It solely feels proper to query England’s bowling after the batters have been bundled out for 131 on pitch following a startling collapse of 8-49…
That dismal show with the blade within the first ODI in opposition to South Africa left their bowlers on a hiding to nothing and younger paceman Sonny Baker took fairly the hiding – his figures of 0-76 from seven overs the costliest for an England participant on debut.
The larger challenge across the bowling, although, is maybe the make-up of the assault, with Baker one in every of simply three seamers within the XI at Headingley, alongside Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse.
The opposite choices have been spin: frontliner Adil Rashid supported by Will Jacks, Joe Root and Jacob Bethell. With South Africa chasing such a low goal, we did not see the ultimate three bowl a ball in Leeds.
This three-seamer, many-spinner combo was additionally used within the Champions Trophy earlier within the 12 months – and that event turned out dismally for England, when you recall – in addition to for the 3-0 victory over West Indies in June, Harry Brook’s first collection in cost.
However 2019 World Cup-winning England captain Eoin Morgan, talking on Sky Sports activities on Tuesday, feels a seam-bowling all-rounder may slot in someplace, namechecking Jamie Overton, who’s presently a part of the broader squad, and Sam Curran, who will not be.
Sam Curran has impressed for Oval Invincibles in The Hundred so ought to he be recalled to England’s ODI crew?
Morgan stated: “The stability of this facet is equally aligned to the 2015 facet I began with however as I advanced as a captain, and with the calls for of worldwide cricket, that seam-bowling all-rounder and a fourth pace-bowling choice was essential to have.
“I understand you want to give someone like Bethell exposure and games under his belt but for me, there are too many [spin options].
“You may be trying in the direction of Overton as a longer-term answer, whereas I might completely have Curran concerned in a squad.”
‘Curran continues to get higher and higher’
Curran, participant of the event when England gained the T20 World Cup in 2022, has not featured for his nation in any format because the tour of West Indies late final 12 months.
However he has simply performed an enormous half in Oval Invincibles finishing The Hundred’s first threepeat, taking 12 wickets and scoring 238 runs throughout their 2025 success.
Not solely would the left-armer give England a fourth seam-bowling choice if he got here into the facet for, say, Bethell or Jacks but additionally selection, with the pacers chosen within the squad to face South Africa all right-armers – Baker, Archer, Carse, Overton and Saqib Mahmood.
Lancashire southpaw Luke Wooden is a part of the T20 worldwide group however not the 50-over occasion.
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Curran took wickets in The Hundred with deliveries bowled at underneath 50mph
Curran, whose variations lengthen to bamboozling ‘moon balls’ clocked at underneath 50mph, has performed 93 white-ball video games for England in complete (58 T20Is, 35 ODIs), scoring 953 runs and bagging 87 wickets.
Morgan added: “He is only 27 years old and continues to get better and better as he goes on. Whether you have him in the team or not is up for debate but the quality is certainly there.
“I do not suppose he has been pushed to at least one facet. I simply suppose England are exploring different choices. That can have been the messaging from [head coach] Brendon McCullum and Brook.”
Time to stay Tongue out in white-ball cricket?
If England decide in opposition to recalling Curran, Morgan thinks they might slot in out-and-out seamer Josh Tongue as a substitute, after a tournament-leading 14-wicket Hundred for Manchester Originals.
Tongue – who has performed six Exams however no white-ball internationals but – bagged three three-fors for Originals, together with his scalps together with David Warner, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Zak Crawley.
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Josh Tongue dismissed Steve Smith in The Hundred, with the Australian one of many seamer’s 14 wickets within the event
England have been aching for a alternative for middle-overs specialist Liam Plunkett since he was moved on after the World Cup win in 2019.
Morgan added: “I liked the look of Tongue in The Hundred. The way he bowled and the wickets he took. It reminded me of a role Plunkett fulfilled while I was captain.
“England bat deep so Carse and Rashid may simply bat up one place to accommodate one other seam-bowling choice.”
The second ODI at Lord’s on Thursday offers England’s current bowling line-up a chance to rebound. They will just hope to be given a helping hand by the batters this time.
Watch England vs South Africa live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 12.30pm on Thursday (1pm first ball) or stream contract-free with NOW.
