Stuart Broad came down heavily on England team management following the Three Lions' five-run loss to South Africa in the second ODI on September 5. Following the defeat at Lord's, England lost the series to South Africa with a match still to play, compounding their recent struggles in this format. Despite the narrow five-run margin of loss, the result is cause for concern as the team continues to falter. The criticism of the team has been relentless, and this latest loss has only intensified it.
Stuart Broad wants much-needed break for Root, Brook, Duckett
Meanwhile, Broad believes the recent back-to-back losses to South Africa are a sign of 'jaded minds' in England's white-ball team. Following a crushing seven-wicket defeat at Headingley and a narrow five-run loss at Lord's, England's hopes of winning the ODI series were dashed. With South Africa now holding an unassailable 2-0 lead, Broad has suggested that changes should be made to the team before the final match in Southampton on September 8.
The two defeats came just days after The Hundred and followed a demanding international summer for England. The team had just concluded a grueling five-Test series against India, where every match went to the fifth day. Broad pointed out that players such as Joe Root, Ben Duckett, captain Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith have been playing consistently throughout this draining period. He also noted that Jofra Archer has been active in all three formats, suggesting that some players are in need of a well-deserved rest.
"Right now, I thought they looked quite a tired team, quite understandably. That's not me having a dig. I think The Hundred is a busy time for all of these players. They finished the final on the Sunday, a few of these players drive up to Leeds on the Monday, play, get hammered, and then you've got to try and reassess. I think now you've lost this series. I'd be half-tempted to send Ben Duckett and Joe Root up the M1 (back home) instead of down to Southampton," Broad told Sky Sports Cricket.
"They played 25 days' solid, hard cricket against India in a Test series. Two days later, straight into The Hundred playing. Now they're playing a white-ball series and the winter's only getting busier, so I think there's some jaded minds," he added.
This ODI series is England's first since their victory over the West Indies in early June. Following the final match, the team will play a three-match T20 series against South Africa.
After the T20s, several players are expected to be rested for the three-match tour of Ireland later this month. This period of rest is crucial as the team prepares for the highly anticipated Ashes tour of Australia this winter.
"I think with the Test match side, Brendan was so clear with what he wanted to do. Even the press, even we knew what the goal was, so we could sort of back it. We've not really heard any messages for the white-ball group apart from Harry Brook saying 'we want to be aggressive with the bat and take wickets with the ball'. We're not quite sure what the game plan is, but it's not necessarily working right now," Broad further said.
"I think the group look tired. I always look at body language in the field, and bowlers, and how it's going, and it felt a pretty flat bowling and fielding performance, compared to the energy that Tristan Stubbs or Dewald Brevis brings to the [South Africa] group. That's a bit of a problem," he concluded.