Where things went wrong for England before the ICC Champions Trophy: Launching, bowling, and perception
The 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, which took place in England and Wales, was expected to be a strong contest between the world’s top eight ODI teams. However, England’s campaign was cut short after they crashed out of the tournament in the semi-finals, losing to Pakistan. In this article, we will explore the factors that contributed to England’s underperformance in the tournament.
Launching Issues
England’s batting lineup, which was touted as one of the strongest in the world, failed to deliver consistently. The top-order batsmen, particularly captain Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy, and Alex Hales, struggled to get going, with the team often losing wickets in a heap. The middle-order, which usually provides stability, was also a worry, with Joe Root and Jos Buttler failing to score runs when it mattered most.
In the group stages, England’s opener Roy struggled to find his touch, scoring just 11 runs in three innings, while Hales managed 95 runs at an average of 19.00. Morgan, the captain, scored 56 runs at an average of 13.50, which raised concerns about the team’s dependence on him for big scores. The lack of partnership and acceleration in the middle-order made it difficult for England to post competitive totals.
Bowling Woes
England’s bowling attack, led by the experienced Stuart Broad and James Anderson, was expected to be a strength, but it failed to deliver. The duo, who have been a successful partnership in Test cricket, struggled to contain the opposition batsmen, particularly in the powerplay overs. The limited overs experience of David Willey and Mark Wood was also questionable, as they failed to pick up wickets at crucial stages.
Birmingham-born pacer Jake Ball, who made his international debut in the tournament, showed promise but lacked the consistency required at this level. In the knockout stages, Ali Butler and Chris Woakes, who had impressed in the group stages, failed to take their wickets, which put extra pressure on the top-order batsmen. The lack of variety in the bowling attack and the inability to set up teams to win were major concerns for the English team.
Perception and Pressures
The 2015-16 Ashes series, where England suffered a 3-2 defeat in Australia, left a sour taste in many mouths. The following series in India, where the team drew 1-1, raised more questions about the team’s ability to perform abroad. The perception that England were only good at home, beating weaker teams, added extra pressure on the players.
The confidence level of the team seemed to be low, evident from the way they struggled to post big totals and contain the opposing batsmen. The constant scrutiny in the media and fans’ reactions didn’t help the team’s fragile morale. Captain Eoin Morgan, who played 93 ODIs, spoke about the team’s "interesting" relationship with the media, stating, "You can’t blame the press for wanting to make a story… We’re trying to take the positives and focus on the cricket."
Conclusion
England’s premature exit from the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy was a result of a combination of factors, including the team’s inability to launch a strong batting attack, bowling struggles, and the pressure to perform in front of a critical media and fan base. While they will look to rebuild and improve in the coming months, the Champions Trophy disappointment has highlighted the team’s areas for improvement, with the focus on revamping the batting and bowling lineups to regain their lost glory.
