'England is overrated in both cricket and football'

Hamilton, Mar 9: Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar today slammed the England team for its embarrassingly early exit from the World Cup, calling it an overrated side in not just cricket but football also.

; Report; World Cup Special

Bangladesh today knocked out England from the mega event with a 15-run win to set up a likely clash with defending champions India in the quarter finals.

Gavaskar was far from being impressed after England folded for 260 runs in 48.3 overs.

"I think it would have been easier playing England in the quarters. Look at their form. England have won only one game, they are a nothing side. Every time there is a World Cup football, everyone speaks how they will do this and that but at the end of the day, they are just an overrated team both in cricket and football," Gavaskar told NDTV.

Put into bat, Bangladesh rode on Mahmudullah's resilient century to post 275 for seven and then put up a spirited bowling show to pack England for 260 runs in 48.3 overs in a thrilling group-A contest.

'In tri-nation series, India were experimenting'

India had lost to England twice during the tri-series ahead of the World Cup. Gavaskar said: "In tri-nation series, India were experimenting. They were focused on World Cup. They were experimenting with combinations.

So Ambati Rayudu got a bit of batting, Stuart Binny got to bowl. Guys who are not there, so I would not read too much in the tri-series defeats. This is where it counts. This is where men are separated from boys and England clearly are boys."

PTI