Is getting whitewashed ‘the new black’ in cricket run-ups? Australia, South Africa, England all drubbed before Champions Trophy | Cricket News

If Jofra Archer caught napping on camera during England’s batting had seemed very odd and metaphorical during their 0-3 series loss to India, South Africa, losing 5 ODIs on a trot in the leadup is downright strange as the big teams head into Champions Trophy in coming days.
Steve Smith’s Australia wrapped up their Sri Lanka sojourn, losing both their 50-over fixtures, to complete 3/4ths of Group B of the Champions Trophy heading into that tournament whitewashed, and wallopped.
It could be interpreted either as teams holding back their cards and not offering rival video analysts data on a platter. Or plain asmal form in the run-up.
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But the Saffers first. Between unearthing the Breetzke blitzkrieg of their newest batting sensation, the Proteas have now lost 5 ODIs going back two months. They could barely defend 239/9 against Pakan at Paarl, losing 3 wickets. And later faltered in chases 81 runs at Newlands and 36 in a DLS revised chase at Wanderers, giving Pakan a 3-0 away win.
In the tri-series, the Proteas have twice failed to defend 300+ scores, first Kane Williamson helping Kiwis track down 304-6 in 49th over and then Pakan overhauling 352/5 with an over to spare.
This makes the usually highly-rated ODI side going into the CT with one of the poorest win forms.
England are giving the impression of being in a slumber too, starting out their 3-match series against India with a 4 wicket loss after failing to cross 250 at Nagpur, then making 304 and being swamped Rohit Sharma. And finally allowing India’s middle order to bolster themselves with confidence ceding 356 and falling 142 runs short.Story continues below this ad
England lost to West Indies 1-2 in the previous series, their last win coming on November 2, 2024.
Australia, who are headed to Pakan, without Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, never got going against Sri Lanka, losing 49 and 174 runs respectively, as their batsmen failed to cross 41 in individual scores and a strike rate of 107 in two matches. They also picked up the notorious record of their lowest ever ODI score of 107 on Friday.
Australia also lost 1-2 to Pakan in November, and their last win was on November 8th.
Afghanan, the 4th team in Group B, however beat Bangladesh 2-1 in a series against Bangladesh at UAE. They last played an ODI series in Zimbabwe and won 2 out of 2 completed 232 runs and 8 wickets respectively.
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In these times of bumper to bumper cricket, leadup series are hardly an indication. But those three big names will land in Pakan without an ODI win this 2025.