England should rest Stokes and throw Brook into the action

THERE were moments yesterday when you suspected that old Mr Sod had arrived at this World Cup and was about to start laying down his law

- Malik Ouzia

Walloped from pillar to post over a nightmarish three weeks and dangled over the precipice of elimination without the mercy of a bungee-less plunge, England appeared to have turned up.

For the first time in the tournament, and albeit with the assistance of a used track, their bowlers produced a performance above par, as a gun Indian line-up was restricted to 229 for nine.

At their peak, that is the kind of target you would have backed England to chase in their sleep. Not now, though. Not with this batting line-up.