February 15, 2025: Former England cricketer Mark Butcher has raised concerns about England’s lack of experience in the 50-over format ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy. His comments followed England’s disappointing 3-0 series defeat to India, which exposed several weaknesses in their ODI setup.
Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast during the third ODI in Ahmedabad, Butcher pointed out that England had fielded a number of inexperienced players throughout the series. Among them was Jacob Bethell, who had only played 16 List A games before making his ODI debut. Gus Atkinson, who debuted internationally in 2023 after playing just two List A matches, also struggled during the tour, conceding 139 runs across two ODIs. After Bethell’s injury, England recalled Tom Banton, who hadn’t played a 50-over match since 2020.
Butcher expressed his concern about the lack of match experience, emphasizing that many of England’s players were unfamiliar with the demands of 50-over cricket. He described the tempo of the format as a key difference from T20 cricket, noting that the game requires fluctuations in pace and the ability to adjust between periods of aggression and caution—skills that come from extensive experience.
Reflecting on England’s history, Butcher recalled a time when England played only a handful of 50-over matches per summer, often against teams with significantly more experience. He highlighted that, currently, even players like Jos Buttler have far fewer caps than India’s players, creating a noticeable disparity in experience.
Butcher also acknowledged that while players like Gus Atkinson would benefit from these challenging experiences, it might not be enough for England to be competitive in the upcoming Champions Trophy. He said, “If you’re talking about winning a Champions Trophy in a couple of weeks time, it’s not likely… 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.”
In contrast, India’s players are notably more experienced in the 50-over format. For example, Shubman Gill, at just 25 years old, has already played 50 ODIs and over 100 List A matches. Yashasvi Jaiswal, another young talent, made his ODI debut during the series but has already featured in 30 List A games.
With the Champions Trophy set to begin on February 22 in Lahore, England will face arch-rivals Australia in their opening match, along with Afghanistan and South Africa in the group stage. The team will be hoping to overcome their recent struggles and prove their mettle in one of cricket’s most prestigious 50-over tournaments.