Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid (Source: @ImTanujSingh/X.com, @paradiselostsk/X.com, @thecricart/X.com)
Led by experienced Jos Buttler, the English side will want to assert their dominance when they stride out to take the field in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Consisting of a mix of young and experienced players, the England team have top-notch talent in their ranks to boss the game on Pakistani soil.
The 2019 World Cup winners, England will aim to bag another major title after successfully winning the 2022 T20 World Cup as well under the leadership of Buttler. Considering this, they have picked a squad that includes capable all-rounders and quality hard hitters who can excel in subcontinent conditions where pitches remain slow and low. Moreover, their players are very well versed with these conditions, as they have often played here during various T20 leagues.
Despite having a great squad and all-round experience, there are three concerns that might haunt England in the Champions Trophy 2025.
1. Lack Of Spin Options To Support Adil Rashid
Going into the tournament with a pace-heavy attack, England are lacking serious spin options, with only Adil Rashid being the prime spinner. The leg spinner, who has played in 145 matches, has picked up 208 wickets at an economy of 5.63, which are some serious numbers. However, the problem arises when England looks at other options in their ranks. They only have Liam Livingstone and Joe Root as part-time spinners who can be helpful when required.
| Criterion | Adil Rashid ODI Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 145 |
| Wickets Taken | 208 |
| Economy | 5.63 |
| 4w/5w | 8/2 |
But unfortunately, in challenging conditions, when the ball is tough to grip due to dew, a genuine spinner comes into play. On slower conditions where the ball turns, Rashid would need proper support at the other end, and it would be trouble for England if both Livingstone and Root couldn't complement him any better.
Moreover, there is no backup for Rashid at the moment, which means that in the event of any unfortunate circumstances like an injury where Rashid has to sit out, England would find themselves in deep trouble.
2. Injury To Jacob Bethell
Young left-handed batter Jacob Bethell has impressed one and all in his limited outings for England so far. Playing just a handful of nine matches, he has managed to score 218 runs at a recent average of 31.14, as he has already scored two fifties to his name. Bethell, who is touted to be one of England's next big thing, is all set to miss the Champions Trophy 2025 after he sustained a hamstring injury during the first ODI against India.
| Criterion | Jacob Bethell ODI Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 9 |
| Runs Scored | 218 |
| Average | 31.14 |
| Strike Rate | 80.14 |
| 50+ Scores | 2 |
England are yet to name a replacement for Bethell, and it is believed that Tom Banton could be called in after his recent exploits in the ILT20 2025. However, they might still miss the left-handedness and middle-order versatility of Bethell, who could play the anchor when required.
3. Pacers Expensive In Death Overs
Another major concern for England could be their inconsistent bowling, especially in the final death overs of the game. The English pacers, who are generally known to be quick and pacey, have struggled to contain runs against strong batting lineups. The likes of Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Saqib Mahmood, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, and Jamie Overton will be crucial for England in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. However, they have leaked runs in the death overs.
| Pacers | Economy Rate In Last 10 Overs In ODIs |
|---|---|
| Jofra Archer | 6.37 |
| Gus Atkinson | 8.50 |
| Saqib Mahmood | 7.79 |
| Mark Wood | 6.35 |
| Brydon Carse | 7.53 |
Particularly, Atkinson, Mahmood, and Carse have been expensive, with economy rates of 8.50, 7.79, and 7.53, respectively. A great example of this is that England failed to defend their totals against India in both ODIs they have played so far, as pacers have gone for runs in the death.
They have struggled to be consistent with their lines and lengths, allowing the batsman to free their arms in the power play. Therefore, considering all this, England will have to rethink their strategy going into the Champions Trophy 2025, as this could be a significant cause of concern for them.
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.jpg?type=mq?im=Resize=(250, 250) "Arnav Chopra")
