England are the brink of an early exit from the 2023 World Cup, with their title defence veering further of piste with each farcical defeat they suffer.
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The usual case study of a calamitous England World Cup campaign involves a swift cull of those who’ve either disgraced themselves beyond salvation during the tournament or who are too old to make the next edition. Given that the entirety of England’s playing XI for their loss to Sri Lanka was over 30, the first category isn’t hard to fill.
In terms of the second, there are plenty of names in the current squad who could still be playing international cricket in four years’ time. But the decision the management make in the next few months will determine how bigger part they will play in the next four-year cycle.
Sticks
Harry Brook: No matter what Brook did in this World Cup, at 24 it would have been unendingly harsh to banish him from ODI cricket forever. He’s also far too talented not to be an integral part of all three international formats going forward. While Brook has been in and out of the ODI side over the last two years, and in the tournament itself, with others in the middle order out the way, now is his time to establish himself as the lynchpin batter in the years to come.
Reece Topley: Among the litany of errors during England’s campaign was not picking Topley for the tournament opener against New Zealand. When he came in to the side, he showed that he was by far their best option with the new ball, and even with a broken finger, looked arguably their best bowler. If he can be shepherded through the next four years as injury free as possible, and should have one final crack at making it through a major tournament in 2027.
Gus Atkinson: Jettisoned into the World Cup squad before having made his ODI debut, Atkinson should be an entirely different proposition the next time we see him in a 50-over tournament. For one, England will have worked out how to use him. Given that Mark Wood almost undoubtedly won’t be around the format in four years, with the question mark over Jofra Archer bigger than ever, there’s an opportunity to bed Atkinson in as one of the permanent fixtures in the attack.
Sam Curran: Curran is a difficult one. He has been genuinely poor in the World Cup, but is still young enough to be part of the plan going forward, and perhaps a break from the format would be the best way ahead. There’s plenty of potential for him still to fit into England’s plans. But for that to be effective, they need to work out the best role for him in the side. After the focus has switched from the T20 World Cup title defence, that’s when they can work out the best path forward in the format for Curran.
Adil Rashid: Another tricky one. England’s best ever white-ball leg-spinner and arguably their best player of the current tournament so far. Despite already being 35, gut instinct says as long as Rashid wants to continue playing ODI cricket there should be a place for him in the England side. For long-term thinking, keeping him around might make it easier to bed Rehan Ahmed in as the next-generation leggie. Rashid has also just signed another two-year central contract, so both he and England see his future lasting at least that long.
Brydon Carse: Many were of the opinion Carse should have been in England’s squad in the first place. As an all-round option and middle-overs bowler they’re so desperately missing at the minute, Carse is at the front of the queue to fill that role in the emerging new-look bowling attack.
Twicks
Joe Root: Root could both fit into either category of post-2023 rejects and neither. He’s looked horribly out of form for the most part of the ongoing tournament, and isn’t a given to make it to the next World Cup anyway. Equally, he’s one of England’s greatest ever white-ball batters and on the younger side of their current squad. The decision with Root will be based around how entirely England want to revamp their playing group, and how much Root himself wants to play the format himself.
Liam Livingstone: If England can find a balance which allows Livingstone to bat seven and not have to bowl a full ten overs of spin, there’s no reason he can’t find a spot going forward. But as purely a batter who bowls a bit, this World Cup has shown that option is fast closing.
Jos Buttler: It’s near enough a given that Buttler shouldn’t captain the 50-over side going forward. The problems around his decision-making off and on the field are evident of that. Taking the pressure off and allowing him to bat in the middle-order seems like a workable alternative. If he wants it.
Twists
Jonny Bairstow: Regardless of form, the combination of age and a bionic leg means Bairstow isn’t a long-term option going forward. Expect England to field a brand-new opening partnership going forward.
Moeen Ali: Moeen is already the oldest member of England’s squad, and has been on the fringes of the XI in two World Cups now. Enter Will Jacks.
Dawid Malan: Another casualty of age. Having been England’s best batter in between tournaments and the one (Brook aside) who managed to force his way into the champion side, it’s unfortunate that the culmination of Malan’s efforts are England’s worst World Cup result for over 30 years.
Ben Stokes: Stokes is tricky but ultimately falls into the twist category. Unable to bowl, with an increasingly fragile body and the most demanding Test match commitments, if England want to avoid what happened in the 2019-23 cycle of their World Cup players not playing in between tournaments, Stokes has to take a back seat.
David Willey: As the only member of the squad who has not been offered a new central contract, England’s thinking on Willey seems abundantly clear.
Chris Woakes: Woakes has arguably been England’s greatest disappointment in this tournament. Having been the leader of their attack, he now borders on unselectable. He can’t be part of the plan going forward.
Mark Wood: Another whose body and age won’t allow him to get through another four years. For the rest of Wood’s career, if they want him to continue in the Test format, and he clearly wants to make the most of the franchise opportunities available to him, ODIs are what has to give.
