England’s largest ODI defeats by runs
After a historic T20 World Cup 2022 triumph, Jos Buttler and his England side succumbed to a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series against Australia down under. Having already lost the series, England registered their biggest-ever defeat in the third and final ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue of their T20 WC silverware. England made their debut in the format way back in the year 1971 and since then they have suffered some embarrassing losses which feature in this article.
Let’s take a look at England’s largest ODI defeats by runs: (Top 3)
3) vs West Indies (165)
England visited the Caribbean for a five-match Test and ODI series each in 1993/94. With the one-day series leveled at 1-1, both sides entered the third game to snatch a lead in the series. The hosts West Indies batted first at Kingstown and posted a massive total of 313/6 on the board. Desmond Haynes, Phil Simmons, Brian Lara, and skipper Richie Richardson all smashed the fifties. In reply, the visitors managed to score only 148/9 in 50 overs as they lost the encounter by 165 runs, their third-biggest loss in the history of ODIs. Graeme Hick top-scored with 32 while Anderson Cummins, Roger Harper, and Lara snared two scalps each.
2) vs Sri Lanka (219)
England toured Sri Lanka for three Tests, five ODIs, and a T20I in 2018. With the first ODI ending in no result, the English side registered three wins on the trot to seal the series with one game to go. In the dead rubber in Colombo (RPS), hosts Sri Lanka batted first and posted a mammoth total of 366/6 in their allotted 50 overs. Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, skipper Dinesh Chandimal, and Kusal Mendis all slammed the fifties each. In reply to a revised target of 352, England managed only 132/9 in 26.1 overs to lose the final match by 219 runs (DL method). Ben Stokes smashed 67 while Dushmantha Chameera and Akila Dananjaya picked up three and four wickets respectively.
1) vs Australia (221)
Days after lifting their second T20 World Cup trophy at the MCG, England suffered a huge loss at the hands of Australia in the final ODI of the series at the same venue. The Kangaroos, having already sealed the series, batted first in the dead rubber. Openers David Warner and Travis Head shared a massive 269-run partnership for the opening wicket as both struck their respective centuries. The Aussies ended up with 355/5, their highest total against England in the format. In a revised target of 364, the tourists got bundled out for just 142 in 31.4 overs as spinner Azam Zampa took 4/31 in just 5.4 overs. With this, England faced their largest defeat by 221 runs in the history of ODI cricket.
