In the words of D:Ream “Things can only get better” for England at the T20 World Cup. After an unconvincing win against Nepal and a loss against an inconsistent West Indies team, England fans are hoping that the only way they can go is up.
England’s next two T20 World Cup group games should be, on paper, easy pickings. First they face a Scotland side, who failed to qualify for the competition, gaining entry off the back of a boycott by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Then they take on Italy, who are participating at their first World Cup and were taken apart by Scotland in their first group game. Despite some strong results in the build up to the competition look like they're out of their depth.
Favourable Fixtures - But No Guarantees
But Cricket isn't played on paper. And if we look at the stats, things may not get better. In four match ups against European teams in the ICC T20 World Cup England are yet to register a victory.
In 2009 England lost by four wickets to the Netherlands, with the flying Dutchmen winning the game off the last ball.
In 2010 rain played a part in abandoning England's match up against Ireland, then four years later at Chattogram, the boys in orange struck again.
This time, the Netherlands set 133 from their 20 overs. In return the England side which featured Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler were dismissed for just 88, their second lowest T20 score ever.
Over the next eight years England enjoyed mixed results against European competition in both the ODI World Cup and in white ball tours.
A one off fixture in 2018 against Scotland at the Grange Club, in Edinburgh saw England fall 6 runs short and lose to their “old Enemy” for the first time.
In 2022, England returned to the continent, scoring a record 498 during their ODI tour of the Netherlands with Phil Salt, Dawid Malan and Jos Buttler all scoring hundreds.
Curse or Coincidence? What It Means for England Now
During the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, England faced off against European competition at the MCG. This time a group stage game against Ireland once again affected by the rain saw England fall five runs short (DLS method).
The star studded England side eventually went on to win the competition beating Pakistan at the same venue just over two weeks later.
England will hope to get back to winning ways after a loss to the West Indies on Wednesday, but could this European curse continue for England?
Wins against both Scotland and Italy would likely see England still qualify for the Super 8 however another loss would see England all but out of the tournament.