The England cricket team has set an unwanted record in One Day Internationals (ODIs) after a crushing defeat to South Africa in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The match, played at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, marked England’s seventh consecutive loss in ODIs, making it their longest losing streak in over two decades.
England’s Struggles in the Champions Trophy
England entered the tournament on a poor run of form, having lost a 3-0 series against India before the competition. Their struggles continued in the Champions Trophy, where they failed to win a single match and were eliminated in the group stage.
Their campaign started with a high-scoring game against Australia on February 22, where they posted an impressive 351 runs for the loss of eight wickets. However, Australia successfully chased down the target, with Josh Inglis scoring a brilliant century, supported by Alex Carey and Matthew Short.
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A rain-affected match between Australia and South Africa put England in a tough spot, as they needed to win both of their remaining matches to stand a chance at reaching the semi-finals. However, Afghanistan ended their hopes with a thrilling eight-run victory. Ibrahim Zadran’s outstanding knock of 177 runs and Azmatullah Omarzai’s five-wicket haul were the highlights of that game.
In their final group match against South Africa, England’s batting lineup collapsed once again, managing only 179 runs. South Africa chased the target comfortably, losing just three wickets and winning with 125 balls to spare.
A Record England Would Want to Forget
This losing streak of seven consecutive matches is now England’s longest in ODIs since 2000-2001 when they lost 11 matches in a row. The poor run began last November with an eight-wicket defeat against the West Indies and has continued into 2025.
England, the former World Cup champions, will now have to rethink their strategy and rebuild their squad as they look to regain their winning touch. Their recent struggles highlight the challenges they face in international cricket and the need for a fresh approach moving forward.
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