The T20 squads for the World Cup in India are appearing faster than any confirmation of the venues where they will be playing – there remains a doubt whether the stadium in Delhi is up to scratch. England announce their 15 on Wednesday morning.
The process looks straightforward. A long time ago England picked their 15 for the two T20 matches against South Africa that bring to an end this tour. That squad surely gives us a clue.
It includes Liam Plunkett, who was called up only when it became apparent that Steven Finn would not be fit to return from a side strain in time for the games against South Africa, but who had to miss them anyway due to a thigh injury. The expectation is that Finn will be named in the World Cup squad since the participating nations have been assured that they are easily able to replace men deemed not to be fit at the start of the tournament, which begins for England in Mumbai on 16 March against West Indies.
The squad for next week’s games in South Africa also contains James Vince of Hampshire, who has played only three T20 matches for England, all of which were against Pakistan in the UAE. In those games Vince displayed a solid temperament when opening the batting.
Since then he has more or less taken up residence in Dubai, plying his trade for the England Lions and, more recently, the Karachi Kings.
It would seem mildly surprising to find Vince at the finals but England currently go about their business of selection methodically. So expect him to be there, as a back-up for the regular opening batsmen. The alternative would not be an old Hampshire colleague but an additional spinning option for Indian conditions.
There are, of course, likely to be some notable absentees. Stuart Broad, a former England Twenty20 captain, has never missed the World T20 finals but he is only likely to make the trip this time if both Finn and Plunkett are deemed to be unfit. Jonny Bairstow has been timing the ball sweetly in South Africa but Sam Billings is the preferred option as a reserve keeper and a potential middle-order swashbuckler. Meanwhile Morgan (Eoin not Piers) has ruled out any dramatic recall for Kevin Pietersen, who was in good form throughout the Big Bash in Australia.
If England’s white-ball cricket had remained in the mire then the selectors might have opted for a few startling recalls (Luke Wright might have resurfaced as well as Broad and Pietersen). However since the dire performances in the 50-over World Cup last winter in Australasia, Morgan and his young team have started to flourish. There is no appetite to change that dynamic.
Probable squad Morgan (capt); Hales, Roy, Vince, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Billings, Moeen Ali, Jordan, Woakes, Willey, Rashid, Finn, Topley.
