World Cup 2023 - "Stop Relying On Stats": England Great Fumes At Jos Buttler And Co After Defeat To South Africa

Former skipper Nasser Hussain feels reliance on statistics rather than reading the conditions has led to England's downfall in the ongoing World Cup, adding that the reigning champions don't look like a side that can defend its title. England fell to a 229-run loss to South Africa on Saturday-- their biggest in ODI cricket and their third in the ongoing tournament. England had opted to field in humid conditions and South Africa piled 399. Jos Buttler and Co then suffered a batting collapse to be bundled out for 170 in 22 overs.

"England keep getting their decisions wrong. We got the toss and the balance of the side was wrong. The three changes in the squad moved England completely away from how they have been playing for years," Hussain said on Sky Sports.

England made three changes for the game, replacing Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes with Ben Stokes, David Willey and Gus Atkinson.

"Woakes had had no rhythm and on a flat pitch you leave him out and bring Stokes in, I agree with that decision. What I don't like is the toss decision and reliance on stats.

"England need to get the decisions they're making off the field right. The quality of performance was not good enough, but get your decision making right off the field.

"I hear a lot about statistics, and Eoin Morgan used statistics, but there was a lot of gut feeling there too. You need to get your decisions right, don't just go to your default settings." Desperate for a win to stay alive in the competition, England face India, Australia and Pakistan in their next few games.

"England now need to win seven games on the bounce to defend the World Cup, but they don't look like a side that could do that at the moment. If they want to win every game from now,