'Spoil India's party': Nasser Hussain urges England ahead of crucial clash in Lucknow

Nasser Hussain has urged the England cricket team to look to “spoil India’s party” when the two teams lock horns in their 2023 World Cup clash in Lucknow on Sunday. World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table England have endured a forgettable start to the tournament with just one win in five games. While the reigning champions managed to beat Bangladesh, losses to New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have put them on the brink of elimination. England are ninth in the 10-team points table with just two points. India, meanwhile are on top of the points table with 10 points, and are yet to lose a match in the 2023 World Cup.

“The players must take the responsibility for this. I’m not a great one for cliches like playing for the badge but that’s what England have got to do now. They have to go to Lucknow on Sunday and spoil India’s party. They must remind India and the world just how great cricketers they have been - and still are,” Hossain, a former England captain, wrote in a column for The Daily Mail. Hussain said that tournaments like The Hundred or T20 Blast were not to be blamed, terming them as “lame excuses”. Hussain added that the sole reason for England’s horror run was the players themselves. “I’ve heard people at home are doing that but this is not the fault of the Hundred or the Blast or the fact England’s best players do not play much 50-over cricket. They are just lame excuses,” added the 55-year-old. The England batters have not turned up on most occasions. Against Sri Lanka on Thursday, England were dismissed for just 156 with Ben Stokes top-scoring with 43 runs. Apart from his knock of 140 against Bangladesh, Dawid Malan has looked off colour, and so has Jos Buttler, who has scored just 95 runs from five matches. With their semi-final hopes dominishing with every loss they suffer, all England can hope is to put up their best foot forward and win every game hereon.