Former England cricketer Mark Butcher has raised concerns about whether England possess enough experience in the 50-over format to compete effectively in the upcoming Champions Trophy. His remarks came after England suffered a humiliating 3-0 series defeat against India, exposing significant weaknesses in their ODI setup. Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast during England’s third ODI loss in Ahmedabad, Butcher highlighted the lack of match experience among the squad. England fielded several inexperienced players in the series, including Jacob Bethell, who had played just 16 List A games before making his ODI debut last summer.

Gus Atkinson, who made his international debut in 2023 after featuring in only two List A matches, endured a difficult tour, conceding 139 runs across two ODIs. Following Bethell’s injury, England recalled Tom Banton, who hadn’t played a single 50-over match since his last ODI appearance in 2020.

“The first thing that sprung to my mind during the first two ODIs was just how naive most of our cricket is in the 50-over format,” said Butcher, as quoted from Wisden.

“I thought ‘why might that be?’. It’s because we don’t play any. There is a world of difference in terms of the tempo that the game needs to continuously be played at. I don’t mean that the tempo is a rigid graph that only goes up, the tempo needs to fluctuate in 50-over cricket in a way that it doesn’t need to in 20-over cricket. Having that skill and nous and game awareness to know when to put the foot down and when to ease off a little but, when to sit in and when to go hard, is something that only comes with playing lots of it,” he added.

“I remember back in the 90s when England would play three Texaco Trophy matches during the course of the summer, the sum total of England’s 50-over cricket would be three to six matches per summer. They’d be playing against Indian sides, or West Indian sides or Australian sides, the difference in number of caps between them and our players was three times more on the other team. We’re kind of back in that situation now whereby the India players will out number the number of caps of even someone like Jos Buttler for example, by at least two to one or three to one,” he said.

“A lot of our guys will be a lot better for the run. Gus Atkinson has had a pretty chastening trip and that’s not a bad thing. He’s basically found the game far too easy up to this point and has run into the first road block. Being a very talented boy and somebody who has the hunger and desire to be the very best, he will be better for the experience of a flogging in India. But if you’re talking about winning a Champions Trophy in a couple of weeks time, it’s not likely is it? That our team and the make-up of it and the experience of it is going to have the skill and the nous and the know-how to win what is a very difficult form of cricket, 50-over cricket. It requires more than just putting your foot to the floor and keeping it there,” he noted.

In stark contrast, India’s young players have considerably more experience in the format. Shubman Gill, at just 25, has already played 50 ODIs and over 100 List A matches. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made his ODI debut in the second match of the series in Cuttack, has already featured in 30 List A games despite being in the early stages of his professional career.

England’s campaign in the Champions Trophy will begin on February 22 in Lahore, where they will take on arch-rivals Australia. They will also face Afghanistan and South Africa in the group stage, hoping to overcome their recent struggles and make a strong impact in the tournament.

Gus Atkinson (England), Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka), Saim Ayub (Pakistan), and Shamar Joseph (West Indies) have been named the 2024 ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year nominees Gus Atkinson’s meteoric rise began with a stunning debut in James Anderson’s final Test in July. The 26-year-old announced himself with a career-best performance of 7/45 at Lord’s against the West Indies, followed by a five-wicket haul in the second innings to finish with 12/106—the fourth-best figures by a debutant in men’s Test history.

Atkinson has since cemented his place as England’s frontline pacer, claiming 34 wickets in home Tests against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, and adding 12 more during England’s historic series win in New Zealand.

His batting prowess came to the fore with a 101-ball century against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, proving his all-round capabilities. Atkinson’s consistency and match-winning spells have made him a standout performer.

Kamindu Mendis has emerged as a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s batting lineup in 2024, equalling Sir Don Bradman’s record of reaching 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings. His 1049 runs in nine Tests this year, averaging a staggering 74.92, include five centuries and three fifties.

Mendis’s career-best 182 against New Zealand was instrumental in a 2-0 home series win, bolstering Sri Lanka’s ICC World Test Championship campaign. His performances on the tour of England, where he scored 267 runs, also played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s first Test victory in England in a decade.

