Buttler not taking depleted Australia lightly in Champions Trophy
England skipper Jos Buttler expects Australia to pose a tough challenge when they meet in a Champions Trophy Group B clash in Lahore on Saturday, despite missing their pace trio.
England skipper Jos Buttler expects Australia to pose a tough challenge when they meet in a Champions Trophy Group B clash in Lahore on Saturday, despite missing their pace trio.
England may have been the reigning world champions in both 50-over and T20 cricket as recently as two years ago, but they head into the Champions Trophy facing an uphill struggle to reach the semi-finals.
England's prospects for the Champions Trophy received a boost on Saturday when opening batsman Ben Duckett was passed fit for the one-day international tournament.
The cascade of cash into English cricket created by the auction of stakes in Hundred franchises climaxed on Wednesday with a deal for Southern Brave.
Top-order batter Shubman Gill kept up his good form with a sparkling century to help India hammer England by 142 runs and sweep the ODI series 3-0 on Wednesday.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has agreed to buy a 49 percent stake in Hundred franchise Trent Rockets, becoming the latest foreign investor in the 100-ball-a-side cricket competition.
Jacob Bethell is set to miss next week's Champions Trophy after the left-handed batsman sat out the second one-day international against India with a hamstring injury.
Skipper Rohit Sharma defied a floodlight failure to return to form with a cracking 119 as India swept to a four-wicket, series-clinching win over England in the second one-day international on Sunday.
England will play Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy later this month despite calls from British politicians to boycott the match over the Taliban regime's curtailment of women's rights.
Shubman Gill led India to a four-wicket victory over England in the first one-day international on Thursday after a strong bowling performance from the hosts in Nagpur.
England captain Jos Buttler on Wednesday said Joe Root will play a "crucial role" in India on his ODI return and as they build up to the Champions Trophy this month.
India's Abhishek Sharma hit a brutal 135 to set up a crushing 150-run win over England in the fifth T20 international and seal the series 4-1 on Sunday.