Five potential athletes who might reverse England's slide in One-Day International performances
England's struggles in the ODI series against South Africa have been highlighted by the performances of Adil Rashid and Keshav Maharaj. As the team looks to regroup and find a formidable ODI opening partnership, several players have emerged as potential candidates.
If England decide to go with a more traditional approach, Sam Hain could be given an extended run. Hain, who has remarkable List A stats, currently boasting the second-best average in the format of all time (57.76), might be a steady hand in the top order. However, regardless of Hain's experience and statistical backing, it's unlikely England will turn to him for ODI selection.
Zak Crawley could be a more ready-made option for England. Crawley, who is arguably best suited to 50-over cricket, had an exceptional Hundred campaign, averaging 40, striking at 160, and finishing third on the run-scoring charts. Bringing Curran back into the side would allow England to strike a better balance in their attack by fielding a seam-bowling all-rounder in the top six.
Eoin Morgan, who brought Curran into the ODI fold in 2018, has backed a recall for the Surrey all-rounder. Sam Curran's performances in domestic cricket across all formats this summer have built a strong case for an international recall. Curran, who has not played an ODI since the series in the Caribbean at the back-end of last year, could provide the team with much-needed all-rounder depth.
Another player making a strong case for international selection is Sonny Baker. Currently in England's ODI squad, Baker has not yet played an ODI for England but has impressed with his performances in English domestic cricket and England Lions tours. His domestic performances this summer have changed the question around his readiness for higher international honours.
Rehan Ahmed, who is in England's squad but has not yet been turned to in ODI cricket, has also been making waves. Ahmed batted at three for Trent Rockets and took the same number of wickets in the competition as Rashid Khan. His performances this summer have raised questions about his readiness for higher international honours.
However, England's struggles in the bowling department have been particularly noticeable. The struggles of Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks in bowling have been particularly noticeable, with Bethell being smashed for 112 runs in 10 overs and Jacks facing an onslaught from Maharaj. If England decide to go with an aggressive approach, selecting Jordan Cox could be in line with that vision. Cox, the Player of the Tournament in The Hundred, has not been mentioned around squad selections for ODI cricket.
In conclusion, England is facing a crucial decision in selecting their ODI squad. With several players making strong cases for selection, the team will need to carefully consider their approach - traditional or aggressive - to find the right balance for their attack and top order.
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