In recent weeks, England’s cricket team has been in turmoil over losing streaks in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Indeed, they lost all 10 wickets in each and every game of their recent home series against New Zealand. This is an alarming statistic. Since that quarterfinal in Delhi, England has lost 18 times in only 34 ODIs. Even in the face of these disappointments, supporters and critics continue to cling to a well-deserved or at least long-overdue optimism. Their attention now turns to the forthcoming Ashes series.
The recently completed T20I series against New Zealand exposed some pretty serious cracks in England’s batting order. Captain Harry Brook’s team lost all three tosses under pressure, adding to their on-field failings in the face of adversity. On the field, England’s ODI record has been abysmal. They have now lost six of their last seven bilateral series and have lost 36 wickets in only 17 innings. This poor performance has raised concerns about the impact on the Test side, as Brendon McCullum, the head coach, expressed worries about “white-ball pain bleeding into the Test side.”
Jamie Smith was under siege throughout the series. He hadn’t batted in England’s top three until February of this year! In the recent ODI series against New Zealand, Smith managed only 18 runs from 24 balls, showcasing his uncertainty under pressure. Where McCullum is optimistic is that Smith and fellow teammates Joe Root and Ben Duckett are better for having gone through the challenge in the first place.
“Jamie Smith, Joe Root and Ben Duckett, they’ll be better for the run, too,” – Brendon McCullum
Ahead of the Ashes, McCullum highlighted an area in which strengthening their Test middle order would be beneficial. If all goes according to plan, this should help get Smith and other ice-cold batters going again. The first five batters in Tests have a long history of success. Sadly, they were unable to translate that performance into the ODI series.
Joe Root and Ben Duckett struggled on their respective excursions to New Zealand. Duckett has flashed potential, though. He’s failed to make 50 on his last 19 attempts, going beyond the mark just twice in 21 innings since his outstanding 149 in the first Test against India. This poor run of form makes for worrying reading when considering his prospect of making an impact in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Despite the disappointments of New Zealand, McCullum is still looking forward to what his team can achieve. He added that the belief in the team and vibes around Test cricket have been at a high of late.
“In Test cricket, in the last little while, the confidence levels of that unit are very high and [we have] the ability to execute the game plan and the style of cricket we want to,” – Brendon McCullum
Ben Stokes had a separate training session away from the rest of the 50-over contingent. This is yet another layer of complication to England’s squad as they continue their journey from ODIs to Tests. The Ashes is a different kettle of fish altogether, and McCullum admitted that players must change their approach to meet this challenge.
“It’s a different form of the game and it’s a completely different kind of challenge that we’re going to be confronted with as well,” – Brendon McCullum
England’s attention turns to the Ashes. There’s a huge expectation that these experiences they gained through the ODI series will flow into the Test matches and bring them more success. The return of experienced heads and familiarity with the game plan might improve their chances of an upset against Australia.
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