In case people forget it, England is the reigning ICC World T20 champions. Whilst recent performances have been anything but convincing the 3 Lions are a formidable side and can beat any team on a given day. Whilst there was some discussion about Australia doing ‘something’ to jinx England’s chances, England has made it through to the Super 8.
The question now is: how well will they perform as we near the business end of the tournament? This is a difficult question to answer. Given the mixed performances of not only England but other major competitors, the answer is anything but straightforward. One thing is for sure the Super 8 stage is going to be anything but predictable.
England Avoid India and Australia in Super 8 Stage
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This is not the most positive way to approach an ICC competition but England might be thanking their stars for being put in Group. Up there with the West Indies, South Africa, and the United States. This means England has avoided the top teams in the tournament: India and Australia. This is good. But it is no cause for celebration.
England will naturally fancy their chances against all the teams in Group 2. But therein lies the problem. If England starts fancying their chances against seemingly ‘weaker’ opposition, there is a good chance they would get rolled over by any one of the teams they are up against. South Africa, West Indies, and upstarts the United States, who have been the surprise of the tournament can beat any side given recent form.
England – Time to Up Their Game
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England had a bit of a golden run in the run-up to the 2019 ODI World Cup. Putting behind the round 1 exit of the 2015 the English cricket team suddenly came alive in the subsequent years and rose to become one of the most competitive sides in the shorter formats of the game, culminating with the 2019 ODI World Cup win. Proving that win was no fluke, England went on to win the T20 World Cup in 2022.
The point is England are a formidable side. Whilst their top players are not in the best of form, this team can beat anyone. But the problem with the 3 Lions, and this has been an issue in the past, is that England also tends to lose games they ought to win. And that sort of thing is not going to cut it at this level.
England Has the Side But Can They Deliver
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Presuming the 3 Lions make it to the top 2 of the Group, the question is how will they fare in the knockout stages. For English fans at this point in the competition there is more hope than expectation going into the Super 8. Whilst they have avoided the two giants of the cricketing world, England has an uphill task if they are going to get anywhere in the ICC World T20.
Whilst T20 is less predictable, and anything can happen on the day. But the fact is the English team lacks something this time around. It is difficult to pinpoint what that reason is. But one way to understand it is to look at their arch-rivals in Australia. Australia has built up a unit that can deliver with bat, ball, and on the field. And can do so with consistency. This is where England could be found wanting.
