Ace Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced his concerns over England’s struggles in white-ball cricket, suggesting that rising star Harry Brook is crumbling under the weight of expectations. England’s recent performances have been disappointing, with Jos Buttler’s team suffering losses to Australia and Afghanistan in Group B, ultimately leading to their premature exit from the tournament.
Discussing England’s approach in the ongoing ICC event, Ashwin did not hold back while sharing his thoughts on his YouTube channel. Referring to Buttler’s reaction following the shocking defeat to Afghanistan, Ashwin pointed out, “I saw Jos Buttler’s post-match interview. He was very candid in saying, ‘I do not know what my leadership aspirations are in the future.’ They had a terrible 50-over World Cup in 2023.”
He also brought up a remark made by England batter Ben Duckett, recalling, “There was a statement from Ben Duckett after losing the first ODI in India. He said, ‘We don’t care if we lose 3-0 to India. Because we want to beat India in the final of the Champions Trophy.’”
According to Ashwin, England’s inconsistent batting template has been one of their major downfalls. He specifically pointed out the case of Harry Brook, emphasizing how the young batter is struggling under the immense pressure of being marketed as the next big thing in English cricket. “You were marketing and branding Harry Brook as the next generation’s sensation. But Harry Brook’s game is also sinking. He is now under immense pressure to produce match-winning knocks,” Ashwin added.
Meanwhile, Jos Buttler has now decided to step down as England’s white-ball captain following their final Champions Trophy group-stage match against South Africa on Saturday, March 1. England’s disappointing run saw them crash out of the eight-team tournament after their defeat to Afghanistan.
Buttler, who took over as England’s limited-overs captain in June 2022 after Eoin Morgan’s retirement, had led the team to T20 World Cup glory later that year in Australia. However, with England’s recent struggles in ICC events, the future of their white-ball setup appears to be heading for a shake-up.
