England vs Australia, 2018: 3 shortcomings in the English side

One-dimensional pacers

England v Australia - ICC Champions Trophy

Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett, Tom Curran and Ben Stokes, the four main participants in England's fast bowling unit are very effective bowlers as individuals but when put together, they synthesize into creating one bland medium-fast bowler with the occasional slower ball, courtesy of Tom Curran. On pitches that are somewhat on the favourable side for the bowlers, they do well, but on batting friendly pitches, they lose their flourish.

Wood, Plunkett, and Stokes, along with Jake Ball, who is also a prospective member of the World Cup team, were found incredibly wanting on their tour of India in 2016. Playing a total of five one-day games with these bowlers doing majority of the workload, England conceded runs at 6.91 an over, that too when two of those matches were against an India-A side, and picked only 6 wickets on an average for each game, allowing each stand to put up roughly 48 runs for each wicket.

With David Willey, the only distinguishing member in the squad, England could do with another pace bowler who has the X-factor and bowls with angles and at lines differing from the mainstays.

How about another Curran? Perhaps someone named Sam.