England's ODI side, like Manchester United, are in their wilderness years, writes Yas Rana.
This Sunday – the day of the third and final England-South Africa ODI – will be the 2,247th day since England lifted the World Cup in 2019. 2,247 days before that? Sir Alex Ferguson’s 1,500th and last game as Manchester United manager. There is a comparison to be drawn between the two entities – the England men’s ODI side and the Manchester United team of yore. A once dominant sporting machine now a shadow of its former self. Still littered with starpower but ultimately underachieving. A fading force. Memories of previous success providing unrealistic expectations for the present day, a fan base perhaps divorced from the reality of their current predicament.
Let’s not shy away from where this England side are at. Six years on from lifting the World Cup trophy, their participation at the next World Cup in 2027 is not a total given. Languishing in eighth place in the world rankings, a fall by two further spots would see them need to negotiate a Qualifier to fight for their place at the tournament. Given their recent record – 17 defeats from 23 games since the 2023 World Cup against the other nine sides that made the tournament – and their upcoming fixture list – their remaining fixtures in this World Cup cycle are exclusively against the world’s top six ranked sides, it is not totally implausible that they find themselves in that Qualifier.
Their presence at the Qualifier is admittedly still a stretch – falling below both Bangladesh and West Indies will take some doing – but the fact that it is still on the table is remarkable. It is arguably akin to Manchester United’s predicament earlier this year – occasionally a position directly above the relegation zone without relegation being a serious possibility. But like with United, it is an extraordinary collapse in stature.
Six years ago, they were not only world champions but the format’s trend-setters. From their 2015 World Cup exit to lifting the trophy four years later, England’s win/loss ratio was 2.5 – comfortably the world’s best in that period. Their average run-rate of 6.28 runs per over was also easily the world’s best – a full 0.52 runs per over than the next highest-ranked side, Australia. Now their win-loss ratio against 2023 World Cup opposition (0.29) is practically identical to that of the Netherlands (also 0.29). Defeat at Lord’s consigned them to their fifth series defeat in six since their unceremonious world title defence in India two years ago.
Like Manchester United, they still possess star power. Adil Rashid is as potent an ODI spinner as he has ever been. There are signs Joe Root is returning his best in the format – his hundreds against West Indies in Cardiff and Afghanistan in Lahore were up there with his very best in the format. Jos Buttler, meanwhile, remains at the pinnacle of the white-ball game, even if it is now nearly three years since he last reached three figures in the format.
Dissenters will be quick to point to the relegated status of the domestic 50-over competition as the major force behind England's decline. There is no doubt that has stalled the 50-over development of the country’s best young players. Across the world it is rare for established internationals to play a high volume of 50-over cricket, but those immediately outside national set-ups are able to gain experience in the format. This is not the case in England where the country’s best white-ball players are otherwise engaged while the One-Day Cup takes place. In most countries, it is only the top 15 or so limited overs players who are not regular domestic 50-over players; in England, it is more like the top 90.
But there are other glaring issues with the England team that are not easy to solve. Ever since Ben Stokes withdrew from being an ODI regular, England have struggled to balance the side. Earlier this year, their batting looked light when either Liam Livingstone or Jamie Overton were carded to come in at No. 7 – the pair combined for 53 runs from six knocks at seven at the start of the year – but now with Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell making up the overs of the side’s fifth bowler, their attack is vulnerable.
At Lord’s today, Bethell and Jacks’ 10 overs cost England 112 runs. For reference, the most expensive 10-over spell in ODI cricket by an individual is the 115 runs conceded by Bas de Leede against Australia at the 2023 World Cup. Since they have been used as England’s fifth bowler, they have gone at a combined economy rate of 8.93 runs per over – an eye-watering return.
Without the option of a world-class all-rounder like Stokes – someone who can bat in the top six and reliably bowl 10 overs – there is no easy fix.
Their roles with the ball are not helped by how little assistance the third seamer is currently providing. Jofra Archer and Saqib Mahmood are the established new-ball pairing but the recent impact of the third seamer has been negligible. It is an unforgiving role – they do not have access to the early movement the white Kookaburra provides – and they generally operate in the middle overs when just four men are allowed outside the ring.
But the numbers are stark. In 2025, England’s first-change seamer – a role occupied by five different players – averages 72.38 and goes at 7.21 runs per over. Corbin Bosch’s 10-over spell cost just 38 runs. His opposite man Brydon Carse leaked 68. Similarly, no England seamer produced a moment like Lungi Ngidi did when he deceived Jos Buttler with a sumptuous slower ball. Despite Rashid’s wizardry, South Africa out-skilled England with the ball.
In the end, England got close. Their power-packed top seven nearly did the business. For all their limitations with the ball, Bethell and Jacks are imposing additions to the England middle order. The talent is still there, the memory of success is still there but even aspirations to be among the leading contenders at the next World Cup that is now just over two years away.
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