England's white-ball cricket teams are undergoing a transformation under the leadership of new coach Brendon McCullum. The teams are currently on tour in India, using the opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai. This tournament presents an important chance for England to reclaim a global title after relinquishing both the 50-over World Cup in 2023 and the T20 world title last year.
McCullum, who successfully rejuvenated England's Test side when he assumed control in 2022, now leads all England teams. When McCullum took over the Test team, they had won only one of their previous 17 matches. Since then, the Test team has seen significant improvements, setting high expectations for similar success with the white-ball teams. However, the transition has not been seamless; England has lost six of their seven games in India on McCullum's first tour in charge.
Fast bowler Mark Wood emphasized the need for patience and time for the white-ball teams to improve.
"It has obviously been challenging but there's been loads to learn and I feel like this experience will be good in the long term going into the Champions Trophy." – Mark Wood
The upcoming match in Ahmedabad is crucial for England to avoid a 3-0 clean sweep in the one-day internationals against India. Despite the current setbacks, opener Ben Duckett remains optimistic, stating that he doesn't mind if England loses the series in India as long as they can secure victory in the Champions Trophy.
Mark Wood, one of only five players remaining from the team that won the 2019 50-over World Cup, acknowledged the difficulties of playing in India.
"It's very easy to look at this and say we're not performing well because we're losing games but the 2019 World Cup-winning team, we didn't win very much here. This is as tough as it comes to win away." – Mark Wood
Batter Tom Banton is set to make his first England appearance since 2022, replacing the injured Jacob Bethell for the India tour. Banton will remain with the squad for the Champions Trophy, bringing fresh energy and potential to the lineup.
Wood also highlighted the importance of adapting to tournament conditions, a mindset crucial for future success.
"We've got to get used to tournament cricket, it's a totally different feeling, don't carry any baggage from here." – Mark Wood
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