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A recent ascent to No 1 in the men’s T20 international rankings saved one half of Brendon McCullum’s job as England head coach and yet half of that half – one-day international cricket – continues to be a struggle.
A six-wicket defeat by India in the series opener at Edgbaston was England’s 13th ODI loss since McCullum took charge of the white-ball teams at the start of last year. Just six victories have come in this time – including three against lowly West Indies – and they have now slipped to eighth in the world overall.
For India this was an upturn after that chastening 4-0 defeat in the T20s. Shubman Gill delivered a silken 80 to help chase down a target of 259 with 28 balls to spare, having earlier marshalled his bowlers superbly. After plundering 430 runs on this ground during last year’s Test, his Birmingham love affair continues.
McCullum and Harry Brook misread a dry surface that was offering variable bounce for the quicks and resulted in knuckles being rapped throughout the match. Brook had five spin options in his XI but just three seamers, leaving him short on genuine wicket-taking threat and forcing him to use the bulk of Jofra Archer’s overs early.
An extra seamer would probably have meant Liam Dawson missing out but then there would scarcely have been a contest without the all-rounder. Walking out at 107 for six in the 22nd over, Dawson’s 68 from 83 balls, allied to an unbeaten 76 from Joe Root, at least gave Brook’s bowlers something to work with.
This turned into flickering hope of a full-blown turnaround when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were kept to 11 and five respectively. But at the other end Gill was in princely form, tucking into Josh Tongue early on and taking a huge bite out of the target before cramp forced him to retire hurt.
There was one further wobble. Shreyas Iyer was run out for 35 via a direct hit from Brook, while KL Rahul was bowled by Tongue for one to leave India 160 for four in the 28th over. This was fleeting, however, as unbeaten half-centuries from Axar Patel (57 from 52 balls) and Washington Sundar (52 from 63) sealed things.
For England it was a tale of two collapses, the first of which – losing six for 46 from an encouraging 61 for no loss – was “the difference” in the eyes of Brook. It was instigated by Gurnoor Brar, strapping 6ft 5in quick from Punjab, who shut down a tortured 14 from Jacob Bethell and had Ben Duckett caught in the deep for 43.
Although the key strike came from a more familiar source, with Jasprit Bumrah brought back on to target the in-form Brook and finding the edge of his bat third ball. This was Bumrah’s first ODI since the 2023 World Cup final, an absence that means he has dropped out of the rankings entirely. Not that his true standing is in doubt.
Gill’s smart use of his quicks continued, with Prasidh Krishna picking up two wickets as Jos Buttler (five), Sam Curran (nought) and Will Jacks (20) all fell. Had Shivam Dube held a return catch off Root on seven, the 121-run stand alongside Dawson would never have materialised – nor the full day’s play that allowed maximum fundraising for the prostate cancer charity set up in memory of Bob Willis.
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Root still finished up with his head in his hands, however, having watched the last four wickets crumble for just 30 runs as England were bowled out for 258 inside the 48th over. Root may not be the most powerful ball-striker in the XI but one further partner beyond Dawson might have allowed him to buff the total.
Patel was the bowler to mop up England’s tail, finishing with four for 62 and only operating at the death after Brar became the first victim of cramp. Patel’s greatest impact arguably came in the chase, however, ensuring not let up in momentum with a punchy yet controlled innings.
With a few more runs to play with and an extra quick at his disposal, this might have been a different story for Brook. As it was he was largely powerless to prevent this match-winning stand before Sundar sealed the win – and his own half-century – by launching Adil Rashid back over his head for six.
England may be flying in T20 cricket but this is out of sync with the cycle given the next World Cup is a 50-over affair in late 2027. Brook insisted afterwards it was still “a long way off” but McCullum, a head coach now down to half of his previous responsibilities, could do with a sharp upturn in results in the meantime.
English (US) ·