T20 cricket is synonymous with fearless batting and an electrifying atmosphere. When we talk about fearless cricket, the England cricket team is the brand ambassador for it, having produced numerous explosive batters in the shortest format.
The T20 World Cup is underway in the Caribbean and the USA, with 20 teams featuring. England are the defending champions, having lifted the trophy in 2010 and 2022. With the form the Lions are in, they have a good chance to defend the title and become the only team on the planet to win the title three times.
Joss Buttler will be leading the squad as we shed light on their strengths, weaknesses, and X-factors and predict the team’s fortune.
England Squad for T20 World Cup 2024
Batters: Jos Buttler (c & wk), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Phil Salt
All-rounders: Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone
Pacers: Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan, Reece Topley, Mark Wood
Spinners: Adil Rashid, Tom Hartley
Strengths of England in the T20 World Cup 2024
Explosive top-order batters
The English side has a robust top-order batting lineup that can tear apart any bowling. Jos Buttler and Phil Salt are likely to open the innings, with Will Jacks and Jonny Bairstow following at No. 3 and 4. All of these batters are coming into the World Cup with a successful IPL season behind them.
Speed Guns
Jofra Archer, returning almost after a year from injury, will spearhead England’s bowling. He looked promising in the just concluded Pakistan vs England series and could be lethal in the powerplay with his searing pace and bounce. Mark Wood, Reece Topley, Sam Curran, and Chris Jordan are other pacers in the squad who can rattle the opposition with their pace and extensive experience in the T20 format.
Death over specialists
Chris Jordan and Reece Topley have been effective with their variations with the ball and could befuddle batters in the death overs to curb the scoring rate. Buttler is likely to deploy Archer, Jordan, and Topley in crunch situations to yield the desired result for the Three Lions. 
Weaknesses: Where England might lose the plot in T20 World Cup
Lack of support from spinners
Adil Rashid is the only spinner the team can rely on, as Moeen Ali’s inconsistency has hurt them lately. Meanwhile, Tom Hartley has yet to make his international debut. This is the department where England looks mediocre.
All-rounders inconsistency with the bat
Sam Curran and Moeen Ali haven’t been consistent to the extent that the team can depend on them. Should the top-order collapse, the duo might not be able to bail them out.
Injury-prone players in the squad
Jofra Archer, Livingstone, and Mark Wood are prone to injuries. If any of them sustain an injury during the cup, it could be a daunting task for Buttler and the team management to balance the team combination in the middle of the tournament.
X-Factor of England in T20 World Cup
Will Jacks
Having amassed 230 runs in 8 innings at a strike rate of 175.57 in IPL 2024, the right-handed swashbuckler is in red-hot form. He can equally hit big while playing cheeky shots to steady the innings—a trait perfect for a No. 3. The Surrey-born player can also be a handy option for his skipper, as he can chip in with his off-spin bowling.
England Players to watch out for in the 2024 T20 World Cup
Jos Buttler
With 3000-plus runs in T20I, Buttler is the leading run-scorer for England in the shortest format. He is also the only English player to touch the 3000-run figure in this format. The right-handed batter can play the aggressor role in the powerplay, and if his side loses some early wickets, he can hang on to play long innings.
Adil Rashid
The leggie is a valuable asset to the English side. He is the leading wicket-taker for England in T20Is, taking 110 wickets in 106 matches. He is a consistent contributor for the Three Lions.
Prediction Time:
The defending champions have a solid team on paper, and the majority of their players are in sublime form. If their all-rounders regain their rhythm with the bat in this World Cup, the Three Lions are one of the contenders to feature in the grand finale of this mega event.
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