This three-match ODI series against a weakened West Indies team would normally feel like contextless filler in a summer that will be dominated by the Test series against India and the build-up to this winter’s Ashes in Australia.
Things were bad in 2015, when Eoin Morgan’s men were dumped out of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in the first round.
It was the first time England had scored 400 in an ODI. In the years that followed, they breached that landmark another four times, including the three highest totals in ODI history.
Gone are the days under Eoin Morgan (Photo: Getty)Yet from that high point, this current iteration of England’s one-day team is historically one of the worst.
They have also lost 13 of their last 17 ODIs.
square CRICKET Sport AnalysisFive problems Harry Brook needs to solve in England vs West Indies series
Read More
These are desperate times. So no surprise England opted for what looks like a desperate measure in naming Jamie Smith as an opener for this series.
Yet backing a player who failed miserably when promoted up the order to No 3 at the Champions Trophy is a huge leap of faith. Perhaps McCullum, who was in the New Zealand team who played at Edgbaston a decade ago, thinks gambling on Smith might be the spark this England group need to catch fire.
Caption: England’s Jamie Smith (left) has been bumped up the order (Photo: PA)
“So, we’re giving it a crack. There’s no reason why he can’t go out there and bang it as an opener.”
So shunting him up one place further now is not without risk, especially when logic suggested Buttler might have been the better pick to partner Ben Duckett at the top of the order.
Go figure.
square CRICKET England admit they have a PR problem – here’s how they can fix it
Read More
But, surprisingly, he is batting down the order at six rather than No 3, where he excelled in his debut Test series against New Zealand last winter and might still find himself batting in Test cricket against India later this summer.
Jacks, who only got back from India late on Tuesday night, takes the all-rounder role at No 7 left free by Liam Livingstone’s axing. Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid and Saqib Mahmood complete the rest of the bowling attack.
Brook, aware his eighth-ranked team need to start winning to guarantee qualification for the next 50-over World Cup in 2027, is at least saying the right things, with “aggression”, “being free” and “banging them into the stands” at the forefront of his messaging.
Backing it up with a statement win in this first ODI would be a good start to the new era.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The desperate gamble England hope will kickstart white-ball reset )
Also on site :