They swept West Indies by 3-0 in the T20I series.
England men’s cricket team demolished West Indies in both ODI and T20I series to complete a perfect sweep. The new white-ball captain Harry Brook couldn’t have asked for a better start to his reign.
England had multiple players stepping up in the T20I series. The first game had Jos Buttler and Liam Dawson putting in standout individual performances while the second game was a collective team effort.
In the third T20I at Southampton, the home side hammered 248 in their 20 overs. Ben Duckett struck 84 off 46 while Jamie Smith smashed 60 off just 26 deliveries. Brook (35* off 22) and Jacob Bethell (36* off 16) provided the finishing touches. Later, Luke Wood and Adil Rashid bagged two scalps each to clinch the game by 37 runs.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 just eight months away, England will take plenty of positives from their clean sweep over West Indies. They tried a few different players, and seem to have found a good core they can build the team around.
The 21-year-old starboy Jacob Bethell struggled in the first game batting down the order but struck 26 off 10 and 36* off 16 in the last two outings. Bethell, Tom Banton, and Will Jacks are primarily top order batters but England played them at 5-6-7 in this series. These are tough positions to bat as you don’t get the luxury of starting slow. The trio did a good job here but how they adapt in subcontinent conditions will be key.
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Harry Brook has taken the number four spot. He showed glimpses of his quality but he needs improvement in his T20 game. Backing away against raw pace isn’t a good sight and his game against spin will be tested in the subcontinent conditions.
Jos Buttler remains the most valuable player in this side. His experience and ability to hold the innings together while scoring at a good rate makes him one of the greats of the format. Ben Duckett has been outstanding in his role as an opener. Jamie Smith’s rise gives them multiple options in the top order.
In the bowling attack, England have an outstanding spin duo in Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. The pair will be crucial in the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka. They also have Will Jacks, who can be reliable as an off-spinner. Bethell can also be an effective left-arm spin option in addition to Dawson.
As for the pace attack, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood will be the first-choice duo. In the backup options, they have Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood, and Brydon Carse.
Phil Salt, who recently played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lifting their maiden trophy in the Indian Premier League (IPL), took a parental leave in the T20I series. England had already dropped him from the fifty-over side and missing the recent series has put his place in jeopardy in the shorter format as well.
Smith, who replaced Salt on a short notice, made the opportunity count big time. He hit 38 off 20 in the opening game, and was even more brutal in the final T20I, blasting 60 off just 26.
Smith is one of the highly rated youngsters in the country, and has a high ceiling. Anything Salt can do, Smith can do more consistently. His exploits in red-ball cricket also make him a more reliable batter in testing conditions.
England’s next T20 assignment will be in September against South Africa. That series will give us an idea about their preference for the second opening spot.
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