ISLAMABAD: The England cricket team is facing a significant decline in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) since their World Cup victory in 2019. Their struggles have become increasingly evident, culminating in a 7th place finish in the 2023 World Cup and a last-place finish in the 2025 Champions Trophy group stage. Among their most humiliating defeats in both tournaments were losses to Afghanistan.
The decline of England’s ODI focus
England’s 2019 World Cup-winning squad was built around a stable core of dominant players. However, the team has been on a steady decline, a downfall that was fully exposed in the 2023 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. The primary reason behind this slump is England’s diminished focus on the ODI format.
Following their 2019 triumph, England shifted their attention toward Test cricket while maintaining a strong presence in T20Is. Their performances in T20 cricket have remained satisfactory, as they reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean.
In Test cricket, England have won 6 of their last 10 series, losing only to India and Pakistan while drawing two. However, their ODI performances have been a stark contrast, leaving former players and cricket experts puzzled.
One of the core issues is the lack of ODI matches. Between 2015 and 2019, England played 88 ODIs with 34 players, 12 of whom played in over half of those matches. From 2019 to 2023, they played just 42 ODIs but used 44 players, with only eight appearing in more than half of the games. Post-2023, England have played just 14 ODIs, losing ten.
To reclaim their dominance in the format, England must play more ODIs under their new captain and white-ball coach, Brendon McCullum. A structured schedule with consistent team selection will help build confidence, rhythm, match practice, and a renewed hunger for success—elements that the current squad lacks.
The absence of key players
England’s decline is further exacerbated by the absence of key players who were instrumental in their 2019 success. The once-formidable trio of Alex Hales, Jason Roy, and Jonny Bairstow have been either dropped, injured, or retired.
- Alex Hales was dropped from the squad before the 2019 World Cup due to failing a recreational drug test. Despite returning briefly for the 2022 T20 World Cup, he later retired to focus on franchise leagues.
- Jason Roy missed the 2023 World Cup due to persistent back spasms and has struggled to regain his form. His absence has weakened England’s opening partnership, with Dawid Malan and Phil Salt failing to provide the same impact.
- Jonny Bairstow was dropped after the 2024 T20 World Cup due to poor performances, but his replacement, Phil Salt, has yet to prove himself in ODIs.
Other key figures such as Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali were also absent from the 2025 Champions Trophy squad. While Moeen retired in 2024, Stokes is recovering from injury and training with England Lions.
The bowling unit has also suffered. Mark Wood, who was pivotal in 2019, managed just six wickets in the 2023 World Cup and only one in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Chris Woakes, another key bowler from 2019, has been phased out in favuor of younger pacers like Jofra Archer, who has underperformed in both India and Pakistan over the past few months. The younger generation has struggled to fill the void left by their predecessors, partly due to England’s flawed domestic structure.
Domestic cricket’s role in the decline
A key factor behind England’s ODI struggles is their weak domestic 50-over structure. The Hundred, England’s marquee franchise tournament, directly overlaps with the One-Day Cup, leading to a devaluation of the 50-over format.
During the 2015-19 era, England’s core ODI players gained crucial experience through a competitive domestic system. However, that structure has since crumbled. For instance, Harry Brook played his first ODI in 2023—four years after his last List A appearance. Similarly, Jamie Smith, England’s No. 3 in the Champions Trophy, had only batted at that position once in 50-over cricket before the tournament. Tom Banton, who featured against India earlier this year, had not played a List A match since 2020.
England’s assumption that ODI expertise would naturally be passed down through generations without a structured domestic pathway was naive. This lack of meaningful exposure has resulted in a generation of cricketers ill-prepared for the format.
The impact of franchise cricket
The rise of T20 franchise leagues has also played a role in England’s ODI downfall. With broadcasters prioritising T20 cricket, the ODI format has been relegated to an afterthought. This lack of commitment from the ECB has led to declining player interest.
Many English cricketers now prioritise lucrative franchise deals over national duty. Players such as Alex Hales, Sam Billings, and Liam Dawson opted out of national tours to participate in tournaments like the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the International League T20 (ILT20). While financial security is understandable, this shift has weakened England’s ODI depth.
The decline is a result of shifting priorities, fading stars, and a weakened domestic structure—but with renewed focus, better scheduling, and strategic player development, they can rebuild a formidable 50-over squad before World Cup 2027. The question is: will they take the lessons from their downfall and turn them into a roadmap for resurgence?
