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Fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the four-match T20I series between England and Pakistan, set to begin on May 22. With the cricketing world’s attention shifting towards the upcoming T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA, this series is crucial for both teams to refine their strategies and finalize their squad selections.
World Cup preparations
Since both Pakistan and England are participating in this series, they will forgo any additional practice matches ahead of the World Cup. This means that the current T20I series will serve as essential warm-up games for both sides.
Venues and leadership
The opening match will take place at Headingley in Leeds, followed by the second T20I at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The third match will be held at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, and the final game will be at Kennington Oval in London. Jos Buttler will continue to lead the English team, while Babar Azam will captain the Pakistani side.
England’s best playing XI for the T20I series against Pakistan
Jos Buttler (c and wk)
- Role: Captain and wicketkeeper-batter
- Strengths: Exceptional leadership skills, explosive batting in the top order, and agile wicketkeeping. Buttler is known for his ability to change the game with his aggressive batting and is particularly effective in limited-overs cricket.
Phil Salt
- Role: Top-order batter
- Strengths: Hard-hitting opener known for his aggressive batting style. Salt is capable of giving the team quick starts and can play impactful innings in the powerplay.
Jonny Bairstow
- Role: Top-order batter
- Strengths: Versatile and powerful batter who can open or play in the middle order. Bairstow’s experience and ability to play both aggressive and patient innings make him a valuable asset, especially in white-ball formats.
Will Jacks
- Role: Middle Order batter, off-spin bowler
- Strengths: A dynamic all-rounder, Jacks offers powerful hitting in the middle order and useful off-spin bowling. His versatility provides balance to the team, and his fielding is also a significant asset.
Harry Brook
- Role: Middle order batter
- Strengths: Brook is known for his consistent scoring ability and solid technique. His composure and ability to adapt to different match situations make him a reliable middle-order batter.
Liam Livingstone
- Role: Middle order batter, all-rounder
- Strengths: Livingstone’s explosive batting and ability to bowl both off-spin and leg-spin make him a key all-rounder. His power-hitting can accelerate the run rate significantly, and his bowling adds depth to the attack.
Sam Curran
- Role: All-rounder
- Strengths: Curran’s left-arm seam bowling is effective in swinging conditions, and he is also a capable lower-order batter known for his ability to score quickly. His all-round capabilities bring balance to the team in both bowling and batting departments.
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Moeen Ali
- Role: All-rounder
- Strengths: Ali’s off-spin bowling is effective in both containing runs and taking crucial wickets. As a batter, he can accelerate the innings and provide stability. His experience and versatility are invaluable assets to the team.
Chris Jordan
- Role: Fast Bowler and handy batter
- Strengths: Jordan is known for his death bowling skills, with an ability to bowl accurate yorkers and slower balls. His athleticism in the field and ability to bowl under pressure make him a key bowler in the team’s arsenal. Additionally, he can also contribute well with the bat.
Jofra Archer
- Role: Fast Bowler
- Strengths: Archer’s pace and bounce make him a fearsome fast bowler. He can bowl at any stage of the innings and is particularly effective with the new ball and in death overs. His ability to take wickets and control the run rate is crucial for the team.
Reece Topley
- Role: Medium-fast Bowler
- Strengths: Topley, a tall left-arm fast bowler, uses his height to generate bounce and swing. His ability to move the ball both ways makes him a challenging bowler for batters, and his left-arm angle adds variety to the bowling attack.
