In 2015, the cricket team of England hit an all-time low as they failed to succeed in any of their matches against other Test-playing nations at the World Cup. What followed was a transformation rivalling a phoenix’s rise. By 2019, under the leadership of the renamed programme’s management and staff, including the remarkable Ben Stokes, the team was crowned world champions.
Today, England’s most glowing 50-over line-up is once more converging in an attempt to defend their title. The question that arises from their journey is how England managed to reach such unprecedented heights, and whether they can recreate their success in India.
The 2019 victory had its genesis in long-term planning.
Historically, the World Cup engagements indicated the end of lengthy winter tours abroad for England. The side seemed always to be on the tails of exhausting Ashes tours as it was sent off to South Africa, the Caribbean, and India. By 2015, the English Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) decided to restructure the Ashes schedule to prevent any collision.
Andrew Strauss, the managing director of England’s team in 2015, saw the repeated pitfalls and resolved to chart a different course. Under his command, the priority shifted from ‘winning the next series’ to ‘winning the World Cup in four years’. This strategic change was premised on several key factors such as winning records, batting prowess, and experience, identified by Nathan Leamon, the team’s analyst, as the predictors of World Cup success. A tacit separation was enforced between the one-day and Test teams, leading to a new and aggressive playing style.
Around 2015, England lagged greatly in their approach towards one-day batting. The squad’s total score was a mere 5.48 runs per over in a tournament where Australia, the champions, recorded 6.82 runs per over. To overcome this shortcoming, captain Eoin Morgan stressed an attacking playing style for his young team, which was a radical departure from their regular norms. Expectations were set for players to assume risks and prioritise over-aggression. This approach subverted tradition and unlocked a new potential within the team.
The admission of bowling variety was another positive development in team selection. Paul Farbrace, Bayliss’s deputy, prioritised hiring players who could turn the ball in both directions, a left-arm bowler, and a high-speed pacemaker. The revised strategy embraced diverse skill sets, giving players like Moeen Ali, considered a risky player in the past, the freedom to aim high without fearing failure.
These sweeping changes transformed England’s cricket team from a lacklustre unit failing to win against high-ranking teams in 2015 to a championship-winning side in 2019. Their 50-over route to victory created a squad that played an aggressive, dynamic game that captivated fans. The focus now is to see if they can repeat their path to glory in India. The conditions have changed, but the squad is hoping that the strength and experience of the team, and the long-term vision that led them to victory, will serve them well in this new challenge.
In the past, England had selected the 50-over spinners primarily for their defensive skills. However, this shifted when Rashid was urged to adopt an attacking playstyle. Regardless of the runs he allowed, his value was determined by the wickets he seized, quickly rising through the ranks to become England’s top ODI spinner.
England’s seam bowling was revamped too. James Anderson and Stuart Broad were dropped after the World Cup, their absence benefited everyone: they could rest for Test cricket, extend their careers, and England’s white-ball team gained new players with extensive skill sets.
Of great importance was England’s embracement of diversity both on and off the pitch. The team comprised players of different nationalities and backgrounds, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity, a factor that radicalised the team’s performance.
As the team’s performance improved, their style evolved. Coach Bayliss offered the mantra to be “aggressive and smart”, and this came to fruition with adaptable players that transformed England’s play. England faced a challenging World Cup, having to combat severe losses to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Australia. However, a team meeting in Birmingham, just before the match with India, saw the team facing their fears of failure head-on. This emotional honesty and continued commitment to their aggressive playstyle led to significant wins against India and New Zealand.
The final match required deep resolve – a manifestation of Bayliss’s “aggressive and smart” strategy. A 110-run stand by Stokes and Buttler underscored England’s successful four-year journey from underachievers to world champions. This success, although borne out of strategy and hard work, also needed a modicum of luck.
Yet, can England replicate their success?
Since that victorious day at Lord’s, the focus in English cricket shifted away from 50-over cricket. Domestically, the 50-over competition has been depleted; it has run simultaneously with the Hundred, meaning many of the country’s top white-ball cricketers were unavailable.
The post-2019 era has seen fewer ODIs due to changing global circumstances, with franchise leagues de-emphasizing the importance of ODI series. England’s ODI team has largely consisted of rotated players, never reaching their full potential since 2019. There will be several changes to the squad for the next World Cup: Morgan and Plunkett have retired, some players have fallen down the pecking order, and it is uncertain whether Archer will be fit in time for the tournament.
New players such as Dawid Malan, Willey, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Reece Topley, and Gus Atkinson might find solace in the existing setup. However, their collective ODI experience pales— only Willey is seasoned, whereas Livingstone, who has been with the white-ball setup for three years, has only played 12 ODIs.
In conclusion, England’s rejuvenation from its lowest ebb in 2015 to stunning the world in 2019 proved to be a compelling journey. As they look towards the next challenge, the memories of their triumph combined with the challenges and learning experiences of the intervening years will only strengthen their resolve for the upcoming face-offs.
