Lack of experience is the reason why England cannot win Champions Trophy: Mark Butcher

Mark Butcher expressed his concerns regarding England's lack of match practice as far as the ODI format is concerned. The former England batter feels that Jos Buttler and Co. will struggle to compete against the top teams in the forthcoming Champions Trophy 2025.

Butcher's analysis is primarily based on England's lacklustre showing in the recently concluded ODI series against India, where the 2019 World Cup winners were whitewashed 0-3. England were bowled out in all three of those games and India emerged victorious with consummate ease each time. The European nation got off to quickfire starts in all three games but lost wickets through the middle overs and handed the advantage to the Men in Blue.

"The first thing that sprung to my mind during the first two ODIs was just how naive most of our cricket is in the 50-over format...I thought 'why might that be?'. It's because we don't play any. There is a world of difference in terms of the tempo that the game needs to continuously be played at. I don't mean that the tempo is a rigid graph that only goes up, the tempo needs to fluctuate in 50-over cricket in a way that it doesn't need to in 20-over cricket. Having that skill and nous and game awareness to know when to put the foot down and when to ease off a little but, when to sit in and when to go hard, is something that only comes with playing lots of it," said Butcher while speaking to Wisden. 

"Being a very talented boy and somebody who has the hunger and desire to be the very best, he will be better for the experience of flogging in India. But if you're talking about winning a Champions Trophy in a couple of weeks' time, it's not likely, is it? That our team and the make-up of it and the experience of it is going to have the skill and the nous and the know-how to win what is a very difficult form of cricket, 50-over cricket. It requires more than just putting your foot to the floor and keeping it there," he added. 

Also Read: 'It's factually incorrect that we don't train' - McCullum on England's preparation

England are placed in Group B alongside Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy. They begin their campaign against arch-rivals Australia on February 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. England will face Afghanistan and South Africa on February 26 and March 1, respectively. The tournament will get underway on February 19, with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Karachi.