2020 vision for England

James Richardson
February 3, 2018

The World T20 is set to be staged in Australia in two years time will be in the back of the mind for England during their tri-series outings.

England blasted past a Prime Minister’s XI on Friday and are perhaps the most confident of the three sides entering the competition with Australia having used the format to blood youngsters for the last 18 months or so while New Zealand come into the series off the back of a series loss at home to Pakistan.

England have a settled lineup with Sam Curran the only player yet to make his T20I debut in the squad.

England

He joins brother Tom who has impressed in making the step up to international cricket since his debut against South Africa earlier this season.

Tom took five in the final ODI and showed the kind of skills prized in T20I cricket and along with David Willey could be England’s key men at the death.

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The bulk of this squad will have the ambition to be in the group when England attempt to win their second World T20 in Australia in 2020.

The pace of Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett supplements for the absence of T20I specialist quick Tymal Mills while Jake Ball has been added to the group as cover.

It is unclear what part, if any, Ben Stokes will play in the series but it seems as though England will prepare as if he won’t be involved at all.

The opening role looks like it will be fall to Alex Hales and Jason Roy but there are able understudies in the form of serial cover-driver James Vince and the versatile Sam Billings who has plenty of experience in Australia having been part of multiple campaigns in the BBL for the Sydney Sixers.

Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid make up the spin contingent with both playing good cricket at the moment leaving the skipper with something of a selection dilemma.

Skipper Eoin Morgan has plenty of power at his disposal but knows that if things go wrong at the top that he will invariably be the man to whom the repair job falls.

If they play to their potential England are likely to prove too strong for Australia while the consistent Black Caps might give them more trouble.

Halfway through the tournament the series moves from the big Aussie grounds to the smaller ones in New Zealand which will Test England’s adaptability.

England squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, David Willey, Mark Wood.

Tri-series fixtures:

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3.

Second T20I Australia v Eng, Blundstone Arena, February 7.

Third T20I Australia v England, MCG, February 10.

Fourth T20I NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final TBC, Eden Park, February 21