You don't need a maths degree to know the National is going back to Ireland

When the numbers are overwhelming, you cannot ignore their message, no matter how unwelcome it is to hear.

Defeat in Grenada means Joe Root's cricketers have failed to win any of their last five Test series, their worst run in multi-match rubbers since the international game was founded in 1877. Cite all the excuses you like about bad luck with injuries, tough opponents and squad rotation but the fact must be faced that England are not a team you'd fancy to win a Test match at the moment.

In contrast, Gareth Southgate's boys' recent 3-0 defeat of Ivory Coast took their unbeaten run to 22 games, their best run since the international game was founded in 1872. Cite all the excuses you like about good luck with injuries, modest opponents and a squad deep enough to rotate but the fact must be faced that – in, gulp, a World Cup year – England are a team you'd fancy to win a football match at the moment.