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Stefan Shemilt, Chief Cricket Writer
If pressure is a privilege, England's white-ball team will feel extremely lucky.
England's leaders, who have been in dire straits since their disastrous 50-over defeat at last year's World Cup, will meet early next week to select a squad to defend their T20 title in June in the Caribbean and the United States. I plan to.
A repeat of India's fiasco is likely to have a serious impact on at least one of captain Jos Buttler and coach Matthew Mott, and managing director Rob Key said: This will be the most difficult decision he will have to make in his two years in office. The minimum requirement is to advance to the semi-finals.
Although England are still in a transition period, they are a very good white-ball team. Whether Butler and Mott form the next generation will depend on what happens next.
The captain and coach will be right to point out the change in priorities in England's game. Test cricket is king again, as evidenced by Ben Stokes skipping this World Cup to regain full fitness ahead of the summer at home. England rarely field a full squad outside of world tournaments.
But the good news is that Buttler has rediscovered his charm in the South African T20s and the Indian Premier League. He will spearhead a strong top order that includes Phil Salt, Will Jacks and Harry Brook. If this can be ignited, England's batting will become a super strength.
Decisions are subordinate. Jonny Bairstow has spent so much time in India this winter that he will probably be eligible to apply for citizenship. He is the only English player to have participated in the World Cup, Test series and IPL, but has now been sent off to Punjab Kings. If he makes it to the World Cup, Bairstow will have spent the best part of nine months away from home.
Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali are spin bowling all-rounders for a tournament where slow bowling is likely to be key. Rehan Ahmed is part of England's T20 plans and Tom Hartley has impressed in Test cricket. Adil Rashid is ranked as the world's number one T20 bowler and Jacks also give them off-break options, but six spinners may be too many.
The headlines will be dominated by Jofra Archer, who is said to be on track to feature after a lengthy battle with an elbow injury that sidelined him for another year.
Archer is now 29 years old, but England are very cautious about his rare talent, having done so after perhaps rushing his return in the past. Even for a cool character like Archer, playing for England at the World Cup in the place of his birth is something special, and his presence will make Butler's team a more complete package.
If Archer's name is mentioned next week, it will be for our old friend's 'caretaker' squad, but this is where England really need to show they have learned from their past mistakes.
The fiasco over the announcement of the 50-over team, interim or final, and the eventual sacking of Jason Roy in favor of Brook, left England in limbo before they boarded the plane for India. Ta. This time England need to send a clear message to both their players and the public.
Two names are expected to be announced, one for the World Cup and the other for the four T20s against Pakistan starting May 22.
Players participating in the later stages of the IPL will be allowed to stay in India before playing at least part of the Pakistan series.
Buttler's Rajasthan Royals are top of the group stage and can argue that the IPL is the best way to tune up for the T20 World Cup, but if things don't work out in the end, the captain's arrival could be delayed. That will also be a pain. England.
Speaking of arrivals, the final match of the Pakistan series at The Oval comes just five days before England begin their World Cup match against Scotland in Barbados, repeating India's delayed arrival for the 50-over tournament.
Sure, many teams are in the same situation because of the IPL, but this is a sub-optimal start.
A final interesting subplot is the presence of Andrew Flintoff in England's backroom team. Flintoff has been a regular in the white-ball set-up over the past year and has been named by Key as England's future head coach.
Obviously, having a man as talented and respected as Flintoff back in the game is a huge plus for England and he could be a great leader. However, a man with no prior top-level coaching experience has been promoted rapidly and has also been appointed head coach of the Northern Superchargers, with Mott being the person who was referred for the job by his boss. There is a dynamic of working together.
In contrast to the Test side, which will be run by Brendon McCullum in a leaner manner, the white-ball side will have a richer coaching staff. Former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard was brought in because of his local knowledge, which England feel is lacking in India, leading to decisions such as starting in Mumbai where it is hot enough to make a statue sweat. connected.
The only time the men's T20 World Cup was held in the Caribbean was when an England team assembled at the last minute and returned home with the trophy. They deserved to win in Australia 18 months ago and probably should have won in the UAE the year before.
England are currently the second-best T20 team in the world. In Butler, they possess the shortest format's all-time great player and could be on the verge of rediscovering Archer, who was once the best white-ball seamer on the planet. Due to the draw in the second match of the group stage, there is a strong possibility of advancing to the top four. After that, no one knows.
Still, the pressure is on.
