The Champions Trophy has provided us with several insights thus far. One constant remains: in a lopsided match, the experience can be as tedious as watching paint dry for an extended period. This is precisely when one longs for the excitement of T20 cricket. However, encounters such as Afghanistan versus England and England versus Australia offer valuable lessons and memorable moments.

Having observed all three formats of the game over a considerable period, I contend that if one seeks batting brilliance, the 50-over format is not the ideal arena, except in rare instances.

Take, for example, Josh Inglis's remarkable innings against England, complemented by a partnership with Alex Carey reminiscent of past glories. In such scenarios, runs are accumulated at a measured pace, yet the players navigate a precarious situation. A single wicket can shift the momentum, underscoring the high stakes inherent in this tournament format, which is one of its defining features.

In run chases of this nature, true batting excellence is evident not when teams set scores of 250-300, as this does not compel batters to dig deep or bowlers to strive for wickets. In such cases, the pursuit of excellence often recedes into the background.

Conversely, a successful chase, where a batter nearly single-handedly chases down a substantial target, exemplifies true batting prowess. This achievement relies more on mental resilience than mere skill or power. Anything less than this can be classified as a commendable performance, but not a great one.

In ODIs, a batter's success does not carry significant weight for this reason; bowlers are not solely focused on preventing a century but are more concerned with maintaining the team's run rate. Numerous centuries in ODIs have been scored in ways that ultimately benefited the bowling side.

Joe Root nearly delivered a stellar one-day innings during the run chase against Afghanistan, as he endeavored to lead his team to victory with considerable pressure resting on the outcome.

A significant narrative for me has been the progress of Afghanistan, a team that is making remarkable strides on the international stage. The shorter the format, the more opportunities weaker teams have to challenge their stronger counterparts, wouldn't you agree?

Afghanistan has achieved victories over England on two occasions in ICC tournaments within the longer format. This underscores their impressive development, particularly among their batters, who are now capable of scoring substantial centuries, such as Najeeb Zadran's 177 against England.

The recent ICC tournaments held in India, the United States, the West Indies, and now Pakistan have provided Afghanistan with favorable conditions. However, their true challenge will arise when ICC events are hosted in countries like South Africa, England, Australia, and New Zealand.

In such environments, they may find the conditions less conducive to their natural playing style. Nevertheless, it is essential that they receive ongoing exposure to diverse conditions, which will enable them to become adept at performing well in any setting, particularly as senior teams like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies are experiencing a decline.

On another note, what has transpired with England?

It felt akin to observing a team in a state of disarray. I have greatly appreciated watching England in Test matches under Ben Stokes' captaincy. During their recent tour to India, despite losing the series, the scoreline does not accurately reflect how frequently they managed to unsettle the Indian team throughout the series.

The concept of "Bazball" is an innovative approach in Test cricket, focusing on setting fields to dismiss batters rather than merely preventing boundaries. Consequently, when a batter opts for a counterattack, it creates significant disruption.

In limited-overs cricket, however, bowlers aim to restrict batters from scoring rapidly, making "Bazball" less applicable as a groundbreaking strategy.

After observing this tournament, I have come to the conclusion that a foundation of common sense is the most effective approach for achieving consistent success. It is disheartening to witness batters attempting to hit every delivery for a boundary when the target is merely 250; a few singles combined with the occasional unexpected boundary would suffice. Why risk losing your wicket by trying to hit a six and offering a simple catch? sooner the world catches up to this better it is for them.

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