England are only two or so months away from the start of another World Cup title defence, this time off the back of an especially difficult winter across formats.
England still have several questions to answer around the composition of both their XI and their squad; for this late in the T20 World Cup cycle, there are relatively few spots that are totally sewn up.
The IPL presents a late chance for several players to press forward late claims for certain berths that remain available.
So, what are the questions that need answering?
Top five spots for grabs
Jos Buttler and Phil Salt opened for England on their recent tour of the Caribbean, while Will Jacks has also been a regular since Buttler lifted the T20 World Cup trophy in Australia 15 months ago. It is not immediately clear how both Salt and Jacks fit into a top order that also contains the returning Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow.
Stokes predominantly batted four for England at the 2022 T20 World Cup, but you’d think that he’d better suit one spot higher at three. Bairstow, largely down to injury, has only played seven T20Is since the start of 2022, but enjoyed a successful return to the side, opening against New Zealand last summer.
England experimented with dropping Buttler down to five that series, moving Harry Brook up to four from his usual spot at five. Essentially, there are several combinations that England could realistically choose. They could open with Buttler and Salt, with Stokes at three and the two Yorkshiremen behind him at four and five. Bairstow and Buttler could swap roles, as they have done before, or Jacks could find a way of usurping one either Salt or Bairstow.
With so little set in stone there is plenty for the likes of Salt, Bairstow and Jacks to play for at the IPL. Salt and Bairstow are more likely starters for their respective franchises than Jacks and will have the chance to go on a run that cements their position in the XI.
Can Curran and Livingstone rediscover their best form?
Both all-rounders were everpresents in England’s 2022 T20 World Cup win and both have pretty much been guaranteed picks in the T20I setup since. That said, the Punjab Kings teammates have been off their best for a while now.
Both were dropped during England’s feeble 50-over World Cup defence in India. While there were green shoots for Livingstone on the tour of the Caribbean, Curran’s spark at the death has recently eluded him. They’re important components of the England white-ball set-up especially in how they help balance an XI with their all-round skills. It’s been some time since either has delivered the goods consistently, the IPL provides both with the chance to recapture their best form ahead of the T20 World Cup.
All to play for in the seam bowling department
Adil Rashid is as much a lock in the England XI as Jos Buttler is but the identity of the other bowlers in the XI is less straightforward. Jofra Archer will play if fit – but those two letters are doing some seriously heavy lifting. Archer has played 17 games of cricket since the start of 2022 – his availability would be an almighty bonus.
Elsewhere in the pace-bowling department, it’s harder to hang your hat on other seamers definitely making the plane. Chris Jordan, who took 2-27 in the 2022 T20 World Cup final, has only featured four times in the last 15 months, missing out on selection for the recent tour of the Caribbean. Chris Woakes, another Englishman at the Punjab Kings, remains in the frame, as does Reece Topley who is a likely starter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Gus Atkinson, new Mumbai Indians recruit Luke Wood, Tymal Mills, Brydon Carse, and Mark Wood have all played T20I cricket since the last T20 World Cup and are all in with shouts of earning selection. Tom Curran is another on RCB’s books.
With so few fast-bowling spots locked in, there is a huge opportunity for those seamers involved to lock their places in over the next eight weeks.
