Champions Trophy 2025: England’s defeat in Karachi should mark start of rebuild
McCallum found himself in a tricky place.
The Morgan rebuild was excellent, and it stretched to Lord in 2019, but it started on a unique path where England played boring, outdated cricket.
These requirements are clear – select younger, more ambitious players in county cricket, but there is no choice. The route today is far less obvious.
Initially, McCallum had to decide whether these performances were insufficient.
It is possible to debate on Liam Dawson, who was supposed to be in Pakistan as an all-around option and a second spin option, but there are few other obvious omissions.
Will the 35-year-old left-arm spinner become a semi-finalist in this field? You are always a better player when you are away from the spotlight.
Livingstone seems to be fighting for his ODI future, with Salt under pressure after he averaged 10 games, but the rest of the top seven – Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Jos Buttler and to a lesser extent, Smith is still a horrible roster as he’s poorly performed here.
Bowling, by contrast, requires work, and McCallum hints about the limited, heavier speed approach adopted by Pakistan.
“Obviously, our game plan is to try to bring fast bowling here, try to stock up on our hits and give ourselves that belief and this approach,” McCallum said.
“We may not be completely right this time, but you have to have faith in something.”
His side’s new ball economy is currently the most expensive in the world, and their powerful threat is only better than Zimbabwe, Ireland and the United Arab Emirates and their middle records in Pakistan.
It leaves plenty of room for improvement.
But Mark Wood praised the wholesale change as Jofra Archer signed a three-year contract.
Hampshire Fast Sonny Baker – The 21-year-old who impressed the Lions this winter is one of the radars, and still hopes that Josh Hull may be Left-Armer England, but otherwise England will rebuild with the players seen here, meaning other gains must be made.
It was three months and 23 days since England ranked in the top seven of the salt, Will Jacks, Jordan Cox, Bessel, Livingstone, Sam Curran and Dan Mulley. Greater choice consistency would be a good starting point.
The fact that McCallum is now in charge of the red ball and the white team will help this fact, meaning there is no longer any dispute between two coaches with two different priorities.
Difficulties with New Zealanders keen to promote multi-format regulars rather than white ball experts will still arise, which will allow winter to play in the ashes series, flanked by white ball trips to New Zealand and Sri Lanka to keep their balance cautiously.
McCullum is now in all seasons in England, with his first rebuild in Wellington at Wellington and then a test side.
His third act is probably his most difficult one.
