Reigning T20 World Cup champions England will start their 2024 campaign against Scotland this week (June 4). Here's their predicted starting XI for that fixture.
Having selected a versatile 15-player squad ahead of the tournament, England's starting XI took shape in their four-match series against Pakistan last month. They fielded near enough the same team in both of the matches that were able to take place, bad weather having washed out half the series, and won both.
The only choice which still remains slightly up in the air is the make-up of their fast-bowling attack, with two of Mark Wood, Chris Jordan and Reece Topley likely to be selected alongside Jofra Archer. Their batting lineup, however, is solid, with Ben Duckett likely to be the specialist batter in the squad to miss out on an initial place in the XI.
England's 15-player T20 World Cup squad: Jos Buttler (c), Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Reece Topley, Tom Hartley.
Top five
An aggressive partnership between Jos Buttler and Phil Salt in the final match of the series against Pakistan once again showed its potential with both batters in form. Buttler scored two hundreds in the IPL this year, the second an all-time classic against KKR, in which he carried his bat to score the winning runs off the final ball of the match. Salt enjoyed an outstanding IPL in a defining opening partnership with Sunil Narine for KKR. Although absent for KKR's victory in the final, that opening partnership was a key part of Kolkata's success during the tournament.
Will Jacks will slot in at No.3, having also had a positive IPL. He scored a blistering century for RCB against Gujarat, which drew praise from Virat Kohli who watched it from the non-striker's end. Below him will likely be Jonny Bairstow. Although Bairstow has had a mixed-recent run of form in international cricket as of late, he was another century-maker in the recent IPL, and whacked three sixes against Pakistan at The Kia Oval last week. Completing the middle order specialists will be Harry Brook. Brook's spot makes it five right-handers in a row in England's top five, and at some point in the tournament they may look to break up that procession with the left-handed Duckett, or by promoting vice-captain Moeen Ali up the order. However, those five look set to start the campaign.
All-rounders
As well as Jacks as a useful inclusion in the top order, England have an engine room of all-rounders in the middle order. Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone will fill in at Nos.6 & 7, Livingstone's serving as another spin option. While England experimented in batting Livingstone up the order in the Caribbean last year, their plethora of top-order options and the balance England have decided to go with means he has to bat in the lower middle-order.
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Having been relegated to the fringes of England's T20I side since the 2022 T20 World Cup, Chris Jordan has had a late resurgence to force his way back into the starting XI. He wasn't picked for the series in the Caribbean last December, but Sam Curran's drop in form and an injury to Jamie Overton helped his case. On announcing the squad, Rob Key also highlighted his ability as a lower-order finisher as another reason behind his selection.
Bowlers
Jofra Archer and Mark Wood were both back fit again and bowling in England colours against Pakistan. Archer hadn't featured for England in over a year before the series, after sustaining yet another injury setback. Wood made his comeback from an injury he picked up following England's Test tour of India earlier this year last week at The Kia Oval. He was clocked at 96 mph in his first over back. While this attack means England will have exclusively right-arm pace options at their disposal, it's likely they'll rotate with Reece Topley during the tournament.
Adil Rashid will as ever complete the XI. The other spin option England have available is Tom Hartley. Although he's still uncapped in T20Is, as a left-arm finger spinner with a much talked about high release point, he's an intriguing option England will have at their disposal during their campaign.
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