Red faced Poms: Englands most embarrassing cricket loses

16:9. Mike Atherton

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Okay, Pommies. You can stop your laughing.

Does Holland in 1989 ring a bell? Anyone?

Peter Roebuck took an England XI team over to the land of tulips and copped a size 10 clog up the backside, beaten by three runs despite boasting a line-up that included future England captains Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain.

The loss spelled the end of Roebuck's leadership aspirations.

Fortunately for England, that defeat is not recorded under official one-day international losses.


Nasser Hussain also played in an Englan XI loss to the Netherlands in '93, he scored 4 before being trapped lbw. Photo by Adrian Murrell/Allsport UK

But no such luck in 1997 when Zimbabwe brought England undone 3-0 in a one-day series.

All of a sudden Australia's one-off defeat doesn't look so bad. 


Zimbabwe celebrate the 3-0 series victory. Photo by Clive Mason/Allsport

Certainly not as bad as losing to Ireland, as England did at the 2011World Cup.

Yes, you read right. Ireland, that cricketing powerhouse.


Andrew Strauss gets clean bowled byIreland's George Dockrell in the 2011 World Cup in Bagalore. Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh also lowered England's colours that year, although memories are short when it comes to such defeats.


Shafiul Islam and Mahmudullah of Bangladesh celebrate scoring the winning runs as Andrew Strauss of England holds his head in his hands. Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images

So laugh all you like, Pommies, and enjoy rubbing our faces in it after the humiliating loss to Zimbabwe  

But beware. Because on March 13 next year, you're down to play Afghanistan at the World Cup.

And I think we all know how that one's going to end.


The Zimbabwe cricket team celebrate after beating England at the '92 World Cup, England would go on to lose the final to Pakistan. Photo by Adrian Murrell

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