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England will be vying for a historic back-to-back triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024, set to kick off in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA) from June 1. Their victorious campaign in the last edition, held in Australia in 2022, saw them clinch the title after defeating Pakistan in the thrilling summit clash by a margin of five wickets.
Stuart Broad on England chances
As the upcoming tournament looms closer, former England veteran pacer Stuart Broad weighed in on England’s prospects and identified a pivotal player for the team. Speaking to Sky Sports, Broad expressed confidence in England’s chances, citing their familiarity with the conditions, particularly in Barbados and Antigua, where they have a strong cricketing history and clinched the T20 World Cup in 2010.
“I like them (England) actually. Yeah i think there are conditions that can suit us. England have historically played quite a lot cricket in Barbados and Antigua ( 2 out of 9 venues for the World Cup) so know the pitches and conditions very well there having won the last T20 World Cup in West Indies in 2010,” Broad said.
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Broad identifies the crucial player for England
Broad emphasized the significance of captain Jos Buttler‘s form, asserting that Buttler’s resurgence, evident in his stellar performances for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the current Indian Premier League (IPL), will be crucial for England’s quest for a third T20 World Cup title. Buttler’s two unbeaten centuries in seven innings have propelled Rajasthan to the top of the IPL table after eight games, showcasing his exceptional batting prowess.
“So, i think so, Uh Obviously chip players have changed. But i think chances like with Jos Buttler coming back into the form as he is in the IPL for the Rajasthan Royals that hold the key Jos Buttler is coming back into form for the Rajasthan Royals and I think that could be the key,” the 37-year-old concluded.
Acknowledging the ever-changing dynamics of the game, Broad stressed the importance of key players like Buttler stepping up, especially in the high-stakes T20 format. He highlighted Buttler’s ability to dominate the opposition when in form, underscoring the significance of peaking at the right moment, particularly in a fiercely competitive tournament like the T20 World Cup.
“In T20 you want your top-three scoring the bulk of the runs and he’s someone who is just incredible when he’s on song. He had a quiet 50-over World Cup, he’s had a quiet year really, so for him to come into form and peak at the right time is huge. They’re always difficult to win, there’s so many competitive teams out there. But England will fancy their chances of getting to the latter stages,” the Nottingham-born cricketer.
T20 World Cup 2024
With 20 teams divided into four groups for the initial phase, a total of 55 matches will be played across the USA and the West Indies, making it the largest T20 World Cup in history in terms of venues. The tournament will commence with hosts USA facing off against Canada in Dallas on June 1, culminating in the final showdown in Bridgetown on June 29. Co-hosts West Indies will kick off their campaign a day later against Papua New Guinea.
England, the reigning champions, will embark on their title defense on June 4 in Barbados, where they will lock horns with Scotland. Their Group B fixtures will also see them facing Australia, Namibia and Oman across the venues of Barbados and Antigua & Barbuda.
