Summary
 |
| Agar impressed with the bat in BBL 5 and has earned a call up to the Australian t20 squad as a result (PHOTO: Matt Blyth) |
The majority of the sides due to compete for the World Twenty20 title in India next month have named their respective 15-man squads. Australia, New Zealand and hosts New Zealand are amongst those who have announced their squads in recent times.
Generally, there have been few notable surprises within these squads, with perhaps the only few being Pawan Negi for India and Peter Nevill and Ashton Agar for Australia, although the latter performed well with the bat in the BBL and provides a much-needed slow bowling option.
The England squad announcement will likely feature similarities to those squads already named, with very few, if any, surprises to be expected when the 15 is named tomorrow. There is a much better feeling surrounding the pending squad and the tournament itself in contrast to that of two years ago in Bangladesh. England endured a dismal tournament, winning just one of their four group games and finishing jsut above the Netherlands on net run rate.
 |
| England were poor in the last World t20 in Bangladesh in 2014 - their poor tournament included a humiliating 45-run defeat to minnows Holland (PHOTO: Gareth Copley) |
England's woes were perhaps summed up when chasing down a seemingly intimidating total of 190 set by eventual champions Sri Lanka with two balls to spare, only to be humiliated by the Dutch just four days later.
Such games will likely have been eradicated following some positive limited overs cricket played recently. England have certainly turned a corner in limited overs cricket since the 2015 World Cup debacle. The fresh look to the England setup looks set to continue, with only five or six players from the 2014 t20 World Cup likely to be named this time around.
Who will make the squad?
It is likely that England will name a very similar squad to the one that took on Pakistan in the UAE back in November. There are arguably at least nine certainties for the squad, including:
 |
| Eoin Morgan will captain the England t20 team in India (PHOTO: Gareth Copley) |
- Alex Hales
- Jason Roy
- Joe Root
- Eoin Morgan (captain)
- Jos Buttler
- Ben Stokes
- Moeen Ali
- Adil Rashid
- David Willey
There are also a few, two to be precise, who will also warrant a place in the squad and could indeed claim to be surprise omissions, namely Sam Billings and Chris Woakes.
 |
| Young Reece Topley is likely to be included following good recent form (PHOTO: Gareth Copley) |
Young fast bowler Reece Topley, recently signed for Hampshire from Essex, is another who will be looking for an inclusion in the squad following promising performances for England in recent limited overs games. The 21-year-old took 4-50 against South Africa on Saturday as the tourists took a 2-0 lead in the ODI series. He also claimed 3-24 in his last t20 international, against Pakistan.
Like Vince, Topley has impressed with England in his initial foray into international cricket and it will be a relative surprise if one or both are not included on the plane to India.
Who might sneak in?
Considering the above, form and previous squads, it is likely that there will only be two spaces left to fill. There are a few contenders, some more unlikely and farfetched than others.
Chris Jordan
 |
| Jordan is certainly an asset with ball in hand - he's not bad with bat in hand, either (PHOTO: Gareth Copley) |
The fast-bowling all-rounder has shown glimpses of quality in limited overs cricket and remains likely to make the squad for the World t20.
His bowling is, while somewhat inconsistent, dangerous and quick and he could be a useful addition to the squad in India.
Not to mention the Sussex man can strike a long ball down the order, shown by his five maximums in seven t20I innings to go with a strike rate of 135.59.
He was part of the t20 squad who whitewashed Pakistan in November, perhaps what persuaded PSL side Peshawar Zalmi to pick him up in the draft for the tournament, although the 27-year-old is yet to play a game.
Jonny Bairstow
Bairstow, while impressing within the last 12 to 18 months in limited overs cricket, may well find himself watching the World t20 on TV, given that he hasn't played a t20I since June 2015.
|
| Bairstow has a poor t20I international but remains a quality batsman - but will he make the plane? (PHOTO: Gareth Copley) |
He has seemingly replaced the mercurial Jos Buttler in the Test team, but finds himself below the Lancashire star and Kent's Sam Billings in the 'keeper-batsman pecking order.
In any case, there may well be a place for the Yorkshire player as a specialist batsman, although he has yet to truly impress in t20Is.
 |
| Will Finn have recovered from the injury that saw him ruled out of the current South Africa tour? (PHOTO: Gareth Copley) |
Steven Finn
Finn has performed admirably for England over the past year and deserves a place in the squad. However, there may only be space for one specialist fast bowler and Finn may miss out on account of his recent lack of international cricket due to injury and see Topley take his place. He last played a t20I at the end of September 2015 against Australia.
Liam Plunkett
 |
| Plunkett and Jordan are similar players - is there room for both? (PHOTO: Gareth Copley) |
Plunkett is most likely the direct rival to Chris Jordan for a place in the squad, given that they essentially fulfil the same roles - fast-bowling all-rounder.
The 30-year-old played twice diring England's successful t20 series against Pakistan and will look to build on those performances and get into the squad.
Like Jordan, Plunkett would be able give England lower-order runs if required as well as a bowling threat.
Ravi Bopara
Bopara is an excellent t20 player but has somewhat been cast aside by the selectors, with his last international appearance coming back in March 2015 in the World Cup game with Afghanistan.
 |
| Bopara hasn't played for England since the 2015 50 over World Cup (PHOTO: Mark Kolbe) |
You will have to go back to September 2014 to find the last time Bopara represented England in a t20I, playing against India at Edgbaston.
The 30-year-old provides international experience as well as exposure in tournaments such as the IPL, BPL and the PSL, in which he is currently playing.
His batting can be inconsistent, as can his bowling, but generally the Essex player is a good exponent of the slower ball and yorker, as well as having the craft to be able to build an innings and the power to be able to finish one off. It remains unlikely that Bopara will be picked, however.
Stephen Parry
 |
| Parry played against Pakistan in the recent t20 series and went to the 2014 edition of the tournament (PHOTO: Gareth Copley) |
Like Plunkett, Parry also played twice against Pakistan in the 3-game series. Whether there is space for a specialist off-spinner remains to be seen, although it is unlikely given the batting qualities of Moeen and Rashid.
Parry was in fact part of the 2014 World t20 squad, although he only played once - the defeat against Holland.
If only...?
 |
| Stuart Broad captained England in the 2014 World t20, but is all but certain to not be selected for the 2016 version in India (PHOTO: Gareth Copley) |
There are, of course, those who will miss out for a variety of reasons. Stuart Broad, captain of the team who took part in the 2014 edition, is set to miss out along with fellow fast bowling dangerman James Anderson. Both have not featured all that regularly, if at all, in limited overs games for England in the past six months and it will likely continue to carry on that way.
The form of Kevin Pietersen and Luke Wright for BBL side Melbourne Stars and PSL team Quetta Gladiators is something England fans are only able to watch on, as their respective England careers all all but dead in the water. The two are dangerous, well-renowned t20 players, but the England selectors have made it clear, as has captain Eoin Morgan, that the English limited overs sides are going in a different, younger direction.
My England squad prediction:
Hales, Roy, Vince, Root, Morgan (c), Buttler, Billings, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Willey, Rashid, Woakes, Jordan, Topley
Comments
Post a Comment