ICC T20 World Cup | Re-energised England under Brook look to translate on-paper strength to performance

‌Amid a roller-coaster ride with their Bazball setup under head coach Brendon McCullum, England yet again turn up for a T20 World Cup with so much promise. After an initial high, the new approach has started developing cracks, with the side losing 14 of their 28 Test matches since the start of 2024. In ODIs too, the results aren’t flattering. England have managed to win just two of their last eight bilateral series since the same period, while also finishing an embarrassing last in their group, without a single win, in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Viewing from that lens, the Three Lions have much at stake as they meet Nepal, in less than a week, in Mumbai, in a format that makes real sense to adopt the Bazball approach. With Harry Brook taking over the reins, the side looks more energised than ever to go the distance, and the squad also looks promising with the likes of Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, and Jofra Archer all present.

How did England fare in 2024?

After a rather slow start, which saw them lose against Australia following a washed-out opener versus Scotland, England did well to win four of their next five matches to reach the semifinal. But they hit a roadblock against the all-conquering India, ending their title defence meekly in the last four with a whopping 68-run loss.

Jos Buttler, who led the side in the last edition, finished as the side’s top run getter for a second consecutive time with 214 runs at an average of 42.80 and a strike rate of 158.51. His opening partner Phil Salt was second with 188 runs with an impressive strike rate of just under 160. Meanwhile, the pace duo of Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan, alongside spinner Adil Rashid, all had 10 wickets each.

How have the results been since?

Despite the inconsistent showing in the other two formats, England have performed decently in T20Is with 14 wins, 10 of those coming after Brendon McCullum took over the white-ball unit in January last year, and seven losses since the end of the last World Cup. Of the seven reverses suffered, four were against India in a single five-match series, incidentally McCullum’s first after being appointed as all-format coach. And what’s more impressive is that England is yet to lose a bilateral T20 series since Harry Brook was appointed as captain in April last year after England’s horrendous run in the ICC Champions Trophy.

ENG in T20Is post 2024 World Cup: W 14 L 7 NR 6

How have they changed post the 2024 edition?

England have more or less continued their all-out approach -- in fact, they have furthered it after Brook replaced Buttler at the helm. The side has breached the 200-run mark four times in nine matches batting first, with three of them coming after Brook took over, including the mammoth 304/2 against South Africa, their highest T20I total and the highest in a full-member contest.

Salt and Buttler have performed exceptionally and consistently at the top from the end of the last World Cup, with more than 650 runs each and averaging 41 and 33, respectively, at strike rates in excess of 160. Additionally, Jacob Bethell has settled in nicely into the number three role after making his debut against Australia in September 2024, striking at an impressive rate of 151. With the addition of Tom Banton to the squad and the presence of Harry Brook and Sam Curran, England have added both depth and firepower to their batting unit.

With the ball, Luke Wood and Jamie Overton provide more teeth to the fast bowling unit, which already boasts of Jofra Archer, who can be a threat on any surface with his pace, and the clever Sam Curran. In the spin department, Adil Rashid finds much-needed support in Liam Dawson and Rehan Ahmed, with Bethell and Will Jacks doubling up as spin bowling all-rounders.

England squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup: Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue

Probable XI: Jos Buttler (wk), Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton/Luke Wood, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer 

How can England go the distance? 

England are a side with enormous firepower with the bat capable of putting or chasing down giant totals on the board. What appeared a bit top-heavy in the last marquee edition has evened out pretty well this time, with the likes of Banton, Brook and Curran all capable of striking at above 160, as they have shown from the start of the last year. With Bethell, Jacks, and Curran, the side has decent balance and flexibility, which has become a prerequisite for T20 cricket these days. And add to it the X-factor in Jofra Archer and the experience of Rashid, England are right up there amongst the favourites.

What are the red flags?

For any team that sets out with a no-holds-barred approach, an imminent collapse is round the corner and England too are in the same boat. And that too, with a batting order with the likes of Bethell and Banton, both with limited experience at the biggest stage, it can be a dangerous prospect. Additionally, England’s struggles against spin, especially in the subcontinent, are well-documented and that may come back to haunt them. 

England’s shallow bowling department does not make things better either, with Jofra Archer having the unenviable task of spearheading an inconsistent and unproven bowling line-up, but for Curran and Rashid. For Curran, all will boil down to whether he can replicate his peak form, which saw him win the Player of the Tournament in their title-winning 2022 campaign in Australia. The seam-bowling all-rounder has picked up just eight wickets in 12 innings after the last World Cup with an unimpressive average and economy of 44.87 and 11.21 respectively. And with heavy dew expected to challenge Rashid’s craft and render him ineffective more often than not, the spotlight will shine brighter on Archer. And for the same reason, there will be enormous pressure on Buttler and Salt to put on tall totals each time they walk into the middle. Also, it goes without saying that an injury to Archer will be the death knell to England’s title aspirations.

Verdict: Semifinal and then a bit of luck

Provided the side do not implode in their own crazy ways, England will probably cruise to the Super Eights as topper of Group C, from among West Indies, Nepal, Italy and Scotland. Then, they are blessed with a slightly easier draw, which might expectably have New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. So a journey till the semifinal looks almost certain, but from there they will have to play out of their skin and then with a bit of luck, you never know.