Harry Brook.
Credit: Reuters Photo
Bengaluru: Dismissive of criticism, constant disappointment, and vague responses were among England’s features during their 4-1 Ashes humbling Down Under.
While they managed to block out the noise under coach Brendon McCullum and director Rob Key, their miseries did not end there.
England's woes aren't restricted to Test cricket alone. Their qualification for the ODI World Cup in 2027 hangs in the balance as they sit eighth in the rankings, with West Indies and Bangladesh breathing down their neck for automatic qualification. And they have themselves to blame for having won just four games in 12 bilateral ODI games.
However, they have an opportunity to find a sense of calm amid the chaos with the T20 World Cup starting this week. To their credit, England’s T20I side is among the best on paper in the 20-team competition, and their fans can expect them to go all the way.
Destructive openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler are No. 2 and No. 4 in the world and have locked themselves at the top, with Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook set to explode in the middle-order.
Sam Curran broke down the selection doors with a dream run in The Hundred, while Will Jacks’ versatility adds depth to the side as a third-spin option. They have also quietly strengthened their primary spin attack with Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson, while the fast bowling will be led by Jofra Archer.
At a time when England are craving consistency, an all-firing T20 line-up is what they need and have to replicate their 2022 T20 World Cup run.
The constant threat
West Indies remain a dangerous unit despite all the issues Caribbean cricket faces. In this period of turmoil, the Men in Maroon have won three white-ball ICC events -- 2004 Champions Trophy and T20 World Cups in 2012 and 2016.
West Indies are also guided by the man who was the captain when they won two World Cups, the only side to do so apart from England. Daren Sammy is the head coach now and he knows a thing or two about turning adversity into opportunity.
Since the last T20 World Cup at home, they have won only 14 of their last 43 games. The men from the Caribbean lost a T20I series against South Africa (2-1), suffered defeats to Afghanistan (2-1), New Zealand (3-1). Even Nepal beat them 2-1.
And if they are looking to draw inspiration from their last ICC title, they will kick-off their campaign in the place where they were last crowned champions: Kolkata.
While West Indies might have 100 issues on and off the field, producing six-hitters has never been one of them. They are stacked with explosive batting power comprising Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Romario Shepherd and Rovman Powell.
Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph will carry a threat with the new ball, while spinners Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein will hope to come good in sub-continent conditions.
Lucky losers
In 2021, Scotland defeated Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup, and in 2026, they replaced them as the highest-ranked team not to have qualified for the tournament. And by no means can they be taken lightly.
Similarly, Nepal's cricket might not be driven by world-class performances, but passion is in abundance. And that was seen in the last T20 World Cup when Texas seemed like Kathmandu. Having gained experience in pressure situations from the Nepal Premier League, they will be eager to step up and showcase their talent.
Italy and cricket usually don’t go together in the same sentence. However, it will be in 2026, making their T20 World Cup debut.