England’s T20 World Cup title defence is over, and it ended in rather abrupt fashion.
Chasing 172 against an unbeaten India in the semi-final in Guyana on Thursday, Jos Buttler’s team succumbed to being all out for 103. They needed a late innings performance from Jofra Archer, who scored 21 off 15 balls, to reach three figures.
While this tournament has not gone as disastrously as India’s defence of their 50-over World Cup title last autumn (where they lost six of their first seven matches and were eliminated in the group stage), it still raises a series of questions, the biggest of which is about the future of captain Buttler and coach Matthew Mott.
For a more accessible video player, use Chrome browser
Test captain Ben Stokes believes England should be proud of reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup and that they are making progress as a team.
England have only beaten one of the four Test nations they have faced in the T20 World Cup – the West Indies – but lost to Australia, South Africa and finally India, and they also struggled against Scotland before the rain arrived.
So, now that the dust has settled, let’s see where England go from here…
Adil Rashid, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes could all play big roles in England’s white-ball team going forward.
Will Butler and Mott be retained?
Immediately after the defeat to India, Buttler promised a major overhaul of personnel and style of cricket as England prepares for the next ICC world tournament, the 50-over Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February 2025.
Butler said he was “not thinking beyond today” about his future, but there was no hint that he was about to quit. The review, if properly conducted, will assess whether Butler and Mott are the right people to lead England going forward.
Many of the terrible mistakes seen in the last 50-over World Cup – including choosing to bat first against South Africa in sweltering Mumbai heat – were not replicated in the T20 version in the Caribbean, but that did not mean there were no mistakes.
Buttler failed to lead England to consecutive T20 World Cup victories
One could say that one of them chose to bowl first against India on a slow Guyana track where batting only became more difficult.
When England came out to bat second in front of a quality attack on a surface that would normally be a struggle, it was hard not to think they had screwed up.
England realised too late that off-pace bowling could be effective in the group stage against Australia, as David Warner and Travis Head put on 70 runs in five overs.
Buttler’s decision to use part-time spinner Will Jacks also backfired as the visitors conceded 22 runs in the first over.
But Buttler and Mott were able to rally England back from peril in this World Cup – a rain-cancelled match against Scotland and a defeat to Australia saw them on the brink of elimination – and they were at the helm when they won the T20 title in Australia later in 2022.
Harry Brook could be a potential captain if England releases Buttler
There is also no clear successor to Buttler as white-ball captain, with Harry Brook currently in the squad likely to be a contender, but looking further down the line Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope are also likely to be considered.
Mott will probably be easy to replace – head coaches often are – but the role may be too soon for Andrew Flintoff, who has worked behind the scenes at the club. Freddie’s first head coaching role will be with Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.
Could Andrew Flintoff become England’s next white-ball manager?
Former England batsman Jonathan Trott impressed in Afghanistan, leading the country to its first ever T20 World Cup semi-final, while former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori, who is now an assistant coach in Australia, has managed T20 franchises including Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
Perhaps Eoin Morgan would be interested in the job…
Which players will England rely on going forward?
Captain or not, Butler Arguably the best white-ball batsman in the world in his prime, he will continue to be a key man, probably at the top of the order in T20 and in the middle in 50-over cricket.
For a more accessible video player, use Chrome browser
Buttler hit five sixes in the first over to lead England to victory against the USA in the T20 World Cup.
T20 Opening Partner Phil Salt We can expect the Champions Trophy to begin early next year, stream, Liam Livingstone – He has often been a supporting player in the lower batting order – and Jack It may persist for a long time.
Joe Root He will likely return to the No. 3 position in 50-over cricket and assume the role of Test captain. Ben Stokes’ He explained his absence from the T20 World Cup as a way to “regain my bowling fitness so that I can fulfil my role as an all-rounder in all formats of cricket”, but England will be hoping for his return, as his run-chasing prowess was missing against India.
Other notable names are Crowley, Pope, Sally’s Jamie Smith Warwickshire Sam Hayne.
Rashid impressed in the Caribbean this year.
The 36-year-old leg spinner with the ball Adil Rashid He bowled brilliantly, taking 10 wickets at an economy rate of 6.64 in the T20 World Cup, and it looks like he still has plenty left in him.
Jofra ArcherEngland are, however, being cautious with the paceman, who continues to struggle with injury and is therefore only playing white-ball matches, and he recently joked that the only thing his managers hadn’t planned for him was a shower.
Archer will head England’s limited-overs attack for now and is expected to make the step up to Test cricket in the run-up to the 2025-26 Ashes.
Reece Topley, Mark Wood – Unless England want him to focus on Test cricket. – and Sam Curran It is expected that it will continue to play a role in the future. Chris Walkes Maybe we can get back to the Champions Trophy.
Gus Atkinson is one pace bowler that England may rely on in future.
Sally’s Gus AtkinsonHampshire John Turner And fit again Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire) and Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire) offers further stitching options. Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley He offers spin bowling and boundary hitting.
Whose time is ending?
Defensive Master Chris JordanIt will probably be his final appearance for England, as he turned 36 in October – he is a T20 specialist, with his final ODI coming in 2022 and the next shortened World Cup in 2026.
Moeen AliHe recently turned 37 and has already retired from Test match action and previously said he might retire from 50-over international cricket as well. If this is his retirement, his spin bowling and lumbering left-handed cover drive will be missed.
As well as his sharp sense of humor.
And next comes Jonny BairstowHe has seemingly been fighting for his place throughout his international career so far, a battle the 34-year-old has won many times before, but his goalscoring numbers have generally been disappointing in this World Cup and he may not win it this time.
Is Jonny Bairstow worried about his England future?
With Bairstow’s Test match status also in jeopardy following a poor performance in the series against India, the Yorkshireman is struggling on many fronts and removing him from the red-ball team and focusing solely on the white-ball matches could be the way to extend his England career.
But his international career may be over, just like England’s defence of their T20 World Cup title.
Watch the T20 World Cup Final between India and South Africa live from the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Sky Sports Cricket Saturday from 3pm (first ball 3.30pm).
England return to white-ball action in September with three T20 internationals and five one-day internationals against Australia, all of which will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Advertising Content | Stream Sky Sports Now
NOW allows you to stream Sky Sports live with no contract with monthly or daily memberships, giving you instant access to live action including football, darts, cricket, Formula 1, tennis, golf, rugby league, rugby union and more.