Wisden writers pick their England XIs for the first T20I against India

A tour that began with a resounding win for the visitors turned on its head in the subsequent games, and ended with a crushing series defeat. The shift in formats will give them the chance to clean the slate, and assess their T20I options with less than half a year to go for the T20 World Cup.

Four Wisden writers choose their XIs for the first game of the India series.

Yas Rana, Wisden.com head of content

Jos Buttler
Jason Roy
Dawid Malan
Jonny Bairstow
Ben Stokes
Eoin Morgan
Moeen Ali
Sam Curran
Chris Jordan
Adil Rashid
Mark Wood

The top six is unchanged; Malan was imperious in South Africa and Bairstow looked a good fit in the middle-order, complementing the left-handers around him. Archer is unlikely to be fit for the first T20I, which in a way, could be a blessing in disguise for England. Archer’s role as attack leader is undisputed and he has shown in the IPL that he’s arguably the most devastating T20 quick on the planet.

His absence gives others the chance to show that they can compete against one of the best T20 batting line-ups around. Wood is the closest player England have to a like-for-like replacement for Archer, so he comes in. Chris Jordan, who generally saves his best for England, is in alongside Sam Curran. Adil Rashid was the sole spinner deployed by England in the South Africa series last year but on surfaces receptive to turn, he’ll surely be joined in the XI by Moeen Ali who adds enviable depth to England’s batting line-up. Tom Curran, who was expensive in South Africa, misses out.

Ben Gardner, Wisden.com managing editor

Jos Buttler
Jason Roy
Dawid Malan
Jonny Bairstow
Ben Stokes
Eoin Morgan
Moeen Ali
Jofra Archer
Adil Rashid
Chris Jordan
Reece Topley

Much of this team picks itself, and even if you might quibble with the batting order – Is Ben Stokes too low? Should Jos Buttler be opening? Has anyone seen Alex Hales? – those six in any order will be formidable.

Below is where it gets trickier. Given the T20 World Cup, and this series, will be in India, Moeen Ali edges Sam Curran for the bowling all-rounder’s slot, and he should be given every chance to get back to his best, since England are always better if Moeen is firing. The next three are shoo-ins, while Reece Topley gets a chance to show if he can produce some new-ball left-arm magic to give England’s attack another dimension.

Aadya Sharma, Wisden India editor

Jos Buttler
Jason Roy
Dawid Malan
Jonny Bairstow
Ben Stokes
Eoin Morgan
Moeen Ali
Sam Curran
Chris Jordan
Adil Rashid
Mark Wood

Jason Roy’s recent slump and his perceived weakness against spin might be actual concerns, but he is still a good bet to capitalise in the powerplay alongside Jos Buttler (Roy actually strikes the ball at 150.00 in Asia). The rest of the batting line-up is fairly straightforward, complete with Moeen Ali, who brings the necessary spin balance suited for Indian pitches and was their most economical bowler on their 2017 visit.

With questions over Jofra Archer’s availability due to injury, England are likely to turn to Mark Wood to compensate for Archer’s pace and combine with Chris Jordan and Sam Curran. Curran, in particular, could turn out to be a vital piece in the XI, having shown in the IPL how useful he can be on subcontinent pitches in either department.

Rohit Sankar, Wisden India staff writer

Jos Buttler
Ben Stokes
Dawid Malan
Jonny Bairstow
Eoin Morgan
Moeen Ali
Sam Curran
Jofra Archer
Chris Jordan
Adil Rashid
Mark Wood

The dynamic duo of Buttler and Stokes at the top, something Rajasthan Royals nearly pulled off in IPL 2020, is something England ought to be trying by now ahead of the T20 World Cup, especially if they aren’t planning on bringing Alex Hales back into the setup. Despite Morgan’s backing of Stokes in the middle-order and Jason Roy at the top, the reality remains that Roy hasn’t crossed 25 in his last 10 international innings. Smashing hard lengths in South Africa and playing spinners in the subcontinent are completely different challenges and from evidence thus far, Roy hasn’t quite nailed that yet. Now is the time for England to pull off the freak move and pair Buttler and Stokes at the top.

Stokes at the top and Bairstow in the middle-order also adds strength against spin in the middle and breaks the otherwise left-handed heavy middle-order.

Moeen Ali and Sam Curran slot in as all-rounders in the XI and add to the bowling strength. The fast bowling group basically picks itself with each bringing different strengths to the table. Reece Topley as a left-arm powerplay option is enticing and I can see them try him out a couple of games into the series for Wood.