Cricket World Cup: Morgan not contemplating early World Cup exit

Disappointed English team players, from left, Chris Woakes, Jos Butler, Ian Bell and Moeen Ali leaving the pitch after losing to Sri Lanka. Photo / Mark Mitchell

English cricket captain Eoin Morgan has not given a thought to an early departure from the World Cup.

After being hammered by nine wickets by Sri Lanka in Wellington yesterday, the English have been backed in to a dark corner in Pool A.

They've got two group games left - against Bangladesh and Afghanistan - and they ideally need to win both if they want to advance to the knockout stages.

England have been torched by Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka at this World Cup. Granted, all those sides are ranked above them but the games haven't been close.

A loss to Bangladesh in Adelaide next Monday could spell the end of England's World Cup. They will play Afghanistan in Sydney on March 13.

"It's not even a thought at the moment," Morgan said of an early exit. "[There's] two games to win to get us in to the quarter-final."

On paper, England should have too much for Bangladesh at the Adelaide Oval but the English must have had their confidence knocked by the manner in which they have been beaten at this tournament. Their sole win came against Scotland last week.

A handful of English players - namely Gary Ballance and Steve Finn - are under pressure to retain their places as they approach a pair of must-win games but Morgan wouldn't be drawn on any potential changes.

"At the moment I haven't really thought about it," Morgan said. "We'll have a couple of days in Adelaide where we'll do nothing and then wait until the dust settles a bit; review the game with the backroom staff and see how we go forward from here."

After batting first and making 309-6 yesterday, England put themselves in pole position courtesy of a fine 121 from Joe Root but their bowling and fielding didn't meet the mark.

"We created a couple of chances, which went down, which is always disappointing because it hasn't been happening at training," Morgan said.

If England's bowling and fielding was lacklustre then the Sri Lankan run chase was at the other end of the spectrum.

Opener Lahiru Thirimanne dropped the anchor and made an unbeaten 139, while the ageless Kumar Sangakkara, in his 401st one-day international, blasted a thrilling 117 not out.

The 25-year-old Thirimanne rode his luck early and was also dropped on 98 but Sangakkara was nearly flawless as he upped the tempo at the right time as Sri Lanka knocked off the runs in the 48th over.

Sri Lanka have a batting line-up to match any side in the World Cup but their bowling attack lacks a cutting edge with seamer Lasith Malinga still a yard away from top gear.