His unbeaten 182 against New Zealand, crafted with 16 boundaries and four sixes, laid the foundation for a series sweep.

Pakistan’s 22-year-old Saim Ayub has taken the cricketing world by storm with his fearless batting at the top of the order. Ayub was instrumental in Pakistan’s away series wins in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. His two centuries in South Africa earned him the Player of the Series award as Pakistan completed a 3-0 clean sweep.

Ayub’s all-round skills were evident as he contributed with the ball, taking five wickets at an economy rate of 4.63. His standout ODI knock of 109 against South Africa under pressure showcased his ability to anchor an innings and guide his team to victory.

Ayub’s 109 in a tense chase against South Africa, coupled with a crucial wicket, epitomized his match-winning capabilities.

Shamar Joseph’s rise has been nothing short of spectacular. The 22-year-old pacer made his debut in Australia, helping the West Indies secure their first Test win Down Under since 1997. His 13 wickets in two Tests, including two five-wicket hauls, underlined his impact.

Joseph’s spellbinding 7/68 at the Gabba, where he played through pain to deliver a historic win, remains one of the highlights of 2024. He also excelled in home series against Bangladesh and South Africa, finishing with 12 wickets.

His fiery spell at the Gabba, sealing a dramatic eight-run win for the West Indies, solidified his reputation as a match-winner.

A sustained seam attack by Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse following a belligerent batting effort saw England on the verge of wrapping up the first Test at stumps on day three in Christchurch on Saturday. New Zealand were 155-6 at the close, ahead by just four runs and with only four wickets remaining. Daryl Mitchell was not out 31 with Nathan Smith on one. England made 499 in their first innings, an imposing 151-run lead, led by Harry Brook‘s 171. “We’re in an amazing position to go on and win the game,” said Brook, who benefitted from five dropped catches. “I had a lot of luck, didn’t I. and thankfully I cashed in.”

New Zealand were hurting at the fielding errors with Brook adding 153 after he was first dropped on 18.

“Fielding’s something we pride ourselves on and that’s the part that hurts,” said seamer Matt Henry.

“We work hard on it and it’s usually where we turn a game on its head. So obviously it hurts when chances go down.”

Brook’s knock was supported by 80 from captain Ben Stokes and 77 from Ollie Pope.

It was then the turn of England’s seamers as New Zealand’s salvage attempt faltered at the start with Tom Latham caught by Brook for one to give Woakes his first wicket in the third over.

Devon Conway was on eight when his attempt to pull Carse to the boundary was miscued to Gus Atkinson at mid-on and New Zealand were tottering at 23-2.

Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra set about stitching the innings together as they put on 41 for the third wicket before Ravindra went for 24.

The left-hander could not resist pulling a short ball from Carse but failed to get on top of the bounce and was caught by Jacob Bethell waiting at mid-wicket.

Woakes returned to remove Williamson and Tom Blundell in successive balls to end the day with 3-39.

Williamson, so often called upon to rescue his country, was unruffled until on 61 — his second half-century of the Test — he missed a straight delivery and was trapped lbw.

With his next ball, Woakes found the faintest edge of Blundell’s bat but he was denied a hat-trick by Glenn Phillips who pushed a short ball towards the covers.

Phillips progressed to 19 before he was given out lbw to a Carse delivery that nipped back.

New Zealand sought a review but replays showed the ball was skimming the bails and the decision was the umpires call and Carse had 3-22.

– Masterful –

England resumed the day at 319-5 and raced along at six an over before being all out after lunch.

A masterful Brook, who benefitted from five of the eight catches spilled by New Zealand, led England’s rescue after they were left reeling at 71-4.

The only good news for New Zealand was that while they dropped two more catches on day three, they successfully held five.

Brook relished his lives. He smiled and looked to the heavens when Phillips spilled a chance on 147, having been dropped the previous day on 18, 41, 70 and 106.

Four overs after his last reprieve, he brought up his 150 in imperious fashion, charging down the wicket at Tim Southee and driving him to the cover boundary.

But when New Zealand found a way to make catches stick, Brook’s innings, which included 15 fours and three sixes, came to an end.

