England suffered a humiliating eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand at Wellington, which has put their World Cup hopes in jeopardy.
As Tim Southee's 7 for 33 and the ensuing carnage by New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum ensured that England succumbed to their second consecutive defeat of the 2015 World Cup, the scenario looks bleak for Eoin Morgan's side from here on.
If Morgan urged his side to 'stand up' post the 111-run mauling in the cup opener against Australia at Melbourne, then it seems like the rest of his England team-mates have paid no heed to his warning, post their latest defeat against New Zealand.
The manner in which Morgan's team collapsed in wake of Southee's terrific display of swing bowling, only highlights the fact that their current scenario is akin to that of a bull in a china shop.
Now, the pitch cannot be blamed for, as despite some assistance for bowlers, it was more of England's ineptitudeness with the bat, rather than nothing else, which ultimately led to their demise.
Ian Bell is castled by Tim Southee (getty images)
As former England batting legend Geofferey Boycott put it - 'the wicket was a flat 270 minimum' - and if Morgan's side endured a nightmarish time on a track that was conducive to good batting, then what fate awaits come fixtures against the likes of Sri Lanka and Scotland?
England's next opponents are Scotland (Christchurch), Sri Lanka (Wellington), Bangladesh (Adelaide) and Afghanistan (Sydney), of which only the last one looks like a certain win as for now.
Scotland definitely cannot be counted off (given their heroics against New Zealand), where as Sri Lanka will always prove to be a tough nut to crack.
Also Bangladesh are no longer the 'whipping boys' of international cricket, and given current form, Morgan's side have every chance in the world to capitulate against all three.
Only the Afghanistan game looks like a guaranteed win (thanks to their relative naiveity on the big stage), and even if they do, then it may well be too late, with an embarrasing exit all but on the cards.
Tim Southee's 7 for 33 is the best by a New Zealander in World Cup cricket (getty images)
Agreed that Southee is no Glenn Mcgrath, but the manner in which he systematically dismantled England, only shows as to how Morgan's side have 'bunny hopped' down the cricketing ladder.
And they were left licking their wounds, when McCullum brought his 'A-game' to the fore and smashed them to all corners, with a blitzkrieg 77 off 39 balls, which included eight fours and seven sixes, which proved to be the final nail in the coffin.
So where have all the James Anderson's, Stuart Broad's and Steven Finn's disappeared?
Brendon McCullum blasted England's bowling to bits (getty images)
If the batsmen are bursting at the seams, then the bowlers are even worse, with none of England's pacers showing enough gumption to ruffle opposition feathers.
The batting and bowling averages have gone for a toss and if Morgan does not conjure up a mountanious effort to rejuvinate and revive his side, then the situation definitely looks grim for the future.
England next have to face Scotland and Sri Lanka in bowling friendly conditions, a fact which does not bode well for their lumbering batsmen, and remedial measures must be taken, if they are to avoid further collapses.
The best they can now do is to put aside these morale-sapping losses and concentrate on negotiating the Scottish challenge, which would all but determine their cricketing destiny in the tournament.
Win if they do...then well and truly good...and if they do lose again...then Morgan's side will in all probability head down 'south'!
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 "England-cricket (File photo)")
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