5 Reasons why England will struggle in T20 World Cup 2021

The T20 World Cup got off to a great start after India won the inaugural edition of the tournament. Led by a young captain, Team India went on to defy all the odds and lifted the trophy. Since then, the dynamics of cricket have drastically changed, thanks to some inspirational performances. 

Post the 2007 T20 World Cup, there have been many memorable instances in the tournament. Shahid Afridi hitting the winning runs for Pakistan, Carlos Brathwaite smashing four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes and many more to name. Last year, the T20 World Cup was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, the fans will get to see their most prestigious tournament in the format this year.

With so many improved teams, the level of competition will rise. Adding on, we might see some memorable moments too. Talking about creating memorable moments, the English team has been on fire. However, there might be few problems for Eoin Morgan’s side.

Let us have a look at a few issues England may face ahead of the T20 World Cup 2021:

5. Spinning conditions will trouble their frontline batsmen, who like pace on the ball

There is no doubt that the Englishmen are the most brutal batsmen in the game. Talking about Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow, all of them can take the game away in a flash. They are not afraid of huge totals and they can post mammoth totals. 

But, they have something in common. Yes, they do struggle against spin. They have been able to deal with the spinners in home conditions. But, here we are talking about playing in the UAE and Oman. 

Last year, in the IPL, almost every player in that lucrative lineup struggled against spin. And in the World Cup, they might have to face more quality spinners. This is a challenging task for the batsmen. Adding on, the opposition might include spinners in the powerplay which might add salt to the wounds. 

4. They are placed in the group of death

No matter how strong the team is, the pressure of the World Cup can crush the spirits of any team. We have experienced this, way back in the 2007 ICC World Cup ( the fifty-over format), in which Team India was kicked out during the group stage. Another instance of this was in 2014, where Team India stumbled during the final of the T20 World Cup. 

The Englishmen have gone through this phase too. In 2016, they failed to defend 19 from the final over. Well, with 19 runs required off six balls, the bowler has the upper hand. But, still, Stokes failed. 

Yes, they have improved, and are the World Champions. But, they are placed in a group along with Australia, South Africa, and the West Indies. Even though South Africa is under a transition phase, they have quality players who can step up. Talking about Australia and West Indies, well, they can crush any opponent on their day. 

3. Relocation of WC in UAE and Oman

The 2020 ICC T20 World Cup was initially scheduled to be conducted in Australia. But, because of the pandemic, it was postponed and India was declared the host. But, with the second wave affecting millions, the tournament has been shifted to UAE and Oman. 

Although it might increase the sport’s popularity in the above-mentioned countries, it will surely affect the selection process of many teams. For example, England and Australia will struggle to find multiple spinning options. Talking about England, they have just a single frontline spinner. 

Adil Rashid has been England’s premier spinner for quite some time. Apart from him, Eoin Morgan can opt for Moeen Ali. But, if one has a bad day, it can be disastrous for the English side. 

2. Jofra Archer’s fitness issues

Jofra Archer has been England’s most impactful pacer for approximately three years. He can trouble the batsmen with his raw pace. Adding on, his accuracy makes him a dangerous bowler. 

But this year, he has not performed up to his expectations. This made him announce that “If I don’t get elbow sorted, I won’t play any cricket”. Well, things might become horrible for Eoin Morgan if Archer is unavailable. 

Yes, they have a strong bench. But, Archer is a match-winner. He can bowl economically and smash the ball out of the park for fun. Apart from that, he is a terrific fielder too. Hence, they have to find ways to replace him if he is unavailable. 

1. The poor form of Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan is the man who revolutionized English cricket. After they were kicked out of the 2015 ICC World Cup, he created a solid team that went on to lift the 2019 World Cup. Apart from that, he is a terrific middle-order batsman.

During the World Cup, Morgan smashed 148 runs against Afghanistan. He took Rashid Khan to the cleaners. But, since then, his form has dipped. And recently, he had dropped himself from the second T20 against Pakistan. 

Even though England won the series, Morgan has many challenges ahead of him. He has to get back in form and even if he settles down, he can not afford to eat up many deliveries. With multiple players knocking on the door of the playing XI, the pressure is on Captain Morgan.