Key's focus on Tests caused a world of pain

ENGLAND SUPREMO SAYS HE IS TO BLAME FOR ODI FIASCO

- Mike Walters

ROB KEY shouldered the blame for England's World Cup flop, admitting they had "massively under-performed" in India.

The team's managing director delivered a brutally honest verdict on their wretched defence of the trophy they won in 2019. He said: "It's harsh if I turn round and blame the captain and coach. I hold myself top of the list of those responsible."

 As England began the inevitable cull by naming much-changed white-ball squads for next month's One-Day and Twenty20 series in the Caribbean, the 50-over group contained only six survivors from the World Cup party.

Skipper Jos Buttler remains in charge, with Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone joining him for three one-day internationals and five T20 dates against West Indies.

Key, speaking hours after England signed off from the World Cup with a 93-run win against Pakistan in Kolkata, refused to nail Buttler and coach Matthew Mott as the sculptors of a debacle.