A good length ball from Matt Henry found a faint outside edge and wicketkeeper Blundell grasped the opportunity.

The applause as Brook left the ground was as much for New Zealand holding a catch as it was for a magnificent innings.

Woakes (one) was out on the second ball he faced with Latham scooping up a low-level chance at second slip.

Smith ended Atkinson’s breezy innings with Phillips taking a smart catch at long leg.

Henry was the most successful New Zealand bowler with 4-84. Smith took 3-141.

Following his side’s series win over Sri Lanka, England pacer Gus Atkinson said that it was special for him to get on all of Lord’s honours boards and bat with Joe Root in the first innings. Atkinson continued his rise in international cricket, getting a fine match-winning century and a five-wicket haul to accomplish a rare double at the iconic venue. This also helped England secure a 190 run win over Sri Lanka and win the three-match series 2-0.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Atkinson said, “I could not have asked for much more. To get on both honour’s boards, it is incredible. It will take a while to sink in. (On Joe Root) He has been excellent this week. Batting alongside him for so long in the first innings was very special. First red-ball games at Lord’s and it is gone pretty well, I enjoy bowling with the slope, it is just gone my way, and long may it continue. I will do what they say (when asked if he would be okay to bowl from the Nursery End). The way we go about the game, we just like to attack. And as a bowler, it is great to be able to attack and not worry about runs too much. Physically, it is quite demanding running over after over, but I have enjoyed it so much, looking forward to it going forward.”

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first. England scored 427 runs in the first innings, with Root (143 in 206 balls, with 18 fours) and Gus Atkinson (118 in 115 balls, with 14 fours and four sixes) slamming centuries to take England to a massive score.

Asitha Fernando (5/102) was the top bowler for Sri Lanka. Milan Rathnayake and Lahiru Kumara took two wickets each.

In their first innings, despite Kamindu Mendis’s fighting 74 runs in 120 balls, with eight fours and three sixes, Sri Lanka could manage just 196 runs as the top-order let the team down again. Chris Woakes, Olly Stones, Gus Atkinson, and Matthew Potts got two wickets each, while Shoaib Bashir got one. England led by 231 runs.

Sri Lanka showcased much better control with the ball in England’s second inning, bundling them out for 251 runs. After Root’s 103 in 121 balls, with 10 fours, the second biggest contribution was delivered by Harry Brook (37 in 36 balls, with four boundaries and a six).

Asitha Fernando (3/52) and Lahiru Kumara (3/53) were the top wickettakers for Sri Lanka.

In the run-chase of 483, Sri Lanka put up a fight as three half-centuries came from Dimuth Karunaratne (55 in 129 balls, with seven fours), Dinesh Chandimal (58 in 62 balls, with 11 fours) and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (50 in 71 balls, with seven fours). But despite that, Lanka was bundled out for 292 runs and lost by 190 runs.

Atkinson (5/62) was the pick of the bowlers for England, picking his third five-wicket haul at the Lord’s. Olly Stone and Chris Woakes also got two wickets.

Atkinson secured the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his all-round performance.

Gus Atkinson scored a dashing maiden century before England strengthened their grip on the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Friday. Atkinson’s sparkling 118 helped take England to 427 all out in their first innings after Joe Root had made a masterful 143 on Thursday to equal the England record of 33 Test hundreds held by Alastair Cook. Sri Lanka then collapsed to 87-6 on the second day. But Kamindu Mendis, fresh from a fine 113 in Sri Lanka’s five-wicket loss in the first Test at Old Trafford, made an admirable 74 to prevent complete humiliation before he was last man out in a total of 196.

All of England’s pace attack took two wickets each, Matthew Potts returning figures of 2-19 in 11 overs and Chris Woakes 2-21 in 13.

Sri Lanka were 231 runs behind but stand-in England captain Ollie Pope did not enforce the follow-on, with the hosts 25-1 in their second innings at stumps — an overall lead of 256 as they looked to go 2-0 up in a three-match series.

