England’s World Cup campaign isn’t quite in ‘must win’ territory just yet but it’s not far off as they prepare for Saturday’s clash against South Africa in Mumbai.

The reigning world champions have suffered two losses from their opening three games, a run of results that includes a defeat to Afghanistan who went winless across nine games at the 2019 World Cup. They next face South Africa who themselves are reeling from a defeat against the Netherlands that put their otherwise positive start to the campaign off course.

England have a number of selection questions to consider, including how to fit Ben Stokes back into the side now that he is once more available. Here’s how four Wisden writers would go about selection:

Jo Harman, Wisden Cricket Monthly magazine editor

Jonny Bairstow
Dawid Malan
Joe Root
Ben Stokes
Harry Brook
Jos Buttler
Liam Livingstone
Chris Woakes
Adil Rashid
Mark Wood
Reece Topley

Player of the Tournament at the last T20 World Cup, Sam Curran looks a square peg in a round hole in the 50-over side and needs to be taken out of the firing line after leaking eight runs per over so far in the tournament and contributing nothing with the bat. In his place comes Ben Stokes, shoring up the batting unit and allowing Liam Livingstone to play in his more natural position at No.7, but that does leave Jos Buttler short on bowling options, with Livingstone effectively being asked to fill the role of a frontline spinner. It’s not ideal but their seamer-heavy squad doesn’t leave much room for manoeuvre. The other dilemma is whether to keep faith in Chris Woakes, who’s been curiously out of sorts, or give Gus Atkinson his head. It’s tempting to unleash the Surrey quick but that would be a big risk for such a crucial game given Atkinson’s lack of 50-over experience (he’s only bowled 33 overs across his entire List-A career). I’d lean towards Woakes’ big-match pedigree and back one of their most reliable bowlers to come good.

Ben Gardner, Wisden.com managing editor

Jos Buttler
Dawid Malan
Joe Root
Jonny Bairstow
Ben Stokes
Harry Brook
Liam Livingstone
David Willey
Adil Rashid
Mark Wood
Reece Topley

This is almost do or die, so it’s time to get radical, back the form players, and shake up those currently slumbering. Jos Buttler opening puts England’s premier batter in the premier position, allowing him to shape the game as he does in T20Is. Jonny Bairstow can have more protection and less obligation to charge from the off, with his skill against spin also in play. Chris Woakes may yet come again, but I’d favour David Willey, the member of England’s squad who never gets a mention. He’s been in excellent form over the past few years, and some off-pace new-ball swing could be just the ticket for a hard-handed, pace-hungry South African top order. After watching the Proteas struggle against the Netherlands’ spin, Moeen Ali forming a three-pronged spin attack is tempting too, but this is how I’d go.

Yas Rana, Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast host

Jonny Bairstow
Dawid Malan
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes
Jos Buttler
Liam Livingstone
Adil Rashid
Gus Atkinson
Mark Wood
Reece Topley

It was understandable why England placed so much faith in Sam Curran. He was the player of the tournament at last year’s T20 World Cup, has plenty of experience playing in India and his performance generally rises as the stage he’s on increases in size. But it just hasn’t worked. He has looked well off the pace both as a bowler to trust overs with and as a top seven batter. Stokes, if fit, should come in for him, leaving England with a balance of side similar to New Zealand who have generally fielded four frontline bowlers, leaving a combination of Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell to cover the remaining overs. Liam Livingstone, England’s fifth bowler in that set-up, is more reliable and adaptable than any of those three New Zealanders.

Then there’s a decision to be made on Chris Woakes. So often Mr. Reliable and arguably the bowler of the 2023 English summer, Woakes has lost his customary accuracy in dramatic fashion. His performance against New Zealand was put down to early tournament rustiness but we’re now one third the way through the group phase and he looks no closer to his best. Gus Atkinson shot into contention for this squad in the summer by showing that he is a dangerous new-ball and death overs T20 bowler against good players. He’s sharp and has the tools to disrupt the rhythm of set batters. It would be a risk chucking in a bowler this inexperienced in a game of this magnitude, but it would also be a risk to continue to back Woakes on current form. I would caveat this by saying that should Woakes categorically show in the days leading up to the game that he has regained control of the new ball, I would retain him but unless that definitively happens, I’d unleash Atkinson.

Katya Witney, Wisden staff writer

Jonny Bairstow
Dawid Malan
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes
Jos Buttler
Liam Livingstone
Chris Woakes
Adil Rashid
Mark Wood
Reece Topley

There’s no good solution to the mess England are currently in. While Stokes back in the top six makes their batting look a lot healthier, their bowling attack remains one that looks far from able to win a World Cup. Stokes has come in for Curran in this XI, with Woakes just clinging on to his place, more to avoid having a tail of Rashid, Wood, Atkinson and Topley than on the benefits he’s brought with the new ball so far. But, in the absence of being able to fix all their problems, rectifying their depth with the bat seems like the more feasible option.

Ideally, Atkinson would have come in for Woakes and taken the new ball. But, putting him in as a straight swap is too risky, with England all out of room for error. This balance also relies on Livingstone’s continued dependability with the ball and Root to send down a few if necessary. England have no choice but to shuffle their pack and hope a re-structure will be enough.