The England squad took to the golf course on Sunday morning, a wise choice considering the alternative watching their defeat to Australia replayed on a jumbo screen at the team hotel. The soothing flute music in the lobby did little to soften the sight of Josh Inglis tearing into their bowling attack.
Many in the team were likely reflecting on their own struggles with the bat. At the 30-over mark, England had reached 200 for two, only to end their innings at 351 for eight. It was a record-breaking total in a global event, the highest ever in the Champions Trophy. But in the context of the match, it was only par, a fact made painfully clear when Australia chased it down with ease.
Jos Buttler, among those who faltered with the bat after holing out on 23, attempted to mask his frustration. England had shown signs of improvement, but the game ultimately slipped away. While the semi-finals remain within reach, there are growing similarities to Joe Root’s final days as Test captain promising moments overshadowed by recurring failures.
A more genuine reaction came from Ben Duckett. Unlike Buttler’s forced smile, Duckett admitted to feeling “pretty flat.” His disappointment was understandable. After returning from India with a groin injury and questions about his ability to convert starts into big scores, Duckett produced a superbly crafted 165, laying the perfect platform for his teammates to build on.
This is where Liam Livingstone enters the conversation. Coming in at 280 for five with nine overs left, he managed one trademark six before perishing for 14 off 17 balls. Had Jofra Archer not chipped in with a quick 21 at the end, the defeat could have been even more humiliating.
Livingstone later pointed to the softening ball and slowing pitch as challenges in the final overs. In fairness, batting at No. 7 is a difficult role, requiring the ability to both rescue an innings and provide late acceleration. However, with nearly 100 white-ball caps 37 ODIs and 60 T20Is and as a senior player at 31, he is yet to truly make his mark in major tournaments.
His record in ICC events remains underwhelming. Despite flashes of brilliance in bilateral series, his global tournament batting average of 15.4, with a highest score of 33, tells its own story. That knock of 33 remains his closest brush with delivering under pressure, falling short in a run chase against South Africa in last year’s T20 World Cup. Had he seen England home, they would have avoided a daunting semi-final against India on a spin-friendly pitch in Guyana.
Despite this inconsistency, Livingstone remains a fixture in the XI, thanks largely to his bowling. His mix of leg-spin and off-spin returning a respectable one for 47 from seven overs against Australia makes him England’s second-best spin option after Adil Rashid. The squad selection has backed them into a corner, with reserves comprising Tom Banton, a top-order batter, and three quicks in Saqib Mahmood, Gus Atkinson, and Jamie Overton.
It was a tough night for England’s frontline pacers. Archer and Mark Wood started strongly but faded, while Brydon Carse’s back-of-a-length deliveries were easily dispatched by Inglis and company. They collectively leaked 8.5 runs per over, exposing a lack of variety in England’s pace attack. With no left-armers or specialist spinners beyond Rashid, the team faces significant challenges should they progress to the semi-finals in Dubai.
Livingstone acknowledged the difficulty of adapting to the new leadership of Brendon McCullum as white-ball coach. “Like anything, it can take a little bit of time,” he said. “But we don’t really have time on our side in this tournament, for sure. Hopefully, that turnaround comes in the next game and we can ride away from there.”
England now stay in Lahore to face Afghanistan on Wednesday, another day-night fixture where conditions may shift unexpectedly. Three days later, they head to Karachi to take on South Africa. They still have a chance to turn their tournament around, but as in their last two global events, they are once again making it difficult for themselves.
