The much-awaited ICC World T20 is all set to begin from February 21 in Australia. As the teams are looking forward to doing their best, 50-overs World Champion England are no far behind. They will enter the mega tournament as the favourites with eminent players like Katherine Brunt, Heather Knight, Anya Shrubsole in the squad to win the coveted trophy after 11-years.
Strength
England’s expertise is in the chase and their powerful bowling attack has placed them at Number-2 in the T20I’s rankings. England has won 4 T20I series out of the six-series played since the last World T20. It was wholesomely dominated by the bowling unit.
England has match-saving players. For instance, in-the recently-concluded game when the top-order crumbled, middle-order played a key role to bounce back from pressure situations. England rose back from 39-3 to a decent total of 156. All credits to Tammy Beaumont whose invaluable partnership with Heather Knight in the 1st match of the tri-series put England out of danger.
In the second match of the tri-series, Fran Wilson who is evolving into a reliable partner down the order played a key role in piling up runs after a quick collapse in the top-order. Beaumont’s position down the order is not doing wonders for the team. She will be a top contender for the Number-3 slot which is now oscillating between Knight and Sciver. Beaumont at number-3 slot will give England a breathing space if it wants the runs to keep ticking.
Weakness
England’s team is a robust combination of all-rounders, batters, and bowlers. This balance with varied combinations has not yielded results that they would be aiming for.
England’s opening pair has been off the track in the last Tri-series which is apparently the pre-curser to the Worldcup. Neither they gave England bright starts nor did they stitch partnerships together. The opening pair can’t afford to throw away wickets leaving the onus to the middle order to perform. The Opening pair will need to play with more diligence.
England’s batting has become all the more predictable, which became a matter of concern and an area to work on. In the 6th match of the recently concluded tri-series, England batters were trapped by Australia’s web of spin that lead to their exit from the tournament. The middle-order had to submit to the spin mastery.
However, bowling has always been a consistent event despite squandering away with the bat.
Key Players
One among England’s key players will be Katherine Brunt who will lead the fierce pace attack. The spin department will be handled by the Captain her self. Either Amy Jones or Tammy Beaumont will handle the gloves. Sciver’s all-round brilliance will add more stability to the team’s strength. Heather Knight’s stunning form in the middle-order has rescued England from crunch situations. She is in peak form that allows others to play their natural game.
Heather Knight for her all-rounder prowess is the one to look out for in the tournament, her form and her placement has been one of the finest displays of Cricket ever from the English Camp.
Brunt’s wicket-taking ability combined with her attacking pace that halts the runs flowing will keep a check on the opposition batters. Her performance will be the one England will weigh its onus on. Katherine Brunt will play in the T20-Worldcup after missing 2014, 2016 and 2018 editions due to injury.
Youngsters Maddy Villiers, Freya Davies, and Sarah Gleen are set to make their first appearance in the Worldcup. Sarah was pretty impressed with the ball in her recent outing against the Aussies when she returned with match-saving figures of 4-0-23-3.
England will aim to regain the coveted trophy after its crushing defeat in the finals of the 2018 T20 Worldcup. England has a balanced team that will aim for the title after 11 years.
England squad
Heather Knight (Captain), Anya Shrubsole (Vice-captain), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (Wicket-keeper), Natalie Sciver, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt
