England put on a disappointing showing in the ODI Tri-Series alongside Pakistan and Sri Lanka, failing to make the finals after losing three matches. The Three Lions are languishing in eighth place in the ICC Men's ODI Rankings, knowing that any slip-up would see them lose their automatic qualification spot for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
The team that was renowned for 'revolutionising the format' during their 2019 World Cup triumph has now fallen behind, with results being hard to come by.
Series wins against Sri Lanka and India papered over cracks, which have once again been laid bare in Rawalpindi and Lahore. While results have improved since Harry Brook took over as captain in 2025, they will need to rediscover their mojo to seal their place in the marquee event. With that in mind, here are a few items they need to address before their next assignment in Australia.
Lack of wickets in the middle overs
A common theme in the ODI Tri-Series in Pakistan was England's inability to take wickets in the middle overs of matches. Their concerns were accentuated by the dropping of Adil Rashid over concerns about form. The veteran leg-spinner has been the side's key threat in the middle overs, and his absence and poor form posed a huge threat. While Liam Dawson's four-wicket haul in the final match against Sri Lanka was a positive, the bowling attack that takes the bulk of the middle overs - Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Will Jacks, and Dawson - was unable to create significant inroads.
For England to pose a serious threat and improve their form, the side needs to find a way to take wickets in the middle overs, on non-helpful wickets like those in the Pakistan series. Brook's side have let games slip even after setting a platform with wickets in the powerplay, and this is an area they need to work on.
The Three Lions also need to find a replacement for Rashid, who is at the waning end of his career. The leg-spinner has been a key stalwart of the side for England, and a succession plan could help England handle their transition better. The return of Mason Crane, and the overarching presence of Rehan Ahmed, do pose hope. However, Crane did not get a single game in the series, and Rehan's recent form has opened question marks over his readiness for the international stage.
Re-assessing their multiple all-rounders strategy
England's lineup for the final three matches of the tri-series saw them field four all-rounders in Jacks, Dawson, Curran and Overton. Modern cricket's school of thought believes in the inclusion of multiple all-rounders, especially in the white-ball formats, to lengthen the batting lineup and add more bowling options. While it is beneficial, what it leaves teams with a lesser number of frontline bowling options, who could be genuine wicket-takers.
The role of Sam Curran has also left many questions for England to address. Curran, a T20 specialist with expertise in slower balls and cutters, looked toothless in the series against Pakistan. He took just four wickets at 54.75 and managed just 90 runs, with a highest score of 43. His performances over the summer on helpful wickets boosted his case, but this series will leave England requiring solutions over whether to persist with the all-rounder.
Final verdict
The Three Lions have a set template of how they want to play and structure their squad. While their bowling has been laid bare in the series, their batting showed promise, with scores from all batters. The likes of Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook and Will Jacks were in the runs and showed much promise. The team's bowling, however, is where they need to improve, finding a balance with their frontline options and taking wickets in the middle overs. The return of Jofra Archer, who was rested for this series, would make their attack look more fearsome and impactful, but they will need to fit the pieces of the jigsaw around their ace speedster.
