The England cricket team has an extensive record of being considered a very strong team owing to its exceptional players. Both the 50-over and T20 World Cup titles are still held by them. The English team has always generated phenomenal talent. On the other hand, in this article, we will analyze some of the players who experienced the biggest flops in the first half of 2023.
1. Sam Curran
Sam Curran had a fantastic year in 2022, helping England win the T20 World Cup after overcoming Babar Azam’s Pakistan at the historic Melbourne Stadium in Australia. Since then, the stylish left-handed batter has become the most expensive player in IPL history after being purchased by the Punjab Kings for 18.5 crore in the IPL 2023 auction. The English all-rounder, nevertheless, was unable to duplicate his 2022 success in 2023, either in the IPL or in international cricket. The 25-year-old made 216 runs with a strike rate of 129 in the recently finished IPL 2023 season; however, the left-arm pacer has been disappointing with the ball, taking just 7 wickets in 12 games for an economy rate of 10.21. Notably, he is also failing to do well in his professional career internationally, barring him from competing in the ongoing Ashes 2023.
2. Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes, an exceptional all-rounder for England, is recognised as a great player after leading his team to wins in the 2019 ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup in 2022. After producing terrific knocks during two major tournaments, he has earned the title of a great finisher. However, the stylish left-handed batter was unable to make a significant impact in either his IPL or international careers in 2023. CSK purchased him at the IPL 2023 auction for INR 16.25 crore. The 32-year-old had only played in a few games at the beginning of the tournament before suffering injuries and missing the remainder of the games. Later, when he became fit, he was unable to come back as his position was grabbed by Ajinkya Rahane, Devon Conway, and many more. On top of that, the English all-rounder had only played two games while scoring 15 runs. Notably, in the ongoing Ashes 2023, he was unable to contribute much as his side lost the first match, and during the second match of the series, he only scored 17 runs in the first inning.
3. Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali, an English all-rounder, is unable to make a major impact in 2023. He fared poorly in the 2023 IPL, collecting just 124 runs in just 10 games, with a best score of 23. Additionally, the left-handed batsman only scored 37 runs in the first Ashes, which saw him out of the second Ashes in preference for the young Josh Tongue, who recorded a 5-wicket haul. As a consequence, the 36-year-old has been unable to assist his team much in the ongoing Ashes. Notably, it seems like he won’t get any further opportunities in the remaining contests either.