Dawid Malan calls on England players to 'take responsibility' for below-par World Cup showing ahead of Australia clash

Dawid Malan admits England's players should take the blame for their below-par Cricket World Cup campaign, rather than head coach Matthew Mott.

The defending champions have been humiliated in India, suffering defeats in five of their six group matches so far.

That includes a shock loss to minnows Afghanistan, as well as heavy defeats at the hands of South Africa, Sri Lanka and India in their last three matches, being bowled out for under 200 in each innings.

Such form has piled the pressure on Mott, despite the Australian guiding England to the T20 World Cup last year.

"Motty is not the one walking out on the field," said Malan as quoted by the BBC.

"As players, we need to take responsibility when we cross that rope. We are being given everything we need to perform.

"The facilities and work, everything is being done as it always has been, we just haven't been able to find a way to get wins on the board."

Although England have not officially been eliminated from the tournament yet, it would take a remarkable run of results to reach the semi-final stages.

Their next game is a clash with five-time winners Australia, who themselves have turned a poor start to the campaign around, winning four fixtures in a row after losing their opening two games.

England may strengthen their batting line up by recalling Harry Brook, dropped for the defeats to Sri Lanka and India, while Brydon Carse could be handed his World Cup defeat after being called into the squad as an injury replacement for Reece Topley.

Whatever team England go with, they know they can ill-afford another batting collapse, especially as qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy is also on the line.

Only the top seven teams from the group stage will qualify for the tournament in two years' time, along with host nation Pakistan.

"We've played six games now and we've not been anywhere near where we wanted to be," said Malan.

"It is disappointing from that point of view.

"It is really hard to sum up. We just can't seem to get anything going at the moment or any rhythm or momentum.

"We can't put our finger on it and the disappointing thing is we're not even competing in games at the moment."

England's clash with Australia, a repeat of the 2019 semi-final which England won at a canter, gets under way in Ahmedabad on Saturday at 8.30am UK time.

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