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Former fast bowler Stuart Broad has urged England to look at their team composition in ODIs after their defeat to India in the first match in Birmingham on Tuesday, July 14. The Three Lions were defeated by six wickets, piling more misery on their underwhelming form in 50-over cricket in the past few years.

Broad has advised England to go with an extra seam-bowling option in the side, taking out a spinner. As things stand, Harry Brook's side has as many as five spinners in the playing XI, something unnecessary not only in English conditions but also in South Africa, where the next Cricket World Cup is set to take place. 

"England are eighth in the world rankings and are playing like they are eighth. They need to get more experience into the roles of the players. Looking ahead to the next World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, it's going to be the faster, taller bowlers who do the damage there. Given the make-up and balance of this side, with Rashid, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks, along with the part-time spin options of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root, I'd be leaning towards playing an extra seamer instead of one of the spinners because it gives that bowler experience and exposure to match situations," Stuart Broad said on Sky Sports Cricket. 

The former player-turned-expert also highlighted the importance of a wicket-taking bowler in the middle overs, instead of over-relying on the likes of Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid. Sam Curran is England's third seamer, but his bowling style is suited to the death rather than the middle.

The 2019 world champions have received a major boost in their bowling department with the return of Brydon Carse from injury. The Durham seamer is available for selection for the second ODI in Cardiff and could be slotted in place of a spinner thanks to his prowess with the bat at the death. 

"Taking 10 wickets in an ODI, particularly through that middle period, is difficult. I look at Archer - he's a natural wicket-taker, the best white-ball bowler we have. Tongue can take wickets. Rashid can take wickets. But I feel England need one more fast bowler to back up that group. Sam Curran is a very good cricketer, but he's not a first-change seam bowler. England need someone to come through in the middle overs, bowl bouncers and seamers, and take the outside edge, so they don't have to go to Archer all the time. Could that be Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson or Saqib Mahmood? England need to start trialling that now," Stuart Broad added. 

England are on the cusp of missing out on automatic qualification for the 2027 Cricket World Cup. Brook's side are currently eighth in the ICC ODI Rankings, the last spot which guarantees safe passage into the tournament.