Four big questions England need to answer ahead of the 2023 World Cup

Since they underwent their own internal white-ball revolution following the debacle that was their 2015 World Cup campaign, England have been dominant in both formats. They currently hold both men’s limited overs World Cups – the only side ever to do so. In the other global tournaments since 2015, they were two balls away from lifting the 2016 World T20 and in 2021, were an extraordinary Jimmy Neesham onslaught away from making what would have been a fourth final in four tournaments.

Though England are one of the favourites for the 2023 tournament, it hasn’t been plain sailing for the reigning world champions in ODI cricket since their 2019 victory. In fact, 2022 was the first year since 2015 when they lost more matches than they won; their sole series victory came away, to a Netherlands side depleted of its star names.

So, what are the questions that England need to answer ahead of the 2023 World Cup?

How long do you give Jason Roy at the top?

Roy, a key component of England’s 2019 World Cup win, was let go from the T20 World Cup set up in the build-up to last year’s tournament in Australia after a torturous run of form in the 2022 home summer. The Surrey opener has always been a superior 50-over player to a T20 one. One half of arguably the greatest opening partnership in the format’s history, Roy’s career numbers – average 39.53, strikes rate 105.99 – are outstanding.

But Roy’s ODI record is a far cry from what he produced in the run up to that famous day at Lord’s. In 23 ODIs against ICC Full Members since the 2019 World Cup, Roy averages 21.85. From his ODI debut to the 2019 World Cup final, Roy averaged 42.91 against the same teams.

Roy has been retained for the upcoming tour of South Africa but England have shown that they are prepared to make bold selection decisions close to a tournament. Should he return anywhere near his best, that place at the top of the order should be his.

But as we’ve seen with his T20 returns over the best part of a year, that is no guarantee. Phil Salt is an alternative within the squad selected for South Africa, as is Dawid Malan, who has impressed at No. 3 in Joe Root’s absence. Outside the immediate group, a recall for Alex Hales can’t be discounted after his pivotal role in England’s T20 World Cup success following his three-year exile from international cricket.

What does the middle order look like?

Going into the 2019 World Cup, England’s middle order was pretty much as settled as it could have been with Root, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler all pencilled in at three, four, five and six. In 2022, Morgan retired from international cricket, while Stokes effectively retired from ODIs on the spot halfway through a home series against South Africa.

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In theory, that leaves two spots that need filling. But given Stokes’ lead up to the T20 World Cup, do not be surprised if he unretires in time for the showpiece event in India. He went over 18 months without a T20I appearance building into the Australia tour that immediately preceded the T20 World Cup – a gap that would be shorter in time between his most recent ODI appearance and England’s warm-up fixtures ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

If the England squad for the South Africa tour is anything to go by, that leaves Malan, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook vying for one or possibly two positions. Malan has an excellent ODI record, and his game arguably suits this format better than any other while Duckett has recently enjoyed an outstanding set of tours to Pakistan and has always scored quickly in List A cricket. Brook may yet be uncapped in ODI cricket but he’s one of the most exciting young batters in the world game – a good run in South Africa could see the Yorkshireman catapult his way into the frame and cause England a selection headache similar to the one he’s created in the set-up.

Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone? Or just one of them?

The other middle-order option would be to include both Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali in the side at six and seven. Moeen’s recent record with the bat – he hasn’t passed 50 in ODI cricket since 2017 – should preclude him from a top-six berth. And while Livingstone has impressed on occasion in the top six, his game, you’d have thought, would be better suited as a pure finisher at No. 7. Sam Curran is another candidate to fill an all-rounder spot at seven or maybe even six.

Which seamers to use in India?

England’s seam -bowling stocks are extremely healthy, perhaps surprisingly so. 2019 World Cup winners Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood all start 2023 fit. Reece Topley and Saqib Mahmood have both excelled with the new-ball in recent times, while Olly Stone and Brydon Carse are other high-pace alternatives.

Sam Curran’s death bowling exploits recently won him the Player of the Tournament award at the T20 World Cup. David Willey is another vastly experienced option that can be leant upon if needed. England have plenty of choice in the pace department – keeping the key men fit is their biggest challenge in 2023.

The famous ‘Liam Plunkett Role’ is probably not as necessary in India as it was in England in 2019: expect spin to play a much more prominent role in this World Cup than the last, with Adil Rashid and at least one of Moeen and Livingstone performing crucial roles with Liam Dawson once more acting as dependable back-up.

My predicted England World Cup XI:

Jason Roy/Alex Hales (form dependent)
Jonny Bairstow
Joe Root
Ben Stokes
Jos Buttler
Harry Brook
Liam Livingstone
Chris Woakes
Jofra Archer
Adil Rashid
Mark Wood