England star batter Joe Root slammed the side’s dismal show so far in the 2023 World Cup, claiming that they should be at the top of the points table with the talent they have in the squad. However, the defending champions are placed at the bottom of the points table with only one win.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Australia clash, Root said, “I look at this team and it’s more than capable of achieving way more than it has done throughout this tournament. The quality of players we have, we should be sat right at the top of this [table]. We all know that, and we’re all very frustrated that isn’t the case.”
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“This group of players have three opportunities to play at the level we expect of ourselves,” Root further continued. “I fully believe we are more than capable of doing that on Saturday. Man for man, I’d have this team every day over the Australians. We might not have played as well as we can do but we know when we play our best stuff, the best teams struggle to compete with us.”
However, England have lost four straight matches and are also in danger of not finishing in the top eight and missing out on qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy as well.
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“Let’s face it: if it was the other way around, would we be doing the same? Probably. It hurts – it always hurts to be in this position to be sat at the bottom of the table. It’s not what we expect of ourselves. If it motivates us a little bit more, then great,” Joe Root said. “I feel really good in my game. It’s been really frustrating. I’ve had a silly run-out [against Sri Lanka], a caught leg slip [against South Africa] which is pretty unusual in this format, and – I’ll be careful how I say this – a dubious lbw decision in the last game [against India].”
England will take on Australia at Ahmedabad on Saturday, November 4.
