England 'horror show' lashed as legends react to World Cup shocker against New Zealand
The reaction to England's dismal ODI World Cup start has been swift and harsh from the sporting-mad nation.
England holds the Cup after controversially beating New Zealand in a super-over final four years ago, and entered this tournament as second favourite to win the title, only behind hosts India.
But the Black Caps reaped revenge for 2019 by thrashing England by nine wickets and with 82 balls to spare thanks to centuries to World Cup debutants Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra in the opening match.
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England star and the team's former captain Joe Root labelled it "below par in all departments".
Jos Buttler of England cuts a dejected figure after losing to New Zealand. Getty
"We did manage to build partnerships, but as soon as we get going we kept stalling ourselves and that stopped us getting the total we wanted," Root said after the loss.
"In the field, when you know you've got a below-par score, you've then got to be above par in everything you do and we didn't manage that. We didn't play anywhere near the standard that we know we are capable of."
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Where are they now? Australia's victorious 2003 ODI World Cup squad 20 years on
Where are they now? Australia's victorious 2003 ODI World Cup squad 20 years on
Retired England champion Eoin Morgan, who was a key figure in the 2019 triumph, could hardly believe what he was seeing.
"They were so far off the mark," Morgan said of England on Sky Sports.
"With the ball, they looked undercooked. They bowled both sides of the wicket which is not ideal by any stretch of the imagination. A really disappointing day."
The Daily Mail UK reporter Lawrence Booth labelled the performance a "horror show", while England great Mike Atherton was heavily critical in a piece for The Times.
"(England) will have to show significant improvement very quickly after a rusty and drab performance brought defeat in a manner that has rarely befallen them in recent times," Atherton wrote.
"No barest of margins here, just a hammering.
Chris Woakes of England cuts a dejected figure. Getty
"(Jos) Buttler's players were thankful, no doubt, that there were not more viewers in the ground to witness matters."
Atherton was referring to a shockingly small crowd which turned out at the 132,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium for the World Cup opener.
The ICC was criticised for putting a 2019 final rematch, rather than host team India, on to open the tournament.
England next faces Bangladesh on Tuesday evening (AEDT).
