But still England are clinging to the hope that something will eventually click, that something will simply fall into place and provide them with their first complete performance of the competition.
It may come – possibly, should they beat Italy, on a flight back to the comfort of Sri Lanka where they won 3-0 before this trip – but right now England do not seem entirely clear where to look.
“I don’t know,” said Brook, asked why his side have not found their groove. “Things haven’t seemed to have clicked so far yet.”
He said what we can all see.
Brook was part of England’s squads at the 2022 and 2024 World Cups, which both began badly before turning in differing directions.
In 2022, England lost to Ireland but responded by comprehensively beating a New Zealand side that just thrashed hosts Australia by 89 runs.
England need a similar performance soon to reboot their tournament because right now it feels more akin to their efforts in 2024, when their only wins came against Oman, Namibia, the United States and West Indies.
England reached the semi-finals on that trip around the Caribbean but were beaten each time they faced the real contenders – Australia, South Africa and India.
In truth, the spark from England’s white-ball sides has been absent going back much further, ever since that night in Melbourne in November 2022.
It was absent at the 2023 World Cup, in the Caribbean in 2024 and at the Champions Trophy in Pakistan last year when the hiring of Brendon McCullum as white-ball coach failed to raise them from their slump and they left without winning a match.
Brook says it is the “belief” in the squad that makes him confident this tournament would be more like 2022 than 2024.
“We’ve been in this situation before where we have lost a game early and World Cups aren’t always smooth sailing,” he said.
Outside of the dressing room, that belief is waning.
If Brook cannot find it then coach McCullum must because an underwhelming run to the semi-finals did not save former coach Matthew Mott his job in 2024.
Salt thinks England can beat anyone on their day and it is time for them to pinpoint a date in the calendar.
Most of sport’s successful teams have had an arrogant streak. Crucially, though, it needs to be earned.
The Scotland win ensured they remain alive but England have no chance of winning this World Cup if they do not improve.
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