Jonny Bairstow, Liam Dawson and Reece Topley could have played for England in the Champions Trophy

England's Champions Trophy campaign went up in smoke after they lost both of their first two games against Australia and Afghanistan. 

With Brendon McCullum having selected a group of players for the tournament, and for warm-up series in India, which omitted several high profile names, here are five players who could have made a difference in England's fortunes if they had been selected.

Jonny Bairstow

Few names can strike both the same kind of nostalgia and split opinion among England fans that Bairstow can. But, in terms of the 50-over format, he's arguably England's greatest opener ever. The short-arm jabs, and dismissive aggression in the powerplay is something few teams are able to make use of. Without Bairstow, England have been reliant on the Ben Duckett-Phil Salt opening axis, and while Duckett brought back memories of a successful opening partnership with his century against Australia, Salt's dismissals have become more exasperating with each innings.

Bairstow was ditched after last year's T20 World Cup, in which he only offered short glimpses of his swashbuckling best. It was a similar story at the 2023 World Cup. But, on free-scoring, hard-hitting surfaces like England have played on during this tournament, it's hard not to think Bairstow may have offered better returns than at least Salt. Instead, he played the full SA20, scoring a cool 232 runs at a shade under 40 for Joburg Super Kings.

Sam Curran

How to get the best use of Sam Curran is a question that's dogged England coaches for the best part of a decade. A top six batter who bowls, or a bowling allrounder death specialist - no one's been quite able to crack it. With focus on pace and bounce, Curran admitted his fears that his left-arm skiddy variations may not quite fit what England are currently looking for. But should that matter?

Curran showed his use with both bat and ball to England in the West Indies a few months ago. Batting at six, he scored 129 runs across three innings and provided enough cover in Ben Stokes' absence as an all-rounder. In the few overs he was required to bowl, he didn't give too much away, and found his utility on pitched that didn't suit his style. Equally, with so many right-handers in both England's batting order and seam attack, as a point of difference, Curran fits the bill.

Liam Dawson

There can be few players who have played as little international cricket as Liam Dawson has at the age of 35 yet have so many calling for their inclusion. Dawson has an excellent record both in England domestically and across the franchise circuit for the last few years, providing almost as much with the bat as the ball. Like Curran, he's a player who would mean England wouldn't have to choose between leaving their bowling attack of their batting light, and he would also mean they could field an extra frontline spinner in their side, taking the pressure off Liam Livingstone, as well as their third seamer. England clearly don't fancy Rehan Ahmed, having dragged him around all winter without giving him a single game. Surely, picking a spinner you can select in an XI with confidence, in Dawson, would have been the better option?

Reece Topley

Topley was England's premier seamer for the in between years leading up to the 2023 World Cup. There are few who offer what he does, both from a height and angle point of view, as well as the remarkable numbers he's delivered over he years. However, consistent injuries ahead of major tournaments, as well as outside of them including against West Indies late last year, have meant Topley has missed out on most of England's glory moments. Perhaps that was a factor in his omission here as well, although that didn't prevent McCullum and co. from risking Mark Wood straight after a long injury lay-off with a massive year of international cricket ahead.

Sam Hain

Plenty has been made of the limited number of 50 over games England's players have played both alongside international cricket and before it, and while that cannot be the only factor behind how far short they've fallen in Pakistan, it's a significant one. However, when looking for a player with a proven track record of 50-over success, it's hard to look further than Hain. With a List A average of 57.76 after 64 games, rather than pushing an Smith up the order for a free hit, having Hain in an anchoring role might have been a better punt. He made 89 on ODI debut against Ireland in 2023, so far the only England series he's been a part of.

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