England need an extra ODI seamer, says Broad

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 16, 2026

Former England bowler Stuart Broad warned that England’s lack of depth in fast bowling, highlighted by their heavy reliance on Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue in their recent loss to India, puts the team at risk ahead of next year’s World Cup. Broad emphasized the need to add another effective seamer to strengthen the attack and ease pressure on key bowlers, which is vital for improving England’s competitiveness in the 50-over format.

England faces a pressing need to strengthen its fast-bowling options ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa, according to former England pacer Stuart Broad. Speaking after England’s recent six-wicket defeat to India at Edgbaston on Tuesday, Broad emphasized that the current pace attack is insufficient to compete effectively in the tournament.

England, ranked eighth in the international one-day rankings—below even Afghanistan—have struggled to build consistent form in the 50-over format, having lost 14 of their last 20 matches. Broad attributed this to a lack of experience and depth in key bowling roles.

During Tuesday’s match, England captain Harry Brook fielded just three seamers alongside five spinning options, relying heavily on express quick Jofra Archer early in India’s innings. Archer and Josh Tongue, the only dedicated fast bowlers in the side, bowled 13 of the first 16 overs. The heavy workload on the pace attack likely limited England’s ability to exert sustained pressure on the Indian batting lineup.

Despite the bowling unit’s challenges, England’s batting stage showed some resilience. Veteran all-rounder Liam Dawson marked his maiden ODI half-century with 68 runs, while Joe Root remained unbeaten on 76. Their 121-run partnership helped England set a competitive target of 259. However, India’s top-ranked 50-over side recovered well after early setbacks, with captain Shubman Gill contributing an unbeaten 80 from 75 balls before retiring hurt.

Broad highlighted the importance of adding another fast bowler to ease the burden on Archer and Tongue. He suggested that players such as Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, or Saqib Mahmood could fill this role. According to Broad, a fourth seamer capable of delivering in the middle overs, employing bouncers and seam movement, would prevent opposition batsmen from settling and reduce reliance on Archer, England’s leading white-ball wicket-taker.

“Taking 10 wickets in an ODI, especially during the middle overs, is difficult,” Broad said, underscoring the strategic value of a balanced pace attack. He noted that while Sam Curran is a talented cricketer, he does not fit the profile of a frontline seam bowler who can provide breakthroughs during crucial phases.

The series continues with the second ODI scheduled for Wednesday in Cardiff, where England will seek to regain momentum against a strong Indian side. Broad’s analysis indicates that the upcoming matches may serve as a crucial testing ground for England to identify and develop their ideal pace-bowling combination ahead of the World Cup.

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