Ahmedabad: Ben Duckett has expressed that the outcome of the ODI series against India, even if it results in a 3-0 loss for England, is of little concern to him, provided they secure victory in the Champions Trophy. He remarked to the media following his team's 0-2 deficit after the defeat in Cuttack, “No one will probably look back on this series if we go and do the business in that competition.”

While this perspective is theoretically sound, its practical application proves to be significantly more challenging. England has squandered promising starts throughout the series, struggled to counter Ravindra Jadeja’s spin, and appeared lacklustre with the ball. The Indian batsmen have effectively countered England’s pace attack and Shreyas Iyer has come well-prepared to handle the short deliveries. Aside from Adil Rashid’s spin bowling, the visitors have not posed a substantial challenge to India.

It seems that England has lost their winning mentality in their pursuit of entertainment. Following a disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, they have suffered defeats both at home and away against the West Indies and Australia, and they have already conceded the trophy to India ahead of Wednesday’s final ODI in Ahmedabad.

This current team is a stark contrast to Eoin Morgan’s England. Under Morgan’s leadership, the team not only pushed the boundaries of run-scoring but also demonstrated the ability to win low-scoring matches, as evidenced by the 2019 World Cup final, which ended in a tie at 241 runs before proceeding to the Super Over.

Duckett noted that the team has the full support of head coach Brendon McCullum. “Baz will never criticize me for attempting to hit a left-arm spinner for six over midwicket with a shot I execute repeatedly,” he explained, defending his dismissal in Ravindra Jadeja’s first over in Cuttack. “As long as we adhere to the options we practice and focus on our strengths, there will be no grievances within that dressing room.”

Reiterating the importance of leveraging one's strengths is indeed prudent advice. However, can an entire team consistently adopt an aggressive, no-holds-barred offensive strategy in a format where victories can be achieved through varying approaches depending on the conditions and the calibre of the opposition?

This notion may encapsulate the essence of Bazball, although the excitement surrounding this term, introduced in 2021, has diminished. Following the Test series defeat to India last year, there were discussions about possibly adopting a more measured approach. Since his integration into England’s white-ball framework, McCullum has consistently advocated for a high-tempo style of play.

England's captain, Jos Buttler, noted a parallel between their approach and Rohit Sharma’s century in Cuttack. “Rohit truly exemplified, in today’s context of modern 50-over cricket, a dynamic and aggressive style. His scoring rate reinforces our belief that the way we aim to play is indeed the correct approach, as it is essential to play to win in cricket,” he remarked.

However, Buttler failed to acknowledge the distinct composition of India’s batting lineup. Rohit was the sole player taking significant risks during the powerplay, while Shubman Gill played a more supportive role. Virat Kohli focused on building the momentum of his innings, and KL Rahul adapted his batting to the situation. This contrasts sharply with England's philosophy, which is currently proving ineffective.

In the England ODI squad, only Duckett and Joe Root maintain averages exceeding 40. This statistic highlights the English setup's minimal emphasis on batting averages, favouring strike rates instead. There is substantial evidence that evenly matched teams with strong bowling attacks rarely allow an ODI match to devolve into a T20-style run chase.

“If we lose 3-0 to India, I don’t care as long as we beat them in the final in the Champions Trophy,” Duckett stated. However, few observers are optimistic about England's chances of reaching the final given their current approach.

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