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Journey Of Champions: Dismal England In 2015 To Champions In 2019

In the 2015 edition of World Cup played in Australia and New Zealand, England was knocked out in the Group Stage winning just 2 matches against Scotland and Afghanistan. Eoin Morgan was appointed as the captain months before the 2015 World Cup. England played an outdated, pragmatic style of cricket and won just 2 matches. 

After the 2015 World Cup first-round exit, the England Cricket team decided to invest on explosive players like Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes.

Eoin Morgan can”t hide his disappointment © Getty Images

They changed the style of play with gung-ho attacking cricket which made the life tough for the opposition batsmen. From the period of 2015 till 2019, England scored the most 400 plus totals. 

A dejected Eoin Morgan reflects on England”s defeat © ICC

Eoin Morgan was named as the captain of the England team. They posted the highest number of 300 plus and 350 totals in ODI cricket which shows the consistency they progressed in 50 over format. 

The England Cricket team broke the record highest total in ODI cricket off 444 for 3 against Pakistan in 2016. In 2018, they broke their own record of scoring 481 for 6 against Australia. 

Under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan, England was unbeatable at home winning series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan. They won series away from home beating Bangladesh, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Australia and other top nations.  Their only loss came against India on Indian soil in 2017. 

(Photo by AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

On 2nd May 2018, England toppled India to become the number 1 ranked ODI side in the World. Since then, they have been performing remarkably well and proven their worth.

Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali playing in the IPL have benefited them big time which made them better players. 

Transformation of England team winning World Cup 2019 

Before the World Cup, they proved their number 1 rank side defeating Pakistan by 4-0 in a high scoring series. 

The hosts England began the 2019 World Cup on a resounding note defeating South Africa by 104 runs on 30th May. It was a brilliant performance by England who scored 311 for 8 in 50 overs and bowled out South Africa for 207 in 39.5 overs. 

© Getty Images

Jofra Archer was bought into the England attack and succeeded with lethal opening bowling spell. He took 3 for 27. 

England was stunned in their 2nd match against Pakistan on 3rd June at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. After electing to field, Pakistan scored a massive total of 348 for 8 in 50 overs. Despite Jos Buttler and Joe Root scoring centuries, England fell short of the target by just 14 runs. 

In their 3rd match against Bangladesh, it was a sensational batting effort by the England batsmen posting a massive total of 386 for 6 in 50 overs and won the match by 106 runs to get the campaign back on track. 

(Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

England crushed West Indies by 8 wickets in their fourth match at Southampton on 14th June 2019. It was a brilliant bowling effort by the hosts bowling West Indies for 212 and then chasing down the target with 101 balls to spare. 

The hosts proved too strong for Afghanistan with a crushing 150 runs win. Eoin Morgan scored a brilliant 148 off 71 balls, Root 88, Bairstow 90 helped England record total of 397 for 6 in 50 overs. England restricted Afghanistan to 247 for 8. 

England was stunned by Sri Lanka in a low scoring thriller played at Headingley, Leeds on 21st June. Despite restricting Sri Lanka to a modest total of 232 for 9, the England batsmen failed to chase down the target and were bowled out for 212 in 47 overs. Ben Stokes remained not out but wickets fell at another end which resulted in a shocking loss. 

Moeen Ali leaves the field after holing out © Getty Images

They were handed their 2nd successive defeat in World Cup 2019, losing to Australia by 64 runs at Lords, London on 25th June. Electing to field first, the Aussies posted 285 for 7 in 50 overs. In reply, England was bowled out for 221 in 44.4 overs.

Needing to win their remaining 2 matches, England came back strongly defeating India by 31 runs and then New Zealand by 119 runs to qualify for the semi-finals. 

England finished 2nd on the points table and took on Australia in the 2nd semi-finals at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

(Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow proved their worth as explosive opening pair which made life tough for the oppositions. 

The Three Lions produced a dominating performance against the defending champions Australia in the 2nd semi-finals played on 11th July 2019. A brilliant bowling display by the hosts bowled out Australia for a modest total 223. 

Chasing down the target of 224 runs to win, England openers Roy and Bairstow added 124 runs. Roy played a brilliant inning scoring 85 runs. The hosts won the match by 8 wickets and progressed into the finals of World Cup history for the 4th time. 

In the finals against New Zealand at iconic Lords, England won the match an in a thrilling encounter. After electing to bat, The Kiwis posted 241 for 8 thanks to Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson and Tom Latham. 

Chasing down the target of 242 runs to win, it was a disastrous start for the hosts as they were reduced to 86 for 4. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler played with confidence adding 110 runs for the 5th wicket. With wickets falling at another end, Ben Stokes remained not out, and the match was tied. 

Ben Stokes smashes a six as he takes the match to the end (Photo by Gareth Copley-IDI/IDI via Getty Images)

In the Super Over, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler scored 15 runs off 6 balls from Trent Boult bowling. While defending the target, Jofra Archer was smashed by James Neesham for a six. With 2 runs required off the last ball, Guptill was run out and the match was tied in the Super Over too.

England hit 26 boundaries including match and Super Over while New Zealand hit 17 boundaries. Because of more fours hit, England became the Champions of the World. 

Eoin Morgan poses with the World Cup trophy (Photo By DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

Joe Root finished with 556 runs from 11 matches, Jonny Bairstow 532 from 11 matches, Roy 443 runs from 8 matches ( 7 innings), Ben Stokes 465 runs from 11 matches ( 10 innings), Eoin Morgan 371 runs from 11 matches ( 10 innings), Jos Buttler 312 runs from 11 matches ( 9 innings) were the main contributors for England in the batting department. 

Jofra Archer was the leading wicket-taker for England with 20 wickets from 11 matches (11 innings), Wood took 18 wickets from 10 matches ( 10 innings), Woakes 16 wickets from 11 matches ( 11 innings) contributed to the team’s success. 

 

 

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