England’s white-ball reset has hit a sharp ODI reality check, with Stuart Broad urging the team to trial another fast bowler after India cruised to a six-wicket win at Edgbaston.
The result gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and left Harry Brook’s side looking for answers before Thursday’s second ODI in Cardiff. England had just climbed above India to the top of the T20 rankings, but the 50-over game told a different story.
Broad said England’s ODI side needs more pace and more depth before next year’s Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. “England are eighth in the world rankings and are playing like they are eighth,” Broad said. “They need to get more experience into the roles of the players.”
England were in trouble at 80-5 before Joe Root’s unbeaten 76 and Liam Dawson’s first ODI half-century dragged them to a target of 259. But India absorbed the early pressure, even after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fell within six balls.
Shubman Gill then took control with 80 from 75 balls before retiring hurt, as India chased down the total and extended England’s run of defeats against them in ODIs to six matches.
Broad pointed to the workload on Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Adil Rashid, saying England cannot keep leaning on the same wicket-taking options through the middle overs. “England need one more fast bowler to back up that group,” he said.
The names are already there for England to test. Broad mentioned Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood as options, adding: “England need to start trialling that now.”
The pressure is now on before Cardiff, where England need a response or India will take the series with a match to spare.
