England's t20 World Cup preparations are now complete following a comprehensive six-wicket win over Pakistan in the final World Cup warm-up game. Preceding the Pakistan game, England also took a 2-0 series win in the three match encounter with Australia. Following the series win in Pakistan, signs are pointing in a positive direction ahead of the opening t20 World Cup game against Afghanistan on October 22nd.
If there are any issues that have presented themselves, they are largely positive. It is a classic case of a positive selection headache. England have so many options at their disposal, not all will make the XI. The games against Australia and most recently Pakistan helped provide further context to the existing questions and dilemmas.
Ben Stokes looks set to be a top order fixture for England
There were a number of questions relating to the inclusion of Stokes in the squad for this edition of the t20 World Cup. Naturally, you'd expect a player of Stokes' calibre to be a sure-thing when it comes to selection. In this instance, though, he had not played a t20 game in more than a year and had not played a T20I since March 2021. Embed from Getty Images
However, Stokes was straight into the lineup for the games against Australia, entering the fray at number three in the first match before walking out at a predicted number four in the second and third. Those three innings were a tad scratchy in general from what is typically expected of Stokes, though understandable given his recent lack of t20 cricket.
He looked a lot more fluent in the Pakistan warm-up game, smoking 36 off just 18 balls with two fours and three sixes. The other big factor when it came to the potential selection of Stokes was his bowling. Those particular questions have been answered fairly emphatically in these four games in Australia, with the 31-year-old bowling in every game, even opening in two of the matches.
Meanwhile, it seems that Dawid Malan will keep his place at number three, essentially alleviating any doubts around his selection with a brilliant match-winning 82 in the second T20I against Australia.
Alex Hales' form and BBL record prevails to pip Phil Salt to the opening spot
Another big question following the absence of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow was who would open the batting with captain Jos Buttler. It looks like Alex Hales is the answer. Hales and Salt often looked neck and neck during the seven-match Pakistan series, but it was the former who partnered Buttler in all three games with Australia. The 33-year-old made a big statement in the opening game of the series, quickly accelerating to reach a brilliant 84 off 51 balls.
Hales' excellent recent record in the BBL was seen as a major factor in the debate and it seems that, along with his good form, has prevailed.
Liam Livingstone returns, but who misses out?
Liam Livingstone, one of the most exciting players in the t20 format, returned to the England fold in the final warm-up game against Pakistan. He had been declared a doubt for the start of the World Cup due to injury, but it seems as though he will be ready to go. That only opens up another big debate. Livingstone offers a spin bowling option as well as dynamism in the field and incredible hitting ability at any point during the innings. Truly, he is likely one of the first names on the team sheet.
Livingstone's innings against Pakistan, 28 off 16 balls, featured some of his best aspects but was not chanceless. As well as an enormous six that cleared the stadium, he was also dropped twice and survived a simple run out chance.
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| Liam Livingstone returned to the England t20 XI against Pakistan in the final t20 World Cup warmup game [CREDIT - Albert Perez - ICC/ICC via Getty Images] |
With the top four seemingly set as mentioned above and Moeen Ali all but a given, there will now be questions around the inclusion of Harry Brook. The leading runscorer for England in the Pakistan series, Brook is a man in form. He missed out against Australia but was scintillating once again against the Pakistanis in Brisbane. The 24-year-old struck an unbeaten 45 off just 24 balls with two fours and four sixes.
The decision will likely revolve around Livingstone's fitness and whether England want added batting depth with the added options of Livingstone, Ali and Stokes or go with five bowlers. The form in the bowling department with regards to Sam Curran could prove crucial in this particular debate.
Sam Curran impresses with the ball to offer potential added boost to the batting depth
Having bowled well in the Pakistan series, Curran once again impressed against Australia. His control and death bowling stood out as marked improvements and make him a serious option as one of four bowlers. Previously, he may have been seen as a fifth frontline bowling option with a spot at number seven in the batting order.
Now, he could join Reece Topley, Mark Wood and Adil Rashid as the frontline bowling options. However, that would be tough on Chris Woakes who was exceptional against Australia, particularly in the third match where he took 3-4 in two overs. Woakes also offers plenty with the bat and is brilliant at the top of an innings with the ball.
Curran's impressive composure at the death could spell trouble for Chris Jordan, who has largely struggled in the games in Australia so far. The emergence of Stokes as an opening bowler could point to planning without Woakes, leaving Curran at eight and the ability to retain Brook and slide in Livingstone.
Predicted XI: Buttler (C), Hales, Malan, Stokes, Brook, Livingstone, Moeen, S Curran, Wood, Rashid, Topley
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