Another World Cup stands before them, and once again, England is intoxicated with the desire to lift the trophy. The current champions, brimming with stars, are set to embark on a mission to retain their title. Experience is the greatest strength of this team. Even a cursory glance at the squad reveals their capabilities.
After a disastrous 2015 World Cup, English cricket underwent a radical transformation. They changed everything and emerged in a new form. The results were immediate, as they lifted the trophy for the first time in the following tournament, becoming the 2019 World Cup champions.
Even after the World Cup, England continued to enchant the entire cricket world. Their aggressive cricket caught everyone’s eye. With remarkable consistency, they also brought home the trophy from the 2022 T20 World Cup, dominating both formats of limited-overs cricket.
However, the 2023 World Cup saw the end of their reign in ODIs, with Australia claiming the trophy. Although they have maintained supremacy in T20s, the period following their championship victory has not been very favorable for the Three Lions. Winning series seemed to be a forgotten art for England after lifting the trophy.
Now, another T20 World Cup is on the doorstep. The ninth edition of the tournament will commence on June 2 in the United States and West Indies. The Three Lions, with their claim to the trophy, are among the favorites.
But just before the World Cup, the English have awakened. They have ended their drought of series victories in T20s. Last night, they won their first series in this format since their last T20 World Cup victory. In the meantime, they had also lost series to Bangladesh and West Indies.
England recently concluded a four-match T20 series against Pakistan, winning by a margin of 2-0, with the remaining two matches washed out by rain. Thus, they enter the World Cup brimming with confidence. It’s not an exaggeration to consider England among the favorites. From start to finish, the team is packed with stars and experience. The only player with less than two T20 matches is the spinner Tom Hartley; the rest have a wealth of experience.
Another strength of their team is the long batting line-up. Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, and Moeen Ali can all finish the game on their day.
With the ball, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan, and Reece Topley can be the embodiment of terror. Moreover, Sam Curran was the tournament’s best player in the last edition! Moeen Ali’s spin will also be quite effective in the Caribbean islands. Additionally, most of the cricketers have just played in the IPL, so they are already in the groove, which will be beneficial in adapting to the conditions.
England World Cup Squad :
Jos Buttler (Captain), Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali (Vice-Captain), Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Tom Hartley, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Reece Topley.
