Ravichandran Ashwin has pointed out that England’s young batting sensation, Harry Brook, is crumbling under the weight of expectations as the team continues to struggle in global white-ball tournaments. England’s Champions Trophy campaign has been disastrous, starting with a defeat to Australia, followed by a shocking loss to Afghanistan that effectively ended their semifinal hopes.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin criticized England’s inconsistency and mentality, particularly their approach to leadership and performance.
“I saw Jos Buttler’s post-match interview after the Afghanistan game, and he openly admitted, ‘I do not know what my leadership aspirations are in the future.’ That statement speaks volumes about their current state,” Ravichandran Ashwin remarked. He also referenced comments made by England’s Ben Duckett, who had downplayed a series loss to India, saying, “We don’t care if we lose 3-0 to India. We want to beat them in the Champions Trophy final.”
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Ashwin further called out England’s erratic batting approach, particularly how they had hyped Brook as the future of their lineup.
“They were branding Harry Brook as the next-generation superstar. But now, even he is struggling. He’s under tremendous pressure to deliver match-winning performances,” Ravichandran Ashwin noted.
Meanwhile, Jos Buttler has announced that he will step down as England’s white-ball captain after their final group-stage match against South Africa on March 1. England’s exit from the Champions Trophy was confirmed following their loss to Afghanistan, capping off a difficult period for the defending champions.
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Buttler, who took over from Eoin Morgan in 2022, led England to T20 World Cup glory later that year but also oversaw two disappointing title defences. England’s 2023 ODI World Cup campaign in India ended in disaster, failing to reach the semifinals after losses to Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Their T20 World Cup defence in 2024 was also cut short after losing to India in the semifinal. Despite stepping down as captain, Buttler clarified that he has no plans to retire and is looking forward to rediscovering his love for the game.
