‘Motty is not the one walking out on the field’ - Dawid Malan comes to head coach's defence following England's horrid run

The ODI World Cup 2023 has been quite surprising for Jos Buttler-led England. Having played six games in the tournament so far, the defending champions have only managed to register a win in just one game. Their form has found them in 10th place in the standings with just two points in six matches.

However, many have come forward to point out many flaws in the side, with some of the blame landing on England's head coach, Matthew Mott. The England coach’s position has been under threat after the side’s performances in the World Cup.

With Mott under scrutiny, star English opener Dawid Malan came forward to the head coach’s defense and opined that it is the players who should be held responsible for the side’s showing in the tournament.

"Motty is not the one walking out on the field. We are being given everything we need to perform. The facilities and work, everything is being done as it always has been; we just haven't been able to find a way to get wins on the board. It has been frustrating from a players' point of view because we know we're better than that,” Dawid Malan told BBC Sport.

"I'm not involved in the selection or any of those things, so I don't know how that works or who is in charge of all that, but as players, we need to take responsibility when we cross that rope,” he added.

There is always going to be questions asked: Malan

Furthermore, Malan came forward to state that when a side does not perform, the heat always falls on everyone involved. However, he stated that despite the horrid performances, the mood in the English camp is still quite positive, and the defending champions will look to improve in the upcoming games of the World Cup 2023.

"When you don't perform well enough as a team, there will be questions asked of certain people, whether that is the players, captain, selectors, coach, whoever it is, there is always going to be questions asked, that just comes with it. The only way to change that narrative is to put runs on the board. But the mood is still extremely good in the camp. It still feels like all the boys are together,” Malan said.