Champions Trophy 2025: England's Jamie Smith selection explained

England has surprisingly decided to promote Jamie Smith to the number three position for their opening Champions Trophy match. Notably, Smith has only played at number three once in his career, back in 2019 for Surrey against Kent. Now, he will take on this crucial role against Australia in Lahore, carrying a significant responsibility.

England captain Jos Buttler stated, "He's a very exciting player who's obviously adapted to international cricket really well, and we think he can have a huge impact in that position." This move appears to embody the latest aggressive tactics adopted by the England team under coach Brendon McCullum's leadership. This strategic decision aims to inject dynamism into their batting lineup.

Despite Smith's lack of half-centuries in his last seven international ODIs, his Test cricket performance last summer was impressive. Particularly in the third Test against Sri Lanka, he demonstrated why England believes his batting has the potential to change the game, scoring 52 runs off the last 18 balls with powerful and technically sound strokes. While he replaces Joe Root – England's greatest number three in ODIs, who performed exceptionally during the 2019 World Cup victory – the team clearly believes Smith is a better option for an aggressive powerplay if a wicket falls within the first 10 overs.

Buttler explained, "Duckett, Salt, and Smith as the top three can be very aggressive, express themselves, and try to play match-winning innings, while Root, Brook, myself, and Liam Livingstone provide solid support at the back." Australia adopted a similar tactic during their 2023 World Cup victory, with Mitchell Marsh batting at number three ahead of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. This approach highlights a growing trend of prioritizing aggressive batting early in the innings.

Although logically it may seem reasonable, it remains a significant gamble considering Smith's inexperience. When asked if Smith would have batted at number three had he not missed the earlier match against India due to a calf injury, Buttler remained noncommittal. Buttler also didn't address the impact of Root's skills – an excellent player against spin in the middle overs of ODIs – on the discussion, simply stating, "We feel like it's a good combination for us." However, statistics suggest there might be some truth to it, despite Root's excellence. In the past 23 ODIs, Root averaged 18.8 in the 17 innings where he came in during the powerplay, compared to an average of 74.2 when facing his first ball after the 10th over. He was dismissed within the first 10 overs 10 times during that period.

Smith's promotion also means Buttler is pushed down one spot to number six, despite suggestions that he should bat higher up the order. Buttler has been struggling with his ODI form for some time. Since becoming captain in 2022, he has averaged 33.13 in the format, compared to 41.2 previously. He has batted at number six more often than any other position, although he did not regularly occupy that spot before 2019. This shift in batting order raises questions about the team's overall strategy and Buttler's role within it.

Buttler said, "It's a position where I can have the most impact, and I want to try and really ramp up my strength in the middle overs, play impactful innings, and really stay true to what I am as a cricketer. That's really what I'm tapping back into. It's how I've always played for a period of time, and that's what I'm hoping to get out of this and going forward. Throughout my career, I want to stay true to that, and if I can do that, I'll be very satisfied." This statement underscores Buttler's commitment to adapting his game and contributing effectively in his new role.