Week 4 of the World Cup and the hunt continues for the England cricket staff kidnapped en path to India and changed by a set of tailor’s dummies. The mannequins masquerading because the world champions face India immediately in what threatens to be an utter humiliation for England if either side play to the extent they've performed up to now on the match.

On paper it must be a tough sport to name - the England aspect is stuffed with gamers with the pedigree to carry out in matches like these - however they've been such ghosts of their actual selves at this World Cup that this may very well be a watch-from-behind-the-sofa job.

Their match is, barring mathematical affirmation, performed and dusted with a fortnight of their group stage nonetheless to run. Jos Buttler has no solutions as to why such a embellished aspect ought to have underperformed so badly. He has, although, burdened that he intends to hold on as England’s white ball captain. He ought to rethink. When the following 50-over World Cup - in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia - comes round in November 2027 he will likely be 37.

The rebuild for that begins when this match ends and it wants somebody in cost who will final the cycle. Maybe Buttler will make it as a batter, presumably as a wicketkeeper however as a captain? He has seemed hollowed-out by this expertise.

That is hardly shocking. It has been a chastening World Cup all spherical for him. The choice hokey-cokey and the toss cock-ups have his fingerprints throughout them. His common of 19 with the bat hardly cuts the mustard both.

He has manifestly did not get the response required out of England in India. It is simplistic and plain unsuitable guilty Buttler for all of the aspect’s ills - and it shouldn’t be forgotten that he led the England to the T20 World Cup 11 months in the past - however what was billed as an excellent final dance for England’s white ball thirty-somethings has became a Danse Macabre.

With nearly the complete batting line-up scratching round for kind and their medium pacers cannon fodder, England have reverted again to the hesitant Henrys of the dangerous outdated days.

It is true that they've had no luck with accidents. Having talked Ben Stokes into popping out of ODI retirement and seen him smash 182 in opposition to New Zealand in September, Buttler misplaced his talisman to a hip downside for England’s first three World Cup matches. By the time he was match England have been in freefall.

Then he misplaced the one tempo bowler who had seemed good - Reece Topley - to a damaged finger in opposition to South Africa. But Topley wasn’t even picked for the opening sport thrashing by New Zealand that set the tinnitus tone.

It has been a listing of misjudgements from the beginning; in reality from even earlier than the beginning. Given the shortfall in 50-over cricket for England - and each different nation - as T20 cricket has taken over, what was the purpose in staging a three-game one-day worldwide sequence in opposition to Ireland a month earlier than the World Cup and never enjoying the squad that was heading for India?

With preparation time at such a premium, it made no sense. After 4 defeats in 5 video games at this World Cup, the remainder of England’s match has been decreased to the baseline of salvaging satisfaction. That and utilizing the time to assume clearly over one of the simplest ways ahead for the aspect.

For Buttler that ought to imply stepping down as captain. Partly. He ought to hand over the baton for the 50-over aspect on the finish of this match however keep on as T20 captain for the World Cup defence in eight months’ time.

Splitting the purple and white ball captaincy is accepted follow so why not the ODI and T20 roles? For the brief time period at the least. Australia have been joyful to go down that highway. Until Aaron Finch retired in February, he led the T20 staff whereas Pat Cummins sorted the 50-over operation.

Why not England? For the three-match ODI sequence within the West Indies in December, the evolution wants to start out beneath a next-generation chief. Maybe Zak Crawley who led the shadow aspect within the Ireland sequence. Whoever it's, England want to show the web page on this horror story of this World Cup and look to 2027.