Following a 2-1 series defeat to West Indies, which marked England‘s third series loss since the end of the ODI World Cup 2023, Marcus Trescothick, who served as coach for the West Indies tour, criticized the domestic 50-over structure for not providing top English players with sufficient 50-over cricket experience.
“You’re not getting the volume of games that players would like to get and build an understanding of the game,” Trescothick stated after the third match in Bridgetown, Barbados.
He pointed out that “everyone knows why it is like that” but refrained from directly naming any competition as the reason for the lack of opportunities for top players in ODIs.
“I’m not going to speak against any other competition. But of course, we’d want more 50-over cricket somehow. How do we do that? That’s not up to me to try and work out,” the 48-year-old coach added.
The introduction of The Hundred has overshadowed the One-Day Trophy, England’s primary 50-over tournament, as it coincides with the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) flagship project. Consequently, most top players selected for England’s ODI squad rarely participate in the 50-over competition.
“We know how important Test cricket is in England and having the domestic T20 competition and the Hundred, that’s vitally important to our game. How do we get that balance right? That’s for the powers above to look at, but it’s not going to be easy,” Trescothick remarked.
He acknowledged the limited opportunities for 50-over cricket and emphasized that the team and players must rise to the challenge. “There’s not a massive amount to play back at home, and most of the white-ball cricket played now around the world is T20,” he said.
England’s next ODI series is scheduled against India in February 2025.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
