Stuart Broad says England are crying out for an extra seamer, and the time to blood them is now, with over a year to go until the Cricket World Cup.
Three days on from leapfrogging India to the top of the T20 world rankings, England’s ODI struggles were laid bare by a comprehensive six-wicket defeat to the No 1-ranked one-day side at Edgbaston.
Harry Brook’s side languish eighth in the standings, with a sixth successive defeat to India condemning them to 14 losses in their last 20 matches.
“England are eighth in the world rankings and are playing like they are eighth,” Broad told Sky Sports Cricket. “They need to get more experience into the roles of the players.”
Joe Root’s unbeaten 76 and Liam Dawson’s maiden ODI half-century rescued England from 80-5 after a top-order collapse to set India 259 for victory.
That target ultimately proved too light, but only after the tourists recovered from losing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the space of six balls.
Shubman Gill’s masterful 80 from 75 balls before retiring hurt did much of the damage after India had weathered an early England salvo that saw Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue, the only recognised quicks, bowl 13 of the first 16 overs.
Do England need to bring another seamer into their ODI squad to relieve pressure on Jofra Archer?
England’s lack of options to ease the load on Archer, Tongue and spinner Adil Rashid is an area Broad believes must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“After defeat at Edgbaston, there might be a shift in mindset towards playing another seamer,” he added.
“Looking ahead to the next World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, it’s going to be the faster, taller bowlers who do the damage there.
“Given the make-up and balance of this side, with Rashid, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks, along with the part-time spin options of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root, I’d be leaning towards playing an extra seamer instead of one of the spinners because it gives that bowler experience and exposure to match situations.
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Axar Patel’s six for India makes a crowd member fall over and spill their drink trying to make the catch from the stands.
“Taking 10 wickets in an ODI, particularly through that middle period, is difficult. I look at Archer – he’s a natural wicket-taker, the best white-ball bowler we have. Tongue can take wickets. Rashid can take wickets. But I feel England need one more fast bowler to back up that group.
“Sam Curran is a very good cricketer, but he’s not a first-change seam bowler. England need someone to come through in the middle overs, bowl bouncers and seamers, and take the outside edge, so they don’t have to go to Archer all the time.
“Could that be Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson or Saqib Mahmood? England need to start trialling that now.”
England vs India results and fixtures
All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports
- First ODI (Edgbaston – India win by six wickets
- Second ODI (Cardiff) – Thursday July 16 (1pm)
- Third ODI (Lord’s) – Sunday July 19 (11am)