Ben Duckett was 15 not out with Pope, having managed just three single figure scores since replacing the injured Ben Stokes as skipper, two not out after deciding against shielding himself from the new ball with a nightwatchman.

But the day belonged to Atkinson as he cemented his love affair with Lord’s. 

The 26-year-old, whose previous highest first-class score was 91 for Surrey against a Sri Lanka Development XI in 2022, only made his Test debut against the West Indies, also at Lord’s, last month.

Atkinson marked that occasion with 12 wickets (7-45 and 5-61) to etch his name on the famed Lord’s dressing room honours boards reserved for bowlers who take five or more wickets in a Test innings and 10 or more in a match. 

Few would have backed Atkinson to get on the equivalent honours board recognising those who score Test hundreds at the ‘Home of Cricket’ — a feat that proved beyond such star batsmen as India’s Sachin Tendulkar, West Indies’ Brian Lara and Australia’s Ricky Ponting.

Atkinson was 74 not out overnight in a Thursday stumps total of 358-7.

No 8 Atkinson carried on from where he left off, hitting two fours off Friday’s first two balls, as he leg-glanced and cover-drove paceman Lahiru Kumara leg-glanced for a pair of textbook boundaries.

But to the third he was given out lbw, only for Australian umpire Paul Reiffel’s decision to be reversed by a review indicating the ball would have missed leg stump.

Atkinson went to his century in storybook fashion, driving Kumara down the ground into the pavilion for another four — his 11th in a century completed in just 103 balls and also featuring four sixes.

A spectacular innings came to a spectacular end when Atkinson mistimed a pull off an Asitha Fernando bouncer and was brilliantly caught by a diving Milan Rathnayake as he launched himself towards the rope.

Atkinson walked off to a rousing reception, having faced just 115 balls.

Fernando ended the innings by dismissing Olly Stone to secure his place on the honours boards with a return of 5-102 in 21 overs.  

Sri Lanka openers Nishan Madushka and Dimuth Karunaratne then both played on for seven before wickets continued to tumble.

But in-form left-hander Mendis, again batting curiously low in the order at No 7, hooked three sixes off recalled quick Stone, the last injuring an MCC member in the pavilion, during a 120-ball innings also featuring eight fours. 

Dropped on 62 when Root floored a routine chance in the deep, the 25-year-old eventually holed out off Atkinson to round off a memorable day for the fast bowler.

ENG vs SL, 1st Test Day 4 LIVE Score© AFP

Mark Wood scripted history as he bowled the fastest recorded Test over by an England bowler at home during the ongoing day of the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge here on Friday. Wood, who replaced retired pacer James Anderson in England’s playing 11, set the bar high in his first over as he wasted no time and clocked the speed of 93.9 mph (151.1 km/h) on the first delivery to opener Mikyle Louis. He bettered his it and clocked 96.1 mph (154.65 km/h) on the second ball, leaving the batter clueless. Wood continued his onslaught with deliveries at 95.2 mph (152.88 km/h) and 92.2 mph (148.06 km/h) before delivering a searing 96.5 mph (155.30 km/h) yorker on his fifth ball, which Louis managed to dig out for a single.

The 34-year-old England pacer ended the over with another fast delivery at 95.2 mph (153.20 km/h) to West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, averaging 94.40 mph over six balls.

In his second over, Wood ramped up the heat with deliveries clocked at 95 mph (152 km/h), 93 mph (149.66 km/h), 95 mph (152 km/h), 96 mph (154.49 km/h), 97.1 mph (156.26 km/h), and 94 mph (151.27 km/h).

In the third Ashes Test at Headingley last year, the 34-year-old Wood raised the tempo when he reached blazing speeds of 91 mph, 93 mph, 95 mph, 93 mph, 94 mph, and 93 mph in an over. In the end, England prevailed by three wickets in the test.

Wood upped the ante when he hit a short delivery against Louis at 97.1 mph in his third over.

The 34-year-old is regarded as one of the world’s quickest bowlers across formats. In the Multan Test in 2022, he set the fastest Test delivery speed of 156.6 kmph against Pakistan.

