becoming a trademark run-out from the wicketkeeper’s position.
The team had been aging and seemed in a state of decline in India but now it seems reinvigorated.
Buttler’s beaming smile after Heinrich Klaassen’s run-out was the polar opposite of his demeanor three weeks ago.
Earlier victories over Oman, Namibia and, most impressively, the West Indies had England in a fresh mood after the brief opening day of the tour;
But while there are positives, England still need to improve if they are to win the World Cup and defend their title.
Buttler’s batting performance will be a good start as he has started many games but has not scored a fifty in his last six innings.
Afterwards, the England captain said the two powerplays decided the match.
De Kock’s onslaught saw England manage just 41 runs in six overs, with Buttler hitting just one boundary.
Bowling with the new ball is England’s most immediate concern.
They have extended their innings against Australia, West Indies and now South Africa but it will ultimately hurt them.
Across six matches in the Caribbean, England’s bowlers had taken just 13 wickets in the first 10 overs.
That means their bowling average in that phase (36.92) is the second-worst in the competition.
Excluding the convincing win over lower-ranked Oman, his record stands at six wickets in five matches at an average of 74.16.
You can’t win the World Cup with numbers like that.
England are still trying to find the perfect balance in their squad composition and in so doing, pick the principles they are least willing to lose.
In the matches against South Africa and the West Indies, the team appeared short of batsmen after leaving out all-rounder Will Jacks, despite prior to the tournament stressing the importance of having a strong batting line-up.
They did so because the fast ball of Mark Wood, the left-arm angle of Reece Topley and the left-handed batting of Sam Curran were deemed more important.
“We wanted to have four seam options, so we changed the balance,” Butler explained.
“Sam gives us a fourth seam option and a left-handed batsman.”
Wood, who was wicketless in two overs for 22, may miss the next innings.
South Africa’s victory was a reminder of the volatile nature of T20.
England kept all their cards at half-way, lost them and got them back, but South Africa conceded just 17 runs from the final three overs, needing 25, before winning the ball back towards the end of the match.
This World Cup will be decided by tiny margins like these.
The Proteas are unbeaten in the tournament after winning four tough matches and will be one of the teams with a chance.
Australia has looked the strongest team so far, but they have also been a bit unstable.
Though India are unbeaten in the series, there are still ongoing issues to discuss, especially the top of the batting order.
A new champion will be crowned in Barbados in a week, but there is still no clear favorite.
England have lost two of their three meetings with their title rivals.
However, their victories against South Africa and before that against the West Indies suggested they could still be contenders to win the title if they improve.