Stuart Broad gives belt treatment to Brendon McCullum, Harry Brook as England struggle in ODIs

Legendary England National Cricket Team pacer Stuart Broad has bashed the all-format head coach Brendon McCullum and white-ball skipper Harry Brook after the ODI series loss to the South Africa National Cricket Team.

Stuart Broad was disappointed after England struggled to perform in the first two matches of the ODI series against the Proteas and demanded answers from Brendon McCullum.

Not heard any messages for the white ball group apart from Harry Brook - Stuart Broad

In the ODI series opener, the Three Lions faced a humiliating 7-wicket defeat against South Africa at Headingley in Leeds on Tuesday, September 2, as they were bowled out for 131 and allowed the run-chase to be completed in 20.5 overs.

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Then, in the second ODI, the hosts displayed a good fight, but ended up facing a 5-run loss. Opting to bowl first, England allowed South Africa to post 330/8, and while chasing, got restricted to 325/9.

With these wins, Temba Bavuma-led South Africa clinched the ODI series with one match remaining. It was the first time England lost a bilateral series at home to the Proteas since 1998.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the second ODI, Stuart Broad questioned what is the vision of the English ODI team under Brendon McCullum. He said:

"With the Test match side, Brendon was so clear with what he wanted to do, even the press, we knew what the goal was, so we could back it. Not heard any messages for the white ball group apart from Harry Brook saying we want to be aggressive with the bat and take wickets with the ball. Well, yeah, that’s cricket, isn’t it?”

I suppose we’re not quite sure what the game plan is - Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad bluntly said that Team England are currently in a confused state of mind and they are not aware of what exactly the game plan is. He also slammed the players for their flat body language.

“I suppose we’re not quite sure what the game plan is, but I think the group is just tired," he said.

"I look at the body language in the field, and the bowlers, and it felt pretty flat compared to the energy that Tristan Stubbs brings to the group, or Brevis brings to the group.”

Notably, the struggle of England in ODI cricket is not a recent one, as they have been performing poorly in the format since winning the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, which they won controversially.

Stuart Broad demands rest for Joe Root, Ben Duckett

The pace-bowling legend further said that the likes of Ben Duckett and Joe Root have been overworked and are in desperate need of a break.

“Now that you’ve lost the series, I’d be half-tempted to send Ben Duckett and Joe Root up the M1 instead of down to Southampton,” said Broad.

“They played 25 days of solid, hard cricket against India in a Test series, two days later straight into the Hundred. Now they’re playing a white-ball series, and the winter is only getting busier, so I think there are some jaded minds. I’ve not seen Ben Duckett not find the middle of the bat for as long as that in any form of cricket.”

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