- England crashed out of the T20 World Cup with a dismal 68-run defeat by India
- Jos Buttler loved success early in his captaincy however it is time to transfer ahead
- England’s white-ball set-up has traded for too lengthy on their 2022 World Cup win
Matthew Mott was in defiant temper after England had been blown away by India in Thursday’s T20 World Cup semi-final in Guyana, insisting his workforce would ‘come again larger, badder and higher’. Maybe they’ll. However it’s unlikely to be with Mott as coach – or Jos Buttler as captain.
England’s white-ball set-up has traded for too lengthy on their World Cup win in Australia two years in the past, a triumph based mostly on the legacy of Eoin Morgan, who had stepped down as captain only some months earlier.
However cricket’s calendar fills up frantically, and that’s historical historical past now. England’s defence of their 50-over title in India final yr was a catastrophe, and their defence of the T20 title right here within the Caribbean little higher – regardless of the deceptive headline of a spot within the semi-finals.
For a workforce with their sources and expertise, it was unhealthy sufficient that England ought to endure one underwhelming World Cup. However two? That’s end-of-era stuff. Mott and Buttler are industrious and considerate. However, as a pair, they haven’t labored. It’s time to begin once more.
Managing director Rob Key has no want to rock the boat – not in public at the very least – throughout the build-up to England’s Take a look at collection towards West Indies, which begins at Lord’s on July 10 with a chronic farewell to Jimmy Anderson.
England’s white-ball set-up should transfer on from Matthew Mott (left) and Jos Buttler (proper)
Buttler’s England put up one other sorry World Cup defence, shedding to India within the semi-finals
India dismantled England’s batting order in what proved a pitiful run chase from Buttler’s aspect
However there’s a three-week hole between that collection and the one towards Sri Lanka, giving Key time to place in place a brand new construction earlier than England’s subsequent white-ball outing – three T20s and 5 ODIs towards Australia in September. The Champions Trophy takes place in Pakistan in March: there is no such thing as a time to waste.
The truth is that solely victory right here within the Caribbean, the place India and South Africa will contest Saturday’s ultimate at Bridgetown’s Kensington Oval, would have saved the Mott-Buttler ticket.
Three defeats out of 4 towards Take a look at nations belied Mott’s declare that England made progress, whereas Buttler’s admission that he was fallacious to miss the bowling of Moeen Ali towards India on a sluggish Guyanese observe was the newest in a string of tactical blunders. Duffing up Oman, Namibia and the USA is not any form of blueprint.
At 33, Buttler can nonetheless play an essential function within the subsequent T20 World Cup, in 2026 in India, the place his IPL expertise ought to show invaluable. However each he and England might be finest served if the captaincy passes to a youthful participant not but exhausted by the franchise treadmill.
Buttler steered England to glory on the 2022 World Cup shortly after Eoin Morgan’s retirement
Harry Brook has the instruments to take over as captain and lead England’s new white-ball period
Harry Brook has the cricketing intelligence to guide the white-ball groups into the brand new period, in addition to a assured place within the XI. And what higher man to information him than Morgan himself – maybe the one determine in England’s limited-overs historical past to raise the shorter codecs into the general public’s affections.
England’s Take a look at aspect have proven the advantage of boldness below Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. It’s time for his or her one-day and T20 counterparts to comply with swimsuit.
