England cricket team: A look at strength and weakness of Buttler and Co. for ODI World Cup

Cricket World Cup 2023: The biggest cricket carnival of the year is almost here as 10 teams go one-on-on with each other to stamp their authority on the world and announce their domination at the biggest stage. England are the defending champions of the ODI crown and will be led by Jos Buttler who is captaining his side for the first time in an Cricket World Cup. Here's how the English cricket team looks ahead of the ODI World Cup. Can they defend their crown? Let's just try and understand

England's squad for ODI World Cup 2023

Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, and Chris Woakes.

England's 'Strengths' in ODI World Cup 2023

(English cricket team during ENG vs NZ ODI series / Image: AP)

An experienced core unit: The great part of this current English side is that they have been a settled unit for a really long time. The white ball revolution that Eoin Morgan brought in helped them win the 2019 World Cup and England are certainly the favourites to defend their title. Their marquee players such as  Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid, and Liam Livingstone have been playing together for very long time and the core unit looks settled.

Plethora of game changers: The addition of Ben Stokes in their World Cup squad has added to their firepower and ammunition. The English side already has players like  Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow. Players who can change the game before even the opposition knows it. 

Clarity in roles: Jos Buttler, under his leadership has very well defined the roles of his players. This was somewhat one of the biggest reasons of England's second World T20 victory in 2022. The English players have been given immense clarity about what they are expected to do and this makes them an extremely formidable side.

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England's 'Weaknesses' in ODI World Cup 2023

(Sam Curran is dismissed by New Zealand's Matt Henry / Image: AP)

Scarcity of regular spinner: It is a no brainer that the tracks in India have often offered more purchases for the spinners. Be it the white ball format or the red ball format, the spinners go a long way in dictating terms and deciding the result of the match. Undoubtedly, Adil Rashid is a master of his craft and can easily stem the flow of runs whenever required, but he might just run o partners and will need someone else to operate with him in the middle overs. England can use Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone and Joe Root as Rashid's partner, but they certainly won't be that effective when the batsmen are settled.

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England's 'Opportunities' in ODI World Cup 2023

(Moeen Ali, David Willey and Jos Buttler celebrate fall of a wicket / Image: AP)

Extension of world domination: The inventors of this sport, England have always been on the forefront of revolutionizing the game. The way in which they changed how ODI, T20I and Test cricket is being played is something remarkable and will be always talked about. England are the current holders of the T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup and if they can defend their ODI crown, it will nothing else but a massive statement. England can also be the fourth team after India, Australia and West Indies to win more than one ODI World Cup.

Jos the Boss: When Buttler was announced as England's skipper in the T20I and the ODI format, there were many critics who questioned his decisions and his leadership capabilities, but he answered all of these things in style with a T20I World Cup victory in 2022. Now Buttler has an opportunity to do what Morgan did in the year 2019 and get his hands on the ODI World Cup trophy. If Buttler manages to get his hands on the ODI World Cup trophy, he certainly will be remembered as England's greatest whit ball skipper ever. Buttler also has the chance of being the second skipper in the history of cricket to win the T20I World Cup and ODI World Cup as a captain after MS Dhoni.

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England's 'Threats' in ODI World Cup 2023

(Ben Stokes and Dawid Malan during ENG vs NZ ODI series / Image: AP)

Spin threat: The English batters have always enjoyed good pace and bounce and the ball coming on to their bat pretty nicely. Unfortunately, the marquee tournament is being played in India and the overseas batsmen will have to adapt. The English batters have played loads of IPL and they know the conditions pretty well, but a fifty over match is a different ball game altogether. Buttler and Co. might find it difficult to operate in full flow during the middle overs and hitting the spinners at will. The English players do not trust their  defence against spin bowling and lose wickets while going hard at them.

England's schedulde in ODI World Cup 2023

• England v New Zealand: October 5 at Ahmedabad
• England v Bangladesh: October 10, 2023 at Dharamsala
• England v Afghanistan: October 15, 2023 at Delhi
• England v South Africa: October 21, 2023 at Mumbai
• England v Sri Lanka: October 26, 2023 at Bengaluru
• India v England: October 29, 2023 at Lucknow
• England v Australia: November 4, 2023 at Ahmedabad
• England v Netherlands: November 8, 2023 at Pune
• England v Pakistan: November 11, 2023 at Kolkata

Prediction for England in ODI World Cup 2023

The World champions have a pretty balanced look to their sides and most importantly they are well settled, know what to do in pressure situations and how to deliver under immense pressure. They are certainly a force to reckon with in the World Cup and the oppositions might have a hard time getting past them. If England can go big match-after-match and can decimate the opposition's bowling like they always have, they can certainly defend their crown and replicate the heroics of the 2019 ODI World Cup