ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Analyzing England's strengths and weaknesses
What's the story
England cricket team will be among the teams to watch out for in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The team boasts of explosive batting, flexible bowling, and an aggressive approach to the game. England have ideed been a formidable white-ball unit in the last decade. However, their performances were not up to the mark in the last two ICC events (ODI World Cup 2023 and T20 World Cup 2024). Here we analyse their Champions Trophy squad.
Batting lineup
England's batting prowess: A key strength
England's strongest asset is their formidable batting lineup, which can dismantle even the most potent bowling attacks. The squad has players like Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root who bring a mix of power, consistency, and versatility. While Buttler sets the pace with his ability to accelerate during death overs, Duckett and Root provide stability at the top order. However, England's batters have been susceptible to quality spin on slower pitches, which could be exploited by teams.
All-rounders
England's all-rounders: A crucial factor
England's all-rounders could be the key to their success. One of the world's most-destructive batters, Liam Livingstone is a proven match-winner with bat and ball. His presence adds balance to the team, giving England the luxury to adapt to any situation. Jamie Overton has also made his mark as an all-rounder, impressing with his ability to provide breakthroughs with the ball and play big innings under pressure.
Aggression
England's aggressive approach: A key to success
England's aggressive style of play has been a key factor behind their success. They play fearless cricket, be it setting or chasing targets, and this attitude has helped them excel in high-pressure situations. However, despite their strengths, the team also has certain weaknesses that could be exposed in the high-pressure setting of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Bowling
England's bowling under pressure: A potential weakness
Each of the team's five specialist pacers is capable of clocking over 140 KMPH. The list features Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, and Brydon Carse. England's bowling attack is strong but has been prone to cracking under pressure. Death bowling has been a concern, with bowlers frequently failing to stem the flow of runs in the final overs. This inconsistency could be detrimental against teams with strong finishers. Meanwhile, veteran Adil Rashid is their only specialist spinner.
Injury
Jacob Bethell to miss Champions Trophy
In a major blow to England, all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy with a left hamstring injury. Bethell had earlier shown his prowess with a score of 51 and 1 for 18 with his left-arm spin in the first ODI against India. Hence, this is a massive blow for the Brits and they must find a suitable replacement soon. Jamie Smith and Tom Banton are the front-runners to replace Bethell in the squad.
Information
England's squad for Champions Trophy
England's squad for Champions Trophy: Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood, (Bethell's replacement to be named).