Analysing England T20 World Cup 2021 Squad

The current ODI champions, England are one to follow in the shorter formats of the game. They have all, big power hitters, anchors to chase, fastest bowlers and many, who can make swing a factor. An excellent captain in Eoin Morgan is present with the team who has a good record in the role. However, the absence of their leading allrounder (Ben Stokes) and their main death and introducing bowler (Jofra Archer) might haunt them and hurt their chances of winning. All in all, they are very strong contenders of the title.

Let us look at what they bring to us.

Eoin Morgan

It is no surprise that Eoin Morgan would be leading the English lions to hunt for the world T20 title which they agonizingly failed to clinch due to some last over exploits by Carlos Brathwaite. The right hander has continuously been impressing in this format of the game. His numbers tell that all. Having amassed 2360 runs from 107 matches, he plays at a commendable strike rate of 138.27- good for a top order batter like him who has to anchor and play long innings. His ability to read and play according to situations is second to none. However, last year, the captain of the English team did not perform well for KKR in the IPL played in UAE. As a result, it might be a challenge for him at the world cup and interesting to see how he deals with this problem of his; probably targeting IPL 2021 for betterment. This might be the 35 year old's last T20 World Cup and he would love to win at least one title for his nation.

Moeen Ali

The 34 year old allrounder, Moeen Ali, has been one of the most reliable match winners in the team, both by bat and ball. A very versatile player, the right hander can bat at any number with the desired situation. Surprisingly, he has made most runs in international cricket as an opener but the experienced man has been considered as a middle order batter over the years. Moeen, who plays for CSK in the IPL, lacks in only one thing that is consistency. His stats say it all- an average of 16 and a strike rate of 136 with the bat and an average of 32 with a strike rate of 23 with the ball in hand. While his offbreaks he has been able to cut out runs, the Pakistan series and the IPL will still test him on how he is able to do on those kind of pitches. But, many would believe that he has done more than enough to deserve a spot in the starting 11. 

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow has been the very heart of English cricket and, due to Stokes' absence, he is also the reliable spine of the team. Bairstow has cricket in his blood with his father being a well known cricketer. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter has a lot to display and a lot of expectations to match. According to stats, he has an average of 28 and a good strike rate of 140 and the strike rate reaches 141 while the average not dropping too much at no. 6 position which shows he can bat in middle order, pressure conditions and as an opener, making his place very secure in the playing 11, according to the potential slip catching as well as keeping he has (he could be a backup to Jos Buttler). The 18 ranked player has withdrawn from the IPL and, hence, it will be interesting to see how he adjusts as English pitches are different from these.

Sam Billings

The 30 year old wicketkeeper batter, Sam Billings has seen his career go through turmoil and seen many ups and downs. While the right hander has not been a regular in the squad owing to success of Jos Butler and Jonny Bairstow, this T20 World Cup could be a chance for him to cement his place in the side. Although the fine fielder has not got impressive states (an average of 16.67 at a strike rate of 128), he has impressed in domestic cricket, especially recently. The Kent captain is a good player of spin and has proved himself by adding death overs boundaries in excess. It will not be impossible for him to get a place in the starting 11 but it is unlikely simply due to the presence of finishers like Jos Butler, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran etc. and there is no high alert for England regarding wicketkeepers. 

Jos Butler

One of the best finishers of the game, Jos Butler, is a 31 year old wicketkeeper batter. The right hander has been a regular In the English side. He averages 31.71 but strikes at a good rate of 140. With 35 catches and 9 stumpings behind the wickets, the man might be preferred for the keeping role over Bairstow and Billings. This will help the team use the latter two for their good fielding. A highest score of 83* makes him even more vulnerable to selection as this shows he has the intent to make runs and come down the order as well, as he has been doing in ODI's. Leaving behind his poor form, he has got everything needed (including the vice captaincy role). The 17th ranked batter's disability of playing fast bowlers well will be an area of concern but sending him in the middle overs might solve this issue when he gets to face much of spin. If that is done, he should be seen with the bat that day.

Sam Curran

With his inclusion, The 23 year old Sam Curran is the youngest English player to play world  T20 cup 2021. A left handed bowling allrounder, he often deceives with his role. With an average of 19 and a very high strike rate of 160, on his day, he can dismiss any bowler out of the park. With a wide stance, the lower order batter can start hitting from the first go. The youngest of three brothers, Curran's bowling is quite underrated. With 16 scalps off 16 matches, he starts as well as ends the innings with the ball. An economy of 7.93, he is one of the favourites for playing as allrounders especially due to the absence of Ben Stokes. A gun fielder as well, Sam is one of the first choice allrounders and can prevail over many due to his 3D playing efforts. 

