ENGLAND WORLD CUP RATINGS: Jos Buttler oversaw shocking title defence while Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow struggled for runs… but Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid among rare positives

England staged a chaotic title defense at the Cricket World Cup in India, losing six and winning just three of nine matches.

In the end, they fell far short of the four teams that advanced to the semi-finals, narrowly reaching the top eight to secure a spot for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Few players covered themselves in glory and several struggled to find any form.

Here, Mail Sport’s LAWRENCE BOOTH gives his assessment of the performances of each England player in our ratings.

Jonny Bairstow scored his 50 against Pakistan, but it proved too little too late in the tournament

Dawid Malan – He was England’s best batsman and also played their best innings: 140 against Bangladesh. Despite fears he might eat balls, his strike rate was 101. But he never quite got on with Bairstow, and his international career is now over following his omission from both squads for the Caribbean. 7.5

Adil Rashid – England’s leading wicket-taker with 15, Rashid regularly reminded us of his class and experience, not least when he took four for 73 in 20 overs against India and Australia. 7.5

David Willey – Used his central contract punch to spur him on in his last few games for England, regularly breaking through with the new ball. The nine-ball duck he delivered to Virat Kohli was the highlight, and no one had a better economics figure than his 5.07. 7.5

Ben Stokes – His strong finish made you wonder how England would have fared had he not been injured in the first three games. I dug them out of a hole against the Dutch, but it was all too late. England must now pray that his knee surgery is a success. 7

Ben Stokes was injured in England’s first three games, which could have been crucial

Stokes will now decide whether to continue playing in the 50-over format after his operation

Reece Topley – His opening game against Bangladesh was England’s best of the tournament, his broken finger against South Africa was one of their biggest disappointments. He can be England’s attack leader as long as he stays on the park. 7

Guus Atkinson – Was unlucky to make just three appearances in total after holding his head during South Africa’s mauling in Mumbai, where he bowled the rampant Heinrich Klaasen. Sent some fast spells, if not quite the same speed as Wood. 6

Harry Beek – Having dropped two matches after scoring a big class 66 against Afghanistan, the selectors’ mess wasn’t helped. His 30 off 17 balls against Pakistan were a glimpse of the future. 6

Joe Wortel – Started with two lively half-centuries, before his form fell off a cliff: when England needed him most, his next six innings produced a best of 28. A slow 60 against Pakistan could not disguise a disappointing tournament. His white-ball career should now be a thing of the past. 5.5

JoeRoot started the World Cup well, but his form quickly fell off a cliff

Harry Brook was baffledly dropped by the selectors before he was belatedly reminded of his lesson

Chris Woakes – His early struggles mirrored England’s: he scored 10 in his first over against New Zealand, 12 against Bangladesh, and started the match in Afghanistan with five wides. His rhythm improved and he shared a crucial position with Stokes against the Netherlands. But his best things came too late. 5.5

Jonny Bairstow – He never really got going, even though his smoothest innings – 59 off 61 balls against Pakistan – came towards the end. It looked like he was missing his old opening partner, Jason Roy. Another one whose ODI career is now on the line. 5

Mark wood – He was fast, but often looked too hard for the magic ball. New Zealand and South Africa hit him for 11 per over. Six expensive wickets were not what England were hoping for. 5

Moeen Ali – A tournament too far for one of England’s most popular players. He was mainly anonymous with the bat and only took a wicket with his off-breaks in the last two games. 3

Moeen Ali struggled with the bat and ball in what proved to be a tournament too far for him

Mark Wood’s six wickets proved costly as New Zealand and South Africa crushed him

Sam Curran – Was deemed unselectable after just three matches, which earned him 35 runs and two expensive wickets: a leg-side strangle against New Zealand and a tailender from Bangladesh. His career in his 50s has declined despite selection for the Caribbean. 3

Josh Butler – Started with a run-a-ball 43 against New Zealand, then disappeared without a trace, never passing 27. Constantly made tactical and strategic errors and led one of the worst World Cup defenses in any sport. 3

Liam Livingstone – A big letdown. He passed 10 only twice in six innings, with a best of 27. Bowled well against Afghanistan, but otherwise anonymous. The suspicion is that he is better suited for T20. 2