As England's final wicket fell against Bangladesh to see them eliminated in the group stages of the World Cup there were few that were surprised. With that in mind, here are the things Cricket365 think England should do to arrest this decline.
The news that Allan Donald stepped down from his role as South Africa's bowling coach did not really come as a shock, with the writing being pencilled on the wall for a while, and inked in after the World Cup.
World Cups are infamous for quickly separating the men from the boys, but every now and then, the little guys trump the giants, as witnessed six times during this year's tournament.
The issue is not necessarily that four day Tests are a great idea, it is that people are happy to dismiss any suggested innovation without discussion of its merits.
The influence of two new balls from both ends, revised fielding restrictions, and T20 have transformed the predominant 50-over strategy, turning the ODI revolution of the 1990s inside-out.
In our never-ending quest to expand your cricket knowledge, and increase your chances of winning your weekly pub quiz, here are some snippets of cricketing history that happened this week but in the past.
It's been something of a typical winter for England. Who should be spared the cull? Who needs to do one, sharpish? Who's out back having nets, fate dangling from a thread?
In inventing the Dilscoop, Dilshan has taken the role created by Sanath Jayasuriya in Sri Lanka's one-day game and progressed it. For all their weight of runs, Jayawardene and Sangakkara can't claim that.
More through luck than any sort of searing foresight, the most important game of the World Cup so far was the last one played in the group stage, between Ireland and Pakistan on Sunday.
To break the monotony, here are nine Unusual Suspects to keep an eye on over the next six weeks, most of whom are making their World Cup debuts. Young, talented, capable of winning a game for their nations.
Before the Proteas get to the SCG, to a venue where De Villiers made his blistering 162 not out against the West Indies, the coaches will want to take a few lessons on board after the group stage.
While all four are decent bowlers, there is no mystery and even less variety in this attack. The unorthodox is either coached out or drummed out of English cricket.
In the science fiction television series, Star Trek, set in the 24th century, baseball is an obscure sport that nobody plays or watches any more. On current trends, this will be the fate of cricket by the middle of this century.
It's a lazy stereotype and one that's been tagged on to New Zealand for years. They've punched above their weight in the past and have often been the surprise package. That changes this year. New Zealand aren't the underdogs - they're the team to beat.
The apprentice and his master didn't so much as quiver at the task. Steadily at first, the pair kept the strike ticking over, far better than Amla and Du Plessis, in fact.
The World Cup has been going since 1975, with many a memorable moment to consider, but here Nasri Alexander looks back at some of the most stand-out events of the past 40 years.
