England will enter the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as the defending champions. The ICC event is scheduled to start on June 1. The coming season will be hosted in the USA and West Indies, and 20 teams will try their luck to get their hands on the prestigious trophy. The first round will see four groups with five teams each. Only two teams from each group will make it to the Super 8.
England will play in Group B with Australia, Scotland, Namibia, and Oman. The defending champion will play their first match on June 4, when they will face Scotland in Barbados. England will be missing Ben Stokes, who hit the winning runs in the 2022 edition. But they have some other excellent players in the squad. So let’s do the SWOT analysis of England for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali (vice captain), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Harry Brook, Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt (wk), Reece Topley, Mark Wood
England’s Strength for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
1. In-form Batting Unit
After looking at the current batting order of England for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, you will find a bunch of destructive batters. But the most important thing is that most of the English batters are in good form. All these played in the IPL 2024 and did well. Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, and Jonny Bairstow scored a century each in the IPL. Adding to that, Phil Salt, Sam Curran, and Moeen Ali had a pretty good season with the bat. They will enter the tournament with runs under their belts, and it will boost their confidence. We all know what this batting unit can do when it gets going.
2. Plenty of All-rounders
Having an all-rounder in T20 format is a luxury because not many teams have the option of such players who can contribute consistently in both departments. But England are one of those, and they have a number of all-rounders in their squad. Sam Curran, Moeen Ali, and Liam Livingstone are genuine all-rounders in the squad. Adding to that, Will Jacks, Tom Hartley, and Chris Jordan have the ability to contribute in both departments. England might have the batting until No. 9.
England’s ’s Weaknesses for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
1. Average Pace unit
There is no doubt that the return of Jofra Archer must have boosted England’s pace attack, but a lot will depend on how long he can stay fit. After looking at the recent history of Archer, one can tell that the pacer has been struggling a lot with fitness, and England don’t want him to miss. However, he is coming off a long break and might not be as good as he was earlier. Apart from him, England have the options of Chris Jordan, Sam Curran, Reece Topley, and Mark Wood. But this is not a bowling unit that can terrify a team. One can say that if England can post 200+ with their batting, they have the bowlers who can concede more than that.
2. Not Wicket-taking option in the spin department
England’s spin unit will be led by Adil Rashid, who can be expensive at times. But apart from him, England have the likes of Moeen Ali, Livingstone, or Jacks with the ball as spinners. No one of these can take wickets consistently. The pitches are likely to be spin-fired, and with no specialist spinner apart from Rashid, England might have to suffer in the middle overs. That can be a big concern for them heading into the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Threat for England in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
The biggest worry for Jos Buttler and his team is how to handle the players. The conditions in the USA and West Indies will be harsh, and England have bowlers who are injury-prone. Archer, Wood, and Topley have a history of getting injured, and the coming tournament will be a long competition, so that will be one thing. Secondly, the English players are well equipped against the pacers, but against good spinners, they find it hard to get going. So their ability to play the spinners might be exposed.
Opportunities ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Notably, England won their first T20 World Cup in 2010, and that win came in West Indies. So they have a golden chance to repeat history once again, and they can become the first team to win three titles and also the first team to defend their title successfully. And the squad they have gathered has the potential to reach knockouts.
Strongest Playing XI for England in ICC T20 World Cup 2024 (Predicted)
Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (c & wk), Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley