Will Jacks believes England's revamped one-day team requires time to adapt to a format they seldom play, following their victory over Australia to keep their five-match series alive. Jacks' impressive 84 and Harry Brook's century guided the hosts to a rain-affected triumph in Durham on Tuesday, after the world champions had won the first two games.
With key players like Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Joe Root, and Jonny Bairstow—all part of England's 2019 World Cup-winning squad—absent, the current series relies heavily on a new generation. However, Brook and Jacks have had limited exposure to the 50-over format. Neither has participated in the county cricket's One-Day Cup since 2019, as top white-ball players often skip the tournament due to the introduction of The Hundred, which further congested the cricket calendar.
"Finding the rhythm in 50-over cricket can be challenging given the scarcity of such matches," said Jacks, 25, ahead of another crucial match at Lord's on Friday. "The schedule is what it is, and that's beyond our control. We just follow instructions. As we approach a major event, we might play more, but the TV schedules dictate otherwise."
This is the first time this squad has played together, so it will take time to gel, but they are improving with each game. Jacks, despite his limited experience—just 32 List A appearances since his debut six years ago—has shone in the 50-over format, scoring four half-centuries in 10 one-day internationals.
After consecutive losses at Trent Bridge and Headingley, England secured a 46-run victory at the Riverside using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method for weather-affected matches. This was Australia's first defeat in 14 consecutive wins in the format.
