England's One Day International (ODI) cricket team faces significant challenges as they grapple with a decline in performance since their triumphant 2019 World Cup victory. A critical area of concern has been their inability to take wickets between the 11th and 40th over, a period known as the 'middle overs'. This issue has hindered England's ability to control matches and build momentum, as evidenced by their bowlers' average of 42.4 runs per wicket in these overs since the start of 2024.
Historically, England's ODI performance was formidable. Between 2016 and 2021, they were dismissed only 20 times in 98 innings, a record surpassed only by a few. However, recent statistics paint a starkly different picture, with England being bowled out for the 21st time in just 44 ODIs since the start of 2022. This frequency rivals that of teams like West Indies, Bangladesh, and Ireland, who have struggled similarly among Full Member nations.
England’s ODI batting prowess has also waned noticeably since their peak under former captain Eoin Morgan. Since the start of 2022, England have lost an alarming 88 wickets in the first 10 overs across 44 matches. This translates to an average of losing two wickets per match in the early stages of an inning, marking the highest rate among Full Member nations during this period. Additionally, the team has seen a drop in century partnerships, achieving just 31 hundred stands since their World Cup victory in 2019.
The prolific century-scoring form that characterized England's pre-2019 era has diminished as well. Between their exit from the 2015 World Cup and their victory at Lord's four years later, England batters notched up 55 centuries in 99 ODIs. In contrast, they have managed only 23 centuries in 63 matches since the beginning of 2022. The average centuries per game have dipped from 0.56 to a mere 0.37.
Since winning the World Cup, England's record in ODIs reflects a challenging run with 30 losses and only 29 wins. This period has been marked by an inability to assert dominance or control over matches, both with the bat and ball. The pressure is now on the team to reverse this trend and regain their former glory on the international stage.
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