Why the Champions Trophy matters after England’s dark winter

As England’s captain, Jos Buttler made a year-long promise to smile more.

After a seven-horrible defeats on a tour of India and eight different cities, Buttler would be forgiven for putting his New Year’s resolution on the back burner, which is quickly followed by giving up chocolate and learning to play the instrument.

The trip was intended to mark the beginning of Brendon McCullum’s rebirth as England’s pioneering white-ball team, the early seeds sown in growth.

All critique of England’s performance in India comes with the caveat of the hosts ‘ limited-overs strength. In home conditions, India’s quality would rival that of the greatest sporting teams.

However, Eoin Morgan’s England World Cup winning team did both travel to India and lose, at least in terms of competition.

In six of their eight innings, England was bowled out this time. It is unfair to call the start difficult.

From picking his first squad to the final defeat in Ahmedabad, McCullum’s early plans as white-ball coach have followed those employed in leading England’s Test side.

He selected a “watchable brand of cricket” from his words from before the tour’s start, using “guys who bowl absolute rockets” and “guys who bowl absolute rockets” to push out those who had been chosen.

But while the New Zealander’s laid-back approach – a preference of personality over previous statistics – has got a tune out of all-timers (Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes and Joe Root), experienced pros (Chris Woakes and Jonny Bairstow) and youngsters (Gus Atkinson and Shoaib Bashir) alike in the Test arena, it has not looked such a natural fit for his new white-ball squad.

This group is still unsure of the color scheme of their clothing and is still looking for solutions to their 50-over performance.

In reality, Matthew Mott outfits, who lost each of their world titles during McCullum’s first tour in charge, did not look any different in England.

Positives were rare. Before a toe issue ended his ODI series, openers Ben Duckett and Phil Salt showed glimpses of an opening pairing worth perseverance with four fifty partnerships, but after that it was a muddle.

Much was made of Joe Root’s return as England’s ODI 50-over ballast for his first white-ball appearance in 15 months but, having begun the series back at number three, he ended it nudged down to accommodate Tom Banton.

That heightened the scope of the uncertainty surrounding England, who have not attempted to define each player’s role.

Their XI was flipped for the final match in favor of a batting-heavy approach for the majority of the series, with Jamie Overton receiving scathing criticism for struggling at number seven despite a strong showing with the ball.

Root and Livingstone combined to take the fifth bowler position, giving up 104 runs overall. Wherever England turned, problems appeared.

McCullum and Buttler can attribute the confusion to Jacob Bethell and Jamie Smith’s injuries, but a squad with as many six-foot-plus quicks as frontline batters always had little room to move.

Two of McCullum’s Test bankers, Atkinson and Harry Brook, also struggled badly, further suggesting McCullum may have to call on his other skills.

McCullum is not doing a coach who is regarded as having one of the smartest minds in the modern game justice by downgrading him to a “vitations man.”

Before the term “Bazball” first piqued the interest of bumbling Australians, and McCullum led New Zealand to the 2015 World Cup final, setting the precedent Morgan would follow to Lord’s four years later, he was pushed for England’s white-ball position.

By the time England won the trophy, McCullum had already begun a successful coaching career that would include victories in the Caribbean and an Indian Premier League title.

McCullum needs a hands-on captain to hold the ship’s balance, not someone who will dictate its course.

Since arriving in England, he has done a lot of good, but badwill has run out due to a bad winter.

England was alarmed by claims that India did not provide enough training.

Although McCullum may have made the initial claims, Buttler’s squad was only in the nets once, but intensity is not when they do train.

However, something still resonated with the local population.

English cricket is at risk of developing an image issue as a result of discussions of golf and beach walks in Sydney.

An Ashes defeat, along with losses in Pakistan, the West Indies, and India, have put pressure on supporters’ resolve, which many consider to be the end result of their impressive victory in New Zealand.

The Champions Trophy may seem like a game from a bygone era, but England will benefit from these three crucial games before the whites take on India and then Australia in an era-defining series.

Solace should be found from flatter pitches in Pakistan, where runs flow and Brook averages 83 across 13 matches, while injuries to Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, Anrich Nortje and a host of others have left most teams weakened.

England need victories to change the mood, starting against a depleted and out-of-form Australia on Saturday.