'Strange World Cup leaves England futures in the air'

If you are present to debar chat astir nan early of an England guidance struggling astatine a awesome tourney you are successful nan incorrect place.

For Gareth Southgate, spot Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott.

England’s semi-final conclusion by India successful Guyana was emphatic. It brought an extremity to their reign arsenic T20 World Cup champions.

In galore ways it told america what we already knew – that England struggle connected slow, debased pitches and their bowling onslaught is not rather astatine nan elite level.

But astatine nan aforesaid clip this tourney leaves unanswered questions, namely, are England immoderate bully and are Mott and Buttler nan correct leaders to return them backmost to nan apical of nan white-ball game?

That those doubts stay is simply a problem for nan coach and captain.

Just days ago it felt for illustration England had turned a corner. It seemed their activity duo had wriggled free of nan ghosts of past year’s disappointing defence of nan 50-over World Cup.

A tally to nan semi-finals would person been viewed arsenic a decent effort successful different world.

But conclusion by 68 runs brings those demons backmost into view, particularly successful a tourney wherever 3 of your 4 wins came against Namibia, Oman and nan United States.

Now, for nan first clip successful 5 years, England do not clasp a white-ball trophy.

England's managing head of men's cricket Rob Key must determine whether location has been capable from Buttler and Mott to stay for nan adjacent 1 - nan Champions Trophy successful Pakistan successful February.

Buttler’s lawsuit is strengthened by nan deficiency of alternatives.

Harry Brook is nan only realistic campaigner of a suitable age, who is besides guaranteed a spot successful nan XI.

Some uncertainty whether nan occupation would suit nan 25-year-old, but he has led Yorkshire 4 times successful nan T20 Blast and England astatine an Under-19 World Cup.

Captaincy has ne'er seemed to travel arsenic people to Buttler arsenic it did his predecessor and adjacent friend Eoin Morgan.

Speak to those adjacent to Buttler and they insist he is nan correct man – a calm caput pinch a smart cricket encephalon who tin lead by illustration arsenic England’s top white-ball batter.

Big mistakes were made successful India past twelvemonth – decisions astatine nan flip successful Mumbai and against Afghanistan and bizarre switches successful squad action – and Buttler’s telephone to springiness part-timer Will Jacks nan 2nd complete against Australia successful this tournament, a move he described arsenic being a “gut” emotion astatine nan time, was another.

But he besides deserves in installments for different moves here, specified arsenic his bowling changes successful England’s 1 awesome triumph against West Indies.

He kept spirits precocious and his connection clear erstwhile he fronted up arsenic England’s run threatened to end aft conscionable 2 weeks.

When England arrived successful Antigua that week, pinch conscionable 1 constituent and a immense nett run-rate disadvantage to Scotland, they could person crumbled – arsenic they did crossed 11 days successful defeats by Afghanistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka successful India past year.

That run collapsed astatine nan seams. This 1 steadied and corrected itself, albeit against mediocre opposition.

Buttler, who led England to nan title successful 2022 pinch Mott, astir apt deserves to take if he wants to spell on.

Mott’s position is little certain, simply because caput coaches are easier to replace.

Key has already tipped 1 personnel of Mott’s backroom staff, erstwhile all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, arsenic a future campaigner for nan main job, external.

Ex-England batter Jonathan Trott has done his opinionated nary harm by starring Afghanistan to nan semi-finals.

The task up of Mott is besides not nan 1 he was brought successful to do.

When he took charge, Morgan was skipper and England’s white-ball squad supreme. Mott was asked to repetition what he had achieved pinch nan Australia women's broadside - support them astatine nan apical of nan crippled successful a prolonged play of dominance.

His England squad is now successful request of a refresh to build towards nan T20 World Cup successful India and Sri Lanka successful 2026 and nan 50-over showpiece a twelvemonth later successful South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Chris Jordan and Moeen Ali, aged 35 and 36 respectively, are nan astir evident members of this squad to beryllium thanked and moved on. Moeen said past year he did not deliberation he should beryllium portion of nan 50-over set-up going forward.

A difficult determination is looming complete 34-year-old Jonny Bairstow, who batted good astatine times but managed only 23 runs mixed successful his innings against Australia, South Africa and India.

The action of this summer's Test squad was pushed until aft this World Cup successful lawsuit it required an awkward conversation.

Should Bairstow not get picked to play West Indies connected 10 July, it is not intolerable nan Yorkshireman has played his past international.

England person to dream leg-spinner Adil Rashid does not travel his mate Moeen into nan sunset. His 10 wickets astatine an mean of 19 and an system beneath 7 present show he remains 1 of nan champion successful nan world aged 36.

He, Buttler, who will beryllium 36 astatine nan adjacent T20 World Cup, and Archer should beryllium nan halfway going forward, on pinch younger men successful Brook and Phil Salt.

After that, a cupboard that erstwhile had Alex Hales, Dawid Malan and Sam Billings connected nan extracurricular looks a small bare.

Had a batter sewage injured successful this tournament, nan uncapped Tom Kohler-Cadmore, 29, would person been 1 of nan adjacent successful line.

England’s famed white-ball extent is not what it erstwhile was.

Their adjacent limited-overs bid originates successful September, 1 time aft nan 3rd Test against Sri Lanka ends. By its end, nan Test players will beryllium leaving for Pakistan.

Naturally location will beryllium changes and past year’s database of cardinal contracts springiness a hint to nan bowlers who could travel in.

Expect accelerated bowlers Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, nan second will by past person served a three-month prohibition for betting offences, to characteristic successful early squads, positive Hampshire speedy John Turner.

Whether Mott stays to make those calls remains to beryllium seen.

If you came present looking for definitive answers, I apologise.

Perhaps that is portion of nan problem.