Sorry England sinks without trace

Tomorrow, officially, the English cricket season begins. Yet for team England, today marks the end of a six month venture, in which they competed in three continents for three prizes and were dismal on every front. When Strauss and Collingwood's attempt at resuscitating an England innings which had been lifeless from the first ball failed, there was a definite sense of the life support machine being turned off; 5 wickets fell for only twice as many runs, and the ship which had been reeling ever since Adelaide back in December finally sunk below the waterline without so much as a ripple

In truth, the rats had long since fled; Ashes cricket has always contained some extraordinary matches, a concentration of which made the 2005 series so special. Yet even amongst those thrillers, there remained a sole example of a team losing a game they could not possibly lose. And with as much justification as Ian Botham had when he allegedly whispered the word "Headingley" in Allan Border's ear during a tight Australian run chase in 1985, Australians will now have course to remind England cricketers of Adelaide.

For that Test match, indisputably, was England's undoing. Pundits may pick endlessly over the significance of Harmison's first ball, or the selection of Giles over Panesar, but the fact remains that all vitality and spirit this England team had lies buried at the home of South Australia. From then on, it has been an arduous struggle, a long series of repair jobs on an already fatally wounded animal.

In terms of this World Cup, England's failings are many and well documented. Any mildly interested England follower will be intimately acquainted with the failings of the top order, the blandness of the bowling attack and the reliance on individuals, some of whom could not even be relied on themselves. Frankly, progression to the semi-finals of this tournament would have been an indictment on a competition which is meant to be a showcase for the world's best.

Countless opportunities presented themselves, the structure and nature of the tournament even going so far as to offer England an effective quarter final, without them having had to win any game of note. In the end, even one big performance was too much to ask; that they have only two fragments of good play to show for in a tournament which seems to have lasted for an eternity is not far short of disgraceful.

For the fan who has suffered every beating along the way, the sanctuary of a Test Match, at home, cannot come soon enough. Any chance to bury the winter of discontent will be seized upon. But while fans seek to forget, it is of paramount importance that those in charge are made to hurt a little more, so that maybe they can glean something of use from such a hapless campaign, as they seek to build for what seems an uncertain future.