England cricket is facing a lean patch in white-ball cricket. Their title defense in the 2023 World Cup was disastrous, and their recent ODI record has been poor. The fact that they will be playing their first ODI in Pakistan since 2005 just adds pressure.
However, when it comes to ICC tournaments and must-win situations, it’s hard to predict what a team coached by the aggressive Brendon McCullum can achieve.
Current form
Since the 2023 World Cup, England has lost 10 ODIs. They have played 14 matches, winning only four. They also lost series against Australia, the West Indies, and India.
As for the Champions Trophy, England has never won a single edition of the tournament. They came close in 2004 and 2013 but lost both finals.
In the last edition of this prestigious tournament, The Three Lions suffered a semifinal defeat against the eventual champions, Pakistan.
Squad
Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood
Probable Playing XI
Phil Salt (wk)
Ben Duckett
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Jos Buttler (c)
Liam Livingstone
Jamie Smith/Jamie Overton
Brydon Carse
Jofra Archer
Adil Rashid
Mark Wood
Key players
Ben Duckett
Since the start of 2024, Duckett has been England’s leading run-scorer, amassing 436 runs at an average of 54.
Although he hasn’t played an ODI in Pakistan, his Test and T20I records there have been exceptional. He has scored 619 runs at an average of 91.3 in red-ball cricket and piled up 233 runs at a strike rate of 159.6 in T20Is.
Duckett will need to deliver if England wants to advance to the next round.
Jos Buttler
After battling a long injury, Jos Buttler made his comeback against India and performed well. He was one of the few English batters who stood up in the series, scoring a half-century and averaging 30.
His return is a major boost for the English team, and as captain, he will be determined to lead from the front in the upcoming tournament.
Adil Rashid
Adil Rashid continues to prove that age is just a number. At 37, he remains one of England’s key players.
Since the 2023 World Cup, Rashid has taken 13 wickets at an economy rate of 5.69. His ability to contain runs and take wickets will be crucial on the pitches of Lahore and Karachi. Recently, he claimed seven wickets against India and will be bowling in similar conditions in Pakistan.
Jofra Archer
After a long battle with injuries, Jofra Archer has finally returned to competitive cricket. He will be both a key player and one to watch for England.
He took two wickets against India in the ODIs and has taken four more since the 2023 World Cup.
Although he hasn’t played much cricket recently, England’s chances of success will heavily depend on Archer being at his best.
Players to watch out for
Harry Brook
Although Brook didn’t perform well against India, he has been a player to watch in every tournament since making his England debut.
Since the 2023 World Cup, Brook has scored 477 runs at an impressive average of 53, making him a crucial part of the squad.
Gus Atkinson
Atkinson has impressed everyone with his sheer pace and wicket-taking ability. Since the 2023 World Cup, he has taken eight wickets at an economy rate of 5.79.
Strengths
- England’s middle-over batting is among the best in the tournament, with the second-best average (39) and run rate (5.51) among participating teams.
- Their middle-order (batters 4-7) has scored 1,679 runs—the most by any team in the Champions Trophy.
Weaknesses
- Their death bowling has been a major concern, with an economy rate of 9.42—the worst among all participating teams.
- Their powerplay bowling has also struggled, with the worst economy rate (6.14) in the tournament.
- Joe Root has played only three ODIs in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy.
Fixtures
Feb 22 – England vs Australia, Lahore
Feb 26 – England vs Afghanistan, Lahore
Mar 1 – England vs South Africa, Karachi
In conclusion, England has not been at its best and has been in a rebuilding phase since their disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign. Their over-aggressive approach cost them matches against India despite good starts.
One cannot rule them out completely, but their chances of progressing to the next round appear slim.