In the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, which England won, Wood bowled the fastest delivery of the tournament, clocking 154.74 km/h against New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips in a Super 12 match. Wood dominated the top 10 fastest deliveries of the World Cup, with six of his balls exceeding 153 km/h.

Wood also set a record for the fastest T20 over in men’s cricket, averaging 149.02 kmph in a four-over spell against Afghanistan during the World Cup. Additionally, he bowled the fastest delivery of the 2019 ODI World Cup, reaching 154 km/h against New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls in the final at Lord’s.

ENG vs WI 2nd Test Day 2 LIVE© AFP

James Anderson bowed out of international cricket on the winning side as England thrashed the West Indies by an innings and 114 runs on the third day of the first Test at Lord’s on Friday. This was the 41-year-old veteran’s 188th and last Test before retiring from England duty, with Anderson’s tally of 704 Test wickets the most taken by any fast bowler in the history of the format. “It’s been an amazing week, been overwhelmed with the reaction of the crowd and everyone around the ground,” Anderson told Sky Sports.

“I’m just proud of what I’ve achieved,” he added.

But it was Gus Atkinson, who ended the game when he had Jayden Seales caught in the deep, the debutant fast bowler finishing with superb match figures of 12-106 as England went 1-0 up in a three-Test series. 

West Indies were dismissed for 136 in their second innings, with Anderson — 42 later this month — taking a typically miserly 3-32 in 16 overs  

They resumed on the brink of defeat at 79-6 in their second innings, still a mammoth 171 runs behind England’s first-innings 37.

But with only four more wickets left to fall, Anderson had no chance of eclipsing Australia great Shane Warne‘s tally of 708 Test wickets and moving into second place in the all-time list headed by another spinner in Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets). 

Before Friday’s play started, both teams lined up outside the Pavilion to give Anderson a guard of honour, with the veteran paceman receiving a standing ovation from the crowd at the ‘Home of Cricket’ — where he made his Test debut against Zimbabwe back in 2003.

‘Emotional’

“Obviously this morning was quite emotional with the two teams lined up and the reaction from the crowd,” said Anderson.

“I’m still trying to hold back the tears now. Playing for 20-odd years is an incredible effort, especially for a fast bowler, so I’m happy I’ve made it this far. It’s the best job in the world and I’ve been privileged to be able to do it..”

West Indies had lost Jason Holder to Thursday’s last ball and, after Atkinson completed that over, Anderson was straight into the action at the Nursery End on Friday.

It was not long before Anderson struck in familiar fashion when Joshua Da Silva, who had added just one to his overnight eight not out, feathered a ball that angled in and nipped away to give wicketkeeper Jamie Smith a simple catch on the England Test debutant’s 24th birthday.

West Indies were now 88-7, with many left wondering why Anderson — set to become a mentor to England’s quicks — was calling it a day given he could still produce deliveries like this.

The rationale behind the selectors’ decision was the need to rebuild ahead of the 2025/26 Ashes in Australia.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Atkinson then had Alzarri Joseph out hooking a bouncer to complete a 10-wicket haul for the match.

Atkinson was just the third bowler to take at least 10 wickets on their Test debut at Lord’s after England great Alec Bedser (11-145 against India in 1946) and Australia’s Bob Massie (16-137 in 1972)  

The 26-year-old Atkinson then bowled Shamar Joseph with an excellent yorker that crashed into the base of off stump.

Anderson then missed a chance to finish the match — and his England career — in fairytale fashion when he dropped a return chance from tailender Gudakesh Motie.

“I’m still gutted I dropped that catch, to be honest,” said Anderson after close of play.

Motie then became the first West Indies batsman in the match to reach 30 but that could not disguise the failings of his top-order team-mates.

The West Indies were dismissed for just 121 in their first innings as Atkinson took a sensational 7-45.

By contrast, five England batsmen all scored fifties with Smith, a Surrey team-mate of Atkinson, contributing a stylish 70.

West Indies now have little time to regroup before the second Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham starts on Thursday.

But they at least have the consolation of knowing they won’t have to face Anderson again.

England vs West Indies LIVE, 1st Test Day 3© AFP