After a miserable winter in the sport, the England Cricket Board (ECB) have some tough decisions to make about the direction the national team must go. They were embarrassed by rivals Australia in the Ashes, going down 4-0 in the series.
England were expected to get back to winning ways in the West Indies, but defeat in the third and final Test meant they lost that series 1-0. It leaves question marks about the future of captain Joe Root, the selectors must consider if they are picking the right players and examine whether grassroots players are fulfilling their potential in the current system. It was clear in Australia that England were a long way behind the hosts in all areas of the game. Their record Down Under has never been great, but rarely have they been beaten with such ease.
Is The County Cricket Structure Working?
The County Cricket leagues in England are meant to give the next generation of national team players the chance to develop in domestic cricket. Those who progress through the ranks with their county have the opportunity to play first-class cricket in the four-day game, 50-overs cricket and the T20 Blast. The ECB selectors use county cricket to predominantly pick players for the national team. But, given how poorly England have performed in the last 12 months, there has been some talk about whether the system needs to change.
Unlike the Test arena, England have performed well in white ball cricket in recent years, which suggests the T20 Blast has helped. Many of England’s leading players have also participated in franchise leagues around the world such as the Indian Premier League (IPL). The experience of playing at this level in different conditions has also been invaluable.
For Test results to improve, the ECB may need to make the four-day game in England more competitive and appealing. They need to give the best young talent in the country the chance to flourish. At this moment in time, cricket is the second most popular sport in England. It’s unlikely to pass football in terms of popularity, however, participation numbers remain strong at grassroots level.
Bangladesh Proved Tournament Success Can Inspire a Generation
England will still be hoping that they benefit from their 2019 World Cup success. It was the first time in history that the nation had won the 50-overs competition when they defeated New Zealand in the final at Lord’s. When Bangladesh won the 1997 ICC Trophy, it was a huge turning point in the history of the country. The popularity of cricket rose considerably after that win, and they are starting to see the benefits of that today, with much better results on the international stage.
Unsurprisingly, cricket is now the number one sport in Bangladesh. This is reflected by the number of online betting sites in Bangladesh, including LeoVegas Sport, one of the most reputable bookmakers, who make Bangladesh 75/1 to win the ICC T20 World Cup in 2022. The fact that major bookmakers have a presence here is indicative of a thriving betting scene, and therefore, a large fan following.
These odds, plus previous performances, are a testament to the fact that the country has proven it can go into these big tournaments and prove competitive now. Like Bangladesh, it may take England a while yet to see the fruits of their 2019 World Cup success. They will be hoping the next generation of players will be inspired by what they achieved three years ago. Before they embark on their summer programme, the ECB must decide what changes they can make immediately to help the national team improve their results in 2022.