Chris Jordan

One of the most prominent names in the shortest format of the game, Chris Jordan has been unfortunate to lose his popularity to emergence of the young. His death bowling is a positive to his selection especially in the absence of Archer. His accuracy is good but the right arm pacer lacks in consistency. In 64 T20i's he has bowled in, he has scalped 73 wickets but an average of 27.17 does not suit a person of his calibre. With 2 4 wicket hauls, it is sure he can bowl and bowl well on his day. Some exceptional death and even pressure over batting, his inclusion hangs equally to positive and negative results.

Liam Livingstone

The newest 6-hitting sensation, Liam Livingstone is a 28 year old right hander who has been on the right path to master the shortest format of the game. Apart from power hitting, he also has consistency and intent to score. His emergence is something, for which, the credit goes to The Hundred. Till now, he has been the find of the tournament. In more than 30 matches, a strike rate higher than Andre Russell's, is no joke. Handy with the ball as well, his selection into the starting 11, however, might be rejected owing to his poor second leg of IPL 2021, held in UAE.

Dawid Malan

One of the best T20i batter in the world, the left hander Dawid Malan has been on his level best in the most recent games. An anchor by role, he averages a 43 but those runs have come at a not-so-expected of the best in the business (139). His finishing abilities and handling pressure has been doubted and, may England play him, he must not be given a position lower than no.3. However, that would mean displacing the captain from his favourite position. All this combined with the rise of Liam Livingstone (who has finished games in the past) might outdo his experience and skill. Since being the no. 1 in the world is no criteria to walk straight into the 11, he might be asked to wait for his turn until the pitches of UAE turn slow, where his patience can help him.

Tymal Mills

The absence of Jofra Archer must have been most happily accepted by the 29 year old Tymal Mills. With a lot of potential of death bowling within him, his performance in the Vitality T20 Blast gave him a ticket to the UAE. With an experience of 142 T20 matches, he should directly make it to the starting 11 given his red hot form. However, according to what Morgan commented, he is not an advisable pick for his long history of injuries does not give optimistic results. 

Adil Rashid

The 33 year old legspinner, Adil Rashid, has now settled and given a more assured run to his top-start career. The fact that he is the sole legspinner and the sole specialist spinner, gives him some good security of his spot. With an economy of just 7.48 and 65 wickets off 59 innings, he has a good cricketing mind. Mostly used as a middle over bowler or an opening option, he might fair good against Australia, where both, finch and Warner struggle against him as well as India where Rohit has lost the battle many a times. Although he has not got much chances, he is one of the best  tail enders and that might help him overtake Moeen Ali against teams filled with right handers.

Jason Roy

The 31 year old Jason Roy is a destructive opener as well as a middle order batter. A batter who does not like limitations, he has already displayed enough of strokeplay and consistency to be a part of the squad. With an average of 28 and strike rate of 146, he is a complete T20 player. He is a better player of offspin and likes to play with the turn evident from the class of his legside game. Cemented as an obvious pick for the first opener, it will still take time to decide on who of Jonny and Butler will partner him at the top and who will come down the order. 

David Willey

One of the forgotten and unsung heroes of England's 2019 World Cup win, David Willey is back to business after missing out on England's white ball tours to India. Once a go-to man for Morgan, Willey used to be the best bowler of the side at a point of time. In the early-30's, he is a right arm pacer who comes good at the death and middle overs. With 38 wickets off 32 innings, he also has best bowling figures of breathtaking 4/7. His strike rate of 16.8 is worth looking at. All in all, he is a complete cricketer with abilities of a late lower order flourish as well. While he could get a direct ticket, there are still chances, he is replaced by new Tymal Mills on the rise.

Chris Woakes

Another right arm pacer, Chris Woakes is another bowler who has quick and recently risen to world fame. Chris Woakes is a good option to open the bowling with, especially after showing in the IPL, the considerable amount of swing he receives. Mainly a powerplay bowler, he has the ability of taking wickets at the right time. Going by the numbers, he has some respectable 130 wickets off 116 innings. his lower order batting prowess cannot be undermined. A complete T20 player, he must be one of the favourites for the seam bowling allrounder position.

Mark Wood

The 31 year old speedster, Mark Wood, has been the find of the pace battery of the Three Lions. Having particularly mastered variations, his short ball is the best. Generating enough of pace, he often troubles the batters with rising leg bouncers to perfection. Mark Wood has astonishing 26 wickets off 17 innings. However, the economy of 8.5 is concerning and, given the fact he bowls in middle overs, he has not been the most successful in choking the run flow, some area he might like to work on. While he has been at his best against openers of dangerous teams like India and Australia, where he could be brought in as a super specialist new ball bowler.

Probable Starting 11:

Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, David Malan, Eoin Morgan (C), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Jos Butler (WK), Sam Curran, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills

Disclaimer: All stats are according to T20i format based on data updated till 14/10/2021.