It is an England team that should be competing at the back end of the tournament. I don’t see them having a World Cup like they did in India when they were all at sea with selection issues, contractual problems and were not fit enough. This time I see a team that is rock solid and will go to the Caribbean full of confidence.
The problem is this of all the T20 World Cups could be the hardest to win because there are more sides that can compete. The West Indies are full of power, South Africa always have a question mark over their mentality but are so strong, Australians know how to win World Cups and India possess the skill sets and experience so you know they will be very competitive as well. Pakistan, as ever, are an unknown quantity but will threaten. New Zealand have the experience and always turn it on at World Cups. There are so many good teams.
The majority of India games start at 10.30 in the morning which will surely help them. Pitches will be drier, there will be no dew and spin will play more of a role which suits India. If the World Cup is a 170-par score then all the teams I have mentioned can win it. If it goes to 210-240 par on small grounds and flat pitches I think England, South Africa, Australia and West Indies are the teams with the most power in their batting line-ups, closely followed by New Zealand. I think India are below that in terms of power. But if it is a 170 par, India are right in the hunt with their bowling.
I always look at T20 tournaments and ask what wins these events? Generally it is the best bowling attack. And that means bowlers who can get wickets which is why if I was England I would pick Mark Wood and Jofra Archer.
Both are magnificent and paired together with a left-armer in Reece Topley, a leg spinner in Rashid, off-spinner in Moeen, England have a lovely balanced attack. If pitches rag square then Tom Hartley replaces one of the seamers. Wood, Archer, Topley and Rashid are going to be consistent wicket-takers. I understand why they want Jordan bowling at the back end of the innings but I would be thinking about wickets early, just blowing teams away if you can with Wood, Archer and Topley.
The one worry for England is they are not very successful in the Caribbean, apart from lifting the T20 World Cup in 2010. We have not won a Test series there since 2004, England lost both white-ball series in December. Sometimes in the Caribbean you become too relaxed. You are on the beach and the jet skis and in Barbados it almost feels like you are on holiday playing a bit of cricket on the side. It is trying to find that balance of not being too intense like they were in India, while also not being too relaxed as if on holiday.
NEW DELHI: According to Steve Smith, his Australian squad first believed that England would reach 400 runs on a level field in Lahore, but his bowlers dragged
In making a superb 165, Duckett played how most have requested. The attacking intent was reined in, gaps worked and a score steadily built rather than thrown up
England's Champions Trophy bid began with a damaging defeat as Australia pulled off an epic chase of 352 to counter Ben Duckett's 165 in Lahore.Opener Duckett t
England suffered a devastating five-wicket defeat in their Champions Trophy opener as Australia chased down an ICC tournament-reco