‘Total shambles’: England savaged as ‘dopey’ run out disaster says it all

A near replay of Alex Carey’s Ashes run out has said it all as England’s 50-over World Cup defence has been left in tatters.

England’s ODI World Cup defence has been left in tatters after a horrific performance with the bat saw the side bowled out for 156 in just 33.2 overs against Sri Lanka.

England chose to bat but nearly instantly regretted the decision as they went from 0/45 to 5/85, before limping to the unimpressive total, which Sri Lanka proceeded to chase down with ease in just 26 overs.

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Ben Stokes’ 43 as the wickets fell around him saved the side from total disaster but it looked to be far from a sub-200 pitch.

It was the wicket of Adil Rashid, in particular, that got tongues wagging.

Sri Lankan wicketkeeper and captain Kusal Mendis, after taking a wide ball down the leg side, removed his glove and threw down the wicket at the bowler’s end, finding Rashid short of his ground.

What was Adil Rashid thinking about? Photo: Fox Sports

Instantly, it drew comparisons on social media to Alex Carey’s infamous Ashes run-out, where he threw the ball at Jonny Bairstow’s stumps as soon as he recovered it and caught him wandering out of his crease.

It’s led to months of criticism of the Aussies, including this week, when an excerpt of a new book about England and the Ashes was published by The Telegraph.

But while the uproar began immediately in the Ashes and led to extraordinary scenes in the Lord’s long room, there was nothing but praise for Mendis and scorn for Rashid.

The biggest difference was that Rashid was still out of his crease after backing up.

There were a few other differences as well — Carey ran Bairstow out at the striker’s end on the final ball of the over; Mendis ran Rashid out at the nonstriker’s end on the fifth ball, with the English spinner wandering around.

And Rashid was rightly panned for his lazy act.

“That is dopey from Adil Rashid and absolutely brilliant from Sri Lanka’s captain,” Ian Ward said in commentary.

Dinesh Karthik added: “Pretty much sums up the day for England, been caught napping.”

Fans on social media were at their brutal best, slamming both the England performance and Rashid’s ridiculous dismissal.

The Sun’s Justin Allen tweeted: “Why did I stupidly turn on the cricket to have in the background? What a shambles this England team has been. Rather than play pointless T20s & ODIs v N Zealand on home shores, they should’ve been in India preparing properly & adapting to conditions.

“And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse it does. Sorry but Rashid is a complete and utter dozy fool. Does he not realise when you are eight down there is no margin for falling asleep on the job?”

Kusal Mendis has got a "napping" Adil Rashid. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

One fan commented: “Will England cry saying ‘Spirit of Cricket’ on Adil Rashid run out?”

Another fan wrote: “@TheBarmyArmy no doubt you will be up in arms about that cheating wicketkeeper from Sri Lanka, running out Rashid.”

That run out was definitely against the spirit of cricket Shame on Kusal Mendis to have great game awareness and accuracy. Poor Adil Rashid. #ENGvsSL

— Tanmay Agrawal (@_tanmayagrawal) October 26, 2023

To all those who don’t know cricket that Rashid run out was no different to Bairstow been done by the Aussie keeper in the Ashes sleepy minded lazy cricket this is a total shambles never mind at least England will be equipped to win the #hundredworldcup 😂😂😂

— Paul (@PDSwan80) October 26, 2023

I’m sure Jonny & Ben will continue to pontificate on the Spirit of Cricket after that Rashid run out 🤣🤣🤣#ENGvSL

— Brett Graham (@worldofBG) October 26, 2023

Hope Jonny Bairstow adds this chapter to the book…IT’S HAPPENED AGAIN! #ENGvSLpic.twitter.com/DobsSCmODI

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) October 26, 2023

Jonny Bairstow now has a 2nd chapter now for his upcoming book "Woe is Me: The Tales of a Stupid Ginger Flog". Foreword by Adil Rashid and a couple of chapters on moral victories and being the bastion of the spirit of Cricket.

Stocking stuffer for @piersmorgan#CWC2023#CWC23

— Skippersteve86 (@skippersteve86) October 26, 2023

Sri Lanka have bowled out England for a measly 156, and the runout of Adil Rashid off a wide is easily one of the funniest things I've seen on a sports field for a while. God I love cricket

— André Brett (@DrDreHistorian) October 26, 2023

That Rashid run out sums up England's entire World Cup defence - shambles.#ENGvSL#CWC23#bbccricket

— Sahil Oberoi (@SahilOberoi1) October 26, 2023

But while Rashid’s wicket was the most egregious of the innings, he was far from the only disappointing player for England.

After the side had lost 5/40 to slump to 5/85 in the 18th over, former English captain Nasser Hussain said he was stunned by the defending champions’ decline.

“The problem is with England, I look at their batters and I cannot honestly tell you one batter that’s in nick at the moment,” Hussain said.

“Maybe Dawid Malan looked in decent touch. Bairstow, not so much. Stokes hasn’t had much time in the middle. Moeen hasn’t had much time in the middle. Livingstone looked like he was out of nick.

“Just spend some time in the middle, occupy the crease and maybe some form will come. There’s no rhythm at the moment to their batting and this is the gun batting line up England have had for a long time now.”

The loss against Sri Lanka has left England with one win and four defeats in the tournament, consigning them to ninth place on the ladder.

It’s expected teams will need to have suffered no more than three losses to make the semi-finals.