If rain stays away from a sold-out Headingley - and the forecast was sadly not too clever 24 hours outtoday marks the start of this road to possible redemption; the first in a four-match T20 series against Pakistan that serves as their only preparation ahead of next month's short-form World Cup in the Caribbean and the US.
Even in cricket's most capricious format, England should start out among the favourites, being blessed with wave after wave of power-hitters and able to draw upon the experience of lifting the trophy back in 2022. With Jofra Archer about to return after 14 months on the sidelines, their attack has been significantly upgraded too.
And yet memories of last winter's borderline no-show in India still linger; that collective loss of form and identity which led to six defeats from their first seven group games. Rob Key, the team director, tried to absorb much of the blame by the end, choosing to offer Buttler and Matthew Mott another chance to show they have the requisite chemistry as captain and coach.
Mott signed off from India unwilling to publicly share any lessons, such was the grizzly nature of events and the Australian's mood at the time. But Buttler, not always the most forthcoming, offered a couple of areas for improvement yesterday as his side geared up for this initial warm-up against Pakistan.
This story is from the May 22, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the May 22, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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