Brendon McCullum “has received his fingers full” with England following his crew’s disappointing Champions Trophy exit towards Afghanistan, believes Michael Atherton.
England suffered an eight-run defeat to Afghanistan on Wednesday as they fell in need of a goal of 326 to win, regardless of Joe Root’s trendy 120 from 11 deliveries in Lahore.
Opener Ibrahim Zadran starred with 177 from 146 balls for the victors, whereas quick bowler Azmatullah Omarzai took 5 wickets for 58 runs.
It isn’t lengthy since England had been double world champions in white-ball cricket, however issues have fallen away badly with a string of match failures.
Their efforts on the 50-over World Cup in 2023 amounted to little greater than a joyless trudge round India they usually had been solely marginally higher in final yr’s T20 match earlier than being thrashed within the semi-finals.
They wanted to fireside right here to point out they may convey the nice occasions again, however back-to-back defeats and a swift flight dwelling merely confirms their limited-overs sport is in a nosedive.
Atherton: England have regressed
“England have regressed,” Atherton advised Sky Sports activities. “It is a lesson in sport, whenever you take your eye off the ball, it is tough to tug it again and there is all types of causes for that.
“It hasn’t regarded a crew that’s in full working order. We have regarded one-dimensional. There’s lots of batters not fairly clicking and that is hurting England.
“Not sufficient batters are in prime contact, we noticed sensible innings from Root and [Ben] Duckett however there are some the place it is not fairly clicking – [Phil] Salt, [Harry] Brook extra lately – and that is hurting England.
“I believe McCullum has received his fingers full. I am not solely positive I’d have united the roles, there’ll all the time be one format the place you will not be doing effectively.
“If issues go badly right here, he’ll lose a few of that magic mud. He is received an actual problem on his fingers.”
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England’s Adil Rashid regarded to go large on the second to final ball of the sport however was caught by Ibrahim Zadran as Afghanistan secured a dramatic eight-run victory
‘England proficient, Afghanistan good’
Nasser Hussain has hailed the progress of Afghanistan compared to rival nations as they piled extra strain on to England skipper Jos Buttler.
“This England generally do not do the best factor on the proper time,” stated Hussain.
“With Joe Root on the different finish, stick with him and take the sport deep, England very hardly ever take the sport deep. They’re proficient however not good. Afghanistan had been good, they misplaced early wickets however placed on a par rating.
“Pakistan and Bangladesh ought to be taking a look at Afghanistan and ask why they’ve stagnated. Bangladesh are enjoying the identical cricket they had been 15 years in the past. This Afghanistan aspect have gone from division 5 to enjoying a number of the greatest cricket.”
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Buttler displays on England’s loss to Afghanistan and their elimination from the Champions Trophy
‘One-dimensional’ England can don’t have any complaints
Talking after the sport, Hussain targeted on England’s more and more one-dimensional bowling assault.
With left-arm choices comparable to Sam Curran and Reece Topley missed in favour of a plethora of right-arm seamers, England’s lack of variation left spinner Adil Rashid as soon as once more shouldering the duty of bowling the opposition out.
It contributed to the general decline of McCullum’s aspect, who Hussain argued have been off the tempo for a big time period, with their marketing campaign set to return to an in depth once they tackle South Africa in Karachi on Saturday.
“It is one other ICC occasion that they have been poor in, and their win proportion for the reason that final World Cup going into this was 29 per cent – so it has clearly dropped farther from there,” stated Hussain.
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Buttler was quizzed on his future as skipper and revealed he’s contemplating all potentialities
“England can don’t have any complaints, they have not performed notably good white-ball cricket for a really very long time.
“They discovered a pitch that you simply’d suppose was completely good to play Afghanistan on – it did not assist their spinners in any respect – however Afghanistan had extra selection to their assault, they’d wrist spinners, a left-arm wrist spinner, a left-arm fast.
“England had been one-dimensional; Adil Rashid has carried the assault for a lot too lengthy. That they had batters getting in, getting out, apart from Root, who’s world-class in each format.
“Simply not adequate from England, not adequate. Means off, and never simply means off right here – means off for a very long time.”
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 – outcomes and fixtures 🏏
Group A
Group B
Semi-finals
- March 4: Semi-final – A1 v B2 (Dubai)
- March 5: Semi-final 2 – A2 v B1 (Lahore)
Remaining
- March 9: Remaining (Lahore or Dubai)
Watch each match from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, as much as and together with the ultimate on March 9, dwell on Sky Sports activities, or stream with NOW.
