The England Cricket Team will begin their ICC Champions Trophy by locking horns with eternal rivals Australia. But the Three Lions squad is not at their very best. While the batting unit of the side is not-notch, questions will definitely be raised about the inconsistent nature of the side. Keeping everything aside, Jos Buttler and Co will be desperate to better their opponent despite missing out on Jacob Bethell.
All-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the tournament after picking up a hamstring injury in the series against India. While the team has the players who have the X-factor to turn the tide, the side’s inconsistent nature is one of their biggest flaws. Will England regain glory with their aggressive Bazball strategy?
Strengths: Top-Notch batting order for Three Lions
The Three Lions boast of having a very strong squad for the ICC Champions Trophy. What is even more impressive is their incredible batting lineup. Be it the top order, the middle, or the lower order, the lineup is explosive. All that remains to be seen is that explosive order can click against Australia and in the rest of the games.
Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, and Tom Banton comprise the top order of the lineup. They have an equally better middle order which consists of Joe Root, and Harry Brook. Finally down the order, comes the ever-aggressive Liam Livingstone and the skipper himself Jos Buttler.
Also Read:
- RCB Qualification Scenarios: Rajat Patidar & Co inch closer to IPL 2025 Playoffs after beating RR
- IPL 2025 Playoff Scenarios updated: RR hanging by a thread, GT-DC with one foot in
- WATCH: Jitesh Sharma shoots RR in the foot as review turns victory into defeat for RR
Weakness: Inconsistent performance by entire squad
The main troubling factor for the Three Lions is their inconsistent nature. They perform in patches and when tragedy befalls, the entire squad surrenders by waiving the white flag. The most recent example of the same, came in the IND vs ENG T20I series. Despite going down 2-0 they fought back to make it 2-1.
But then they lost the entire plot, lost the series 4-1 and the ODI series 3-0. Coming to the bowling department, the side has great firing power. But then the problem arises when the firepower is damped by water. Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, and Saqib Mahmood provide enough options. But the injury-prone nature and inconsistent nature make the England squad hotchpotch.
England Squad for Champions Trophy
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
