Moeen Ali admits 'everything is a must-win' for England at World Cup

Defending champions have already lost three matches and can't afford any slip-ups against Sri Lanka

England's Adil Rashid, left, Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali, right, during training in Bengaluru. Getty

Defending champions England are staring down the barrel in the 2023 World Cup with their title defence threatening to end this week.

Jos Buttler's team have slumped to three defeats in four games, despite being one of the favourites to make it to the semi-finals. Their batting has been below par and a weak bowling attack has been exposed further on flat Indian wickets.

England face Sri Lanka in Bengaluru on Thursday knowing that a fourth defeat in five games will end any realistic hopes of sneaking into the last four.

All-rounder Moeen Ali on Wednesday admitted that his team are in a situation where "everything is a must-win" now.

"We know we've been in this position before although probably not to this degree, but we know everything is a must-win," said Moeen.

"We have to get our confidence and perform well and bat and bowl and field better than we have done so far in this tournament."

England lost heavily to New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament, suffered a shock defeat to Afghanistan in Delhi and then slumped to a 229-run thrashing at the hands of South Africa, conceding their highest total in a one-day international of 399.

Their lone win has come against equally hapless Bangladesh.

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  South Africa team members celebrate their win over England during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. Getty

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  Matthew Mott, England coach, and captain Jos Buttler look stoney-faced after losing to South Africa at Wankhede Stadium. Getty

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  Gus Atkinson of England is bowled for 35 by Keshav Maharaj of South Africa. Getty

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  England's Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid look dejected after the match. Reuters

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  South Africa's Marco jumps to unsuccessfully take a catch at the boundary line off a shot from England's Gus Atkinson. AP

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  South Africa's Lungi Ngidi celebrates the dismissal of England's David Willey. AP

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  South Africa's Gerald Coetzee celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Harry Brook. AFP

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  South Africa's Kagiso Rabada celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Ben Stokes. AFP

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  Heinrich Klaasen of South Africa is bowled by Gus Atkinson. Getty

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  South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen, left, celebrates after scoring a century next to Marco Jansen. AFP

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  South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen plays a shot. AFP

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  South Africa's Marco Jansen, left, plays a shot during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match between England and South Africa. AP

Moeen admitted his team have not played as aggressively as they normally do, and added players need to take responsibility for their roles.

"We've been playing aggressive cricket throughout since 2015 and done it quite well. Probably the lack of that way of cricket has cost us a little bit in this tournament.

"We haven't been playing that way in my opinion and we need to play that way without slogging the ball. Just be that really aggressive side we know we can be.

"We're obviously disappointed from the result and not just the result, but the way we played. But in the competition you've got to move on as quick as you can and regroup."

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have received an unexpected boost. Veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews was approved as a replacement for fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana in their World Cup squad.

Pathirana failed to recover from a shoulder injury sustained during the match against Pakistan and was ruled out of the tournament.

Former captain Mathews has played 221 ODIs, most recently against Afghanistan in June.

He offers invaluable experience of sub-continent conditions with the bat and can bowl a few seam-up overs in the middle of the innings. Also, his vast experience at the international arena should help the relatively inexperienced Sri Lankan team to navigate difficult situations.

After the match against Sri Lanka, England face hosts India in Lucknow on Sunday.