England completed their five-match T20I series over the weekend with a washout in St Lucia. While they took the series convincingly at 3-1 - their first overseas bilateral T20I series win since October 2022, how close are they to knowing their best T20I XI?
Several players were left out of the squad for the tour due to their Test match commitments in New Zealand. Equally, incoming head coach Brendon McCullum has yet to take over, with Marcus Trescothick still overseeing proceedings in the Caribbean. That gave England a chance to look at players either for the first time or give those who have infrequently featured in their XIs a chance of game time. Nevertheless, that they pulled off a win, and that several players found returns to form will be a significant check off England's problem list on their first overseas tour since the T20 World Cup disaster.
Still, with players missing and others performing in their absence, there's quite a lot of obscurity to what England's best T20I XI actually is when everyone is fit and available.
Top order
The easiest place to start is the top-order, given that Phil Salt and Jos Buttler both re-cemented their places with outstanding innings in the first and second T20I in the Caribbean respectively, Salt going on to score another half century in the fourth match. Buttler's innings in the second T20I was particularly significant, given that it came in a different position at No.3. England have fielded six options at No.3 since their 2022 World Cup win, two of which (Dawid Malan and Moeen Ali) are now retired, and one of which (Jonny Bairstow) is out of favour. Equally, Jordan Cox has been unsuccessful in his early forays into white-ball international cricket, and Will Jacks has failed to nail down his spot either as an opener or as a No.3. Buttler's return to the side and success at first drop leaves England's top order looking more settled and stable than it has been over the last year.
Where it gets tricky is the second opener spot. Jacks had a middling tour of the Caribbean getting starts in all three games but failing to kick on. He also has yet to score a half-century in the format after 23 games over the last two years. England have other options - Ben Duckett could be back in their plans when available, as well as Jamie Smith who has yet to make his debut in the format but has had success as a top-order batter in The Hundred. However, given that Duckett has usually been used by England as a middle-order batter and Smith is uncapped as of yet, it's probably that, if there was a World Cup tomorrow, Jacks would retain his place as opener.
Middle-order
Harry Brook will be straight back in at four when the schedule allows, which is a better spot for him than at five where he has batted in T20Is so far. That also frees up No.5 for Liam Livingstone to keep having the longer periods to bat he expressed as his preference in the Caribbean.
The all-rounders in the lower-middle order is where it gets more obscure. Jacob Bethell excelled in the Caribbean batting mostly at four. However, with Brook back and taking precedence, it's hard to see how Bethell fits in unless it's lower down the order. Given Bethell's success and how highly England rate him - viewing him as an all-format option by flying out to New Zealand following the West Indies series is a case-in-point - it's likely they'll take any way to fit him in the XI, even if that is lower down the order.
A 22-ball half-century, brought up with three sixes in a row 💥
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 16, 2024
21-year-old Jacob Bethell is some talent 🌟#WIvENG pic.twitter.com/svjr50Dkk4
Equally, Sam Curran was useful for batting at five in the third T20I, scoring 41 off 26 after a top-order collapse. However, his reduced standing with the ball reflects how England now see him, and it's clear pushing him down the order as a bowling allrounder isn't how England are going to get the best out of him. Jamie Overton fits the role of a hitter at No.7 who can also bowl in the middle overs, just edging out Brydon Carse.
Bowlers
Operating alongside Overton in the middle overs once he recovers from his elbow injury will likely be Mark Wood. While Wood hasn't played the format since the T20 World Cup, he would probably still currently be in England's best T20I XI over the likes of Gus Atkinson. Scheduling has only allowed Atkinson to play three T20Is, all of which came last year.
The most certain name on the team sheet, Adil Rashid is an easy pick before getting into the powerplay bowlers. Jofra Archer is a given, and that he's now got through three ODIs and three T20Is in just over a two-week period is another reason to optimistic about his fitness durability.
Saqib Mahmood was named player of the series and was easily England's best bowler in the Caribbean. He took nine wickets at an average of 10.55 to catapult himself into England's first XI. He goes in ahead of John Turner, who was promising without being explosive on his first T20I runout after being a spare part in England squads for the last year. Together, Mahmood and Archer go into the side also ahead of Reece Topley. While perhaps a slightly harsh omission, given his injury precluded him from playing any role in the series after the first T20I, Topley hasn't had a good year in the format in 2024, taking five wickets in 10 games at an average of 48.60.
England's best T20I XI
1. Phil Salt (wk)
2. Will Jacks
3. Jos Buttler
4. Harry Brook
5. Liam Livingstone
6. Jacob Bethell
7. Jamie Overton
8. Adil Rashid
9. Mark Wood
10. Jofra Archer
11. Saqib Mahmood
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