England’s all-time T20 World Cup greatest XI in tournament history
After a disappointing 2023 World Cup campaign, England will strive to defend their title in the upcoming T20 World Cup edition to be played in the West Indies and the USA. The English side clinched a record-equalling title under Jos Buttler in the 2022 T20 World Cup held in Australia.
England are the most successful side in this T20 International (T20I) tournament along with the West Indies, winning the trophy in 2010 and 2022. The English team’s remarkable success in this distinguished tournament indicates that diligence, perseverance and discipline always pay off. Noting their extraordinary achievement, let’s talk about their all-time best XI.
Here is England’s all-time best XI
1. Jos Buttler (c/wk)
Jos Buttler will be seen as an England skipper again in the upcoming competition. In the 2022 edition of the tournament, he led his team from the front and received appreciation for his exceptional performance. With 225 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 144.23, he ended up as the leading run-getter for his side.
Buttler, who has appeared in every T20 World Cup edition since 2012, is the highest run-scorer for his national team in this distinguished T20I tournament, with 799 runs in 27 games at a magnificent strike rate of 144.48. In the 2021 T20 World Cup, he became the second English batter to notch up a ton in the tournament, with his unbeaten 101-run knock off 67 deliveries against Sri Lanka at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
2. Alex Hales
Alex Hales played a pivotal role in England’s second title win in 2022. The right-handed batter supported his skipper as an opener and delivered solid starts to his team consistently during the fabulous campaign. Discussing his numbers, he chipped in with 212 runs in six games at a strike rate of 147.22.
Back in 2014, Hales played an unbeaten 116-run knock against Sri Lanka in Chittagong and became the first English batter and the fifth international batter to smash a century in T20 World Cups. Hales added 568 runs to his T20 World Cup profile in 20 matches at a strike rate of 139.21.
3. Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen’s fierce batting style made him one of the best batters of all time in international cricket. In his ten-year stint with the English side, he won a lot of games for his team with his exceptional skills. His notable contribution to England came in 2010 when the team lifted their maiden T20 World Cup trophy under Paul Collingwood’s leadership.
The star player accumulated 248 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 137.77 and ended up as the second-leading run-scorer. His sensational batting efforts also made him the recipient of the Player of the Tournament award. The South Africa-born England batter appeared in the first three editions of the T20 World Cup and scored 580 runs with four fifties in 15 matches.
4. Joe Root
Joe Root, who is an illustrious figure for England in Tests, hasn’t been a part of his team’s T20I setup since 2019 due to his low strike rate in the format. Root was a member of England’s 2016 T20 World Cup team that toured India and concluded its journey as runners-up.
In England’s scintillating campaign, Root put up a scintillating show with his bat, scoring 249 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 146.57. With these numbers, he also ended up as the third-leading run-getter in the competition. At iconic Wankhede Stadium, he took South Africa’s bowling unit to the cleaners.
Riding on his 83-run knock with six maximums and four fours off just 44 deliveries, the English team chased down 230 runs with two balls left and thumped the Protea side by two wickets. Root also received the Player of the Match award for his spunky innings.
5. Eoin Morgan
Eoin Morgan is credited for revolutionising England’s white-ball cricket with his leadership skills. It was his captaincy effort that helped England forget their dismal 2015 World Cup campaign and perform superbly in the 2016 T20 World Cup and end their journey as runners-up. Apart from captaincy, the southpaw was also known for his batting brilliance.
In T20 World Cups, he amassed 552 runs with three half-centuries in 29 matches at a strike rate of 122.12. Morgan was also a part of the English side that won the T20 World Cup title in 2010. The versatile left-handed batter played seven matches and contributed 183 runs to his team.
6. Luke Wright
Luke Wright served England from 2007 to 2014 in white-ball cricket and during those seven years, he helped his team bag a lot of games with his all-round talent. He appeared in four T20 World Cup editions for the English side and hoarded 439 runs with three fifties in 22 matches.
His best performance of the tournament came in the 2012 instalment played in Sri Lanka. England went into the competition as defending champions but failed to defend their title after losing two off their three Super Eight games. However, Wright exuded confidence with his bat, scoring 193 runs with two fifties in five matches at a strike rate of 169.29.
7. Sam Curran
Sam Curran made his maiden T20 World Cup edition memorable in 2022, guiding his team to the second trophy triumph. The young all-rounder bagged 13 wickets in six games at an economy of 6.52 and became the recipient of the Player of the Tournament award.
In his debut game in the tournament, he grabbed a fifer against Afghanistan at the Optus Stadium and became the first England bowler to take a five-wicket haul in cricket’s shortest format. Playing the massive final against Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, he took three wickets and became the Player of the Match.
8. Chris Jordan
Chris Jordan has been active in international cricket since 2013 and since then, he has played four T20 World Cups for England. Discussing his numbers, he has picked up 21 wickets in 18 matches at an economy of 7.69. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, the pacer also made a crucial contribution to England’s success.
Against India at the Adelaide Oval, he took the prized scalps of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Hardik Pandya. He continued his excellent work in the final against Pakistan at the MCG. On the big day, he delivered an economical and wicket-taking spell (2/27 in his four-over spell).
9. Graeme Swann
In England’s first T20 World Cup victory, Pietersen’s batting effort was recognised and he received the Player of the Tournament award. Graeme Swann, who clinched ten wickets in seven matches at an economy of 6.54, was the unsung hero of England’s scintillating campaign.
His wicket-taking and economical spells made a big difference between England and their opponents Sri Lanka and Australia in the knockout round. Swann played three T20 World Cups for England from 2009 to 2012 and claimed 22 wickets in 16 matches at a frugal economy of 6.50.
10. Ryan Sidebottom
Along with Swann, Ryan Sidebottom also performed exceptionally well for the English team in the 2010 T20 World Cup and his contribution with the ball was also never much discussed. The speedster took ten wickets in seven games at an economy of 7.44 and ended up as the joint-third-leading wicket-taker in the competition.
In the final at Kensington Oval, he built pressure on Australia, getting rid of Shane Watson and Brad Haddin early. He was the highest wicket-taker in the decider game with both wickets. Talking about the paceman’s overall T20 World Cup record, it’s decent as he has got 13 wickets in ten contests at an economy of 7.42.
11. Adil Rashid
Adil Rashid is undoubtedly one of the best spinners in international cricket currently. Riding on his skills, England have hoarded a lot of success in white-ball cricket. In England’s spectacular 2022 T20 World Cup triumph, Rashid was the silent contributor with the ball, grabbing four wickets in six contests at a thrifty economy of 6.12.
Riding on his marvellous bowling figures (2/22 in four overs), England beat Pakistan in the final at MCG. In his vast 14-year career, the leggie has been a part of four T20 World Cup editions and has taken 21 wickets in 22 contests at an economy of 6.99.
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