‘We've been crap’ - Ben Stokes dejected with England's show in ODI World Cup 2023

England’s star all-rounder Ben Stokes expressed his disappointment with the way his side has performed so far in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India. 

Stokes claimed that "nothing's worked" for the defending champions in a forgettable World Cup campaign. The Jos Buttler-led side have suffered defeats in five of their six matches and are currently languishing at the bottom of the points chart. They are now gearing up for their seventh game against five-time champions Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 4, Saturday.

"I think the problem is that we've been crap. To be honest with you, we've been crap. Everything we've tried throughout this World Cup, through trying to put pressure back onto the opposition in a way in which we know, or trying to soak up the pressure in a different way, which we know we've done before and been successful with, it's just not worked,” Stokes said as quoted by TOI.

Stokes added that England have attempted to dominate in every game they have played so far but the opponents have performed even better than them.

“Every opportunity that we've had in front of us where we feel like we can take control of the game, the opposition's managed to get it back towards them. And we've just not been able to put a full game together,” he added.

We've had a disastrous World Cup and there's no point sugarcoating that because it's the truth: Stokes

The 32-year-old went on to speak about the high-octane clash against the Pat Cummins-led side, stating it will be a ‘big occasion.’ He also stated that he cannot sugarcoat England's devastating campaign but they will make an effort to end their campaign on a positive note. After the clash against Australia, the Matthew Mott-coached side will play the Netherlands and Pakistan.

"England-Australia in any sport whenever the two nations play against each it's always a big occasion. We've had a disastrous World Cup and there's no point sugarcoating that because it's the truth. But we know these last three games, for us, we've got a lot to play for. I think the biggest thing that we've got to play for is obviously the pride of what it is to put the three lions on your chest, walking out onto the field every time is a very special occasion and something that we value very highly,” the all-rounder concluded.