England's white-ball captain Harry Brook described the sacking of head coach Brendon McCullum as "disappointing" following his team's six-wicket defeat against India in Birmingham on Tuesday. The loss, which came after England's T20 side had reached the top of the world rankings on Saturday, marks another setback for the 50-over format.
India secured a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, chasing down England's total with 28 balls to spare. Indian captain Shubman Gill scored 80 off 75 balls before retiring hurt with cramp, a performance echoing his significant scores in the Test series last summer. The tourists' victory was solidified by an unbeaten 57 from all-rounder Axar Patel.
McCullum's dismissal as Test coach on Sunday followed a period of mixed results. "It was disappointing for me," Brook said of the sacking. "He's played a massive part in my career, and he's been awesome for me. He's going to be missed."
The England team has struggled in the 50-over format, having lost 20 of their last 30 matches since the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup. They are currently ranked eighth in the world in ODIs, a stark contrast to their 2019 World Cup triumph.
England's batting lineup faltered after a promising start. Opting to bat first on a decent Edgbaston pitch, they collapsed from 61 without loss to 107 for six. Brook himself was dismissed for a single. Joe Root top-scored with 76 not out, supported by Liam Dawson's 68, but the lower order failed to capitalize, leaving England with a total that proved insufficient.
In the bowling department, Jofra Archer took the wicket of Virat Kohli, and a direct hit from Brook ran out Shreyas Iyer. Josh Tongue also claimed a wicket, but spin bowlers Washington Sundar and Axar Patel ultimately steered India to victory.
Despite the recent T20 success, England's one-day team faces a significant challenge to improve its standing. Fast bowler Brydon Carse is set to return after recovering from injury, but the team will need more substantial changes to compete effectively in the 50-over format. The next match in the series is scheduled for Thursday in Cardiff.