Why does England collapse in crucial matches?

England cricket team could not defend a score of 429-4 against Sri Lanka on Thursday. On Sunday, Pakistan reached a target of 242 after being reduced to 154-9, and won the match. Losing from a dominant position twice in four days leaves an impression of carelessness rather than simple bad luck.

Still, it would be unfair to belittle the opponents' achievements. Sri Lanka chased a large target of 430, and Pakistan came back from a very difficult situation to win. These performances deserve credit. However, some weaknesses that were not visible in England's home one-day series were exposed in these two matches.

The absence of important players also stands out. Jos Buttler is injured, Jacob Bethell is returning from injury, and Jofra Archer is being rested. Adil Rashid has been left out of the squad for the last two matches, while Josh Tongue missed Sunday's match. Why Rashid was not selected is a matter of debate.

These absences were felt especially in bowling and in on-field leadership. Bethell and Buttler's contribution with the bat also left a serious gap in their absence. The pitch in Lahore was different from the one in Rawalpindi, where a total of 859 runs were scored, but it was not a trap either.

There are points England need to correct. Some are easy, others more difficult. Management's selection decisions and the ability to recover the game under pressure will be decisive in the upcoming matches.