Brendon McCullum “has got his hands full” with England following his group’s disappointing Champions Trophy exit in opposition to Afghanistan, believes Michael Atherton.
England suffered an eight-run defeat to Afghanistan on Wednesday as they fell wanting 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’s not lengthy since England have 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 have been solely marginally higher in final yr’s T20 match earlier than being thrashed within the semi-finals.
They wanted to fireplace right here to indicate they may convey the great instances again, however back-to-back defeats and a swift flight house merely confirms their limited-overs recreation is in a nosedive.
Atherton: England have regressed
“England have regressed,” Atherton instructed Sky Sports activities. “It is a lesson in sport, while 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 looked a team that is in full working order. We’ve looked one-dimensional. There’s a lot of batters not quite clicking and that’s hurting England.
“Not sufficient batters are in prime contact, we noticed good innings from Root and [Ben] Duckett however there are some the place it is not fairly clicking – [Phil] Salt, [Harry] Brook extra not too long ago – and that is hurting England.
“I think McCullum has got his hands full. I’m not entirely sure I would have united the roles, there will always be one format where you won’t be doing well.
“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 huge on the second to final ball of the sport however was caught by Ibrahim Zadran as Afghanistan secured a dramatic eight-run victory
‘England gifted, Afghanistan good’
Nasser Hussain has hailed the progress of Afghanistan compared to rival nations as they piled extra stress on to England skipper Jos Buttler.
“This England sometimes don’t do the right thing at the right time,” mentioned Hussain.
“With Joe Root at the other end, stay with him and take the game deep, England very rarely take the game deep. They’re talented but not smart. Afghanistan were smart, they lost early wickets but put on a par score.
“Pakistan and Bangladesh must be Afghanistan and ask why they’ve stagnated. Bangladesh are enjoying the identical cricket they have been 15 years in the past. This Afghanistan aspect have gone from division 5 to enjoying among 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 haven’t any complaints
Talking after the sport, Hussain centered on England’s more and more one-dimensional bowling assault.
With left-arm choices similar to Sam Curran and Reece Topley ignored 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 accountability 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 after they tackle South Africa in Karachi on Saturday.
“It’s another ICC event that they’ve been poor in, and their win percentage since the last World Cup going into this was 29 per cent – so it has obviously dropped further from there,” mentioned Hussain.
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Buttler was quizzed on his future as skipper and revealed he’s contemplating all prospects
“England can have no complaints, they haven’t played particularly good white-ball cricket for a very long time.
“They discovered a pitch that you just’d assume was completely excellent to play Afghanistan on – it did not assist their spinners in any respect – however Afghanistan had extra selection to their assault, that they had wrist spinners, a left-arm wrist spinner, a left-arm fast.
“England were one-dimensional; Adil Rashid has carried the attack for far too long. They had batters getting in, getting out, other than Root, who is world-class in every format.
“Simply not ok from England, not ok. Means off, and never simply manner off right here – manner off for a very long time.”
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 – results 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)
Final
- March 9: Final (Lahore or Dubai)
Watch every match from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, up to and including the final on March 9, live on Sky Sports, or stream with NOW.
