Cricket World Cup 2023 England defeat by South Africa shows signs of golden era ending. There is rarely anything pretty about the end of an era.

Even though this isn’t the day when all hope was lost, it feels like the day when the walls came crumbling down.

The desire to banish the horrors of their early World Cup exit in 2015 drove England’s rebirth in one-day cricket.

As the golden period that followed took in the heights of world titles at Lord’s and Melbourne, it now faces a similar end.

The 229-run defeat by South Africa on Saturday, England’s heaviest one-day defeat, evoked memories of that night in Adelaide eight years ago.

Interestingly, it reminded me of the darkest days of past Ashes tours.

Joe Root had to get out of his hospital bed to defend the team against the Australians in the 2017-18 season.

In Mumbai, the medical centers watched with interest as England was suckered in at the toss – another one for your Ashes bingo card.

Watching their World Cup dreams fade away, England submitted themselves to the sweatbox of the subcontinent.

The game began with Adil Rashid off the field with an upset stomach, and Reece Topley made an appearance in the seventh over with a suspected broken finger.

In his spell, Rashid bent double on numerous occasions, but when David Willey writhed with cramp as Heinrich Klaasen brutally pounded a 61-ball century, England looked defeated.

Former England bowler Steven Finn may have been summoned to the commentary box for a comeback six-and-a-half years after his last cap, regardless of his dodgy knees.