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Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has backed Jos Buttler and Co. to win their second T20 World Cup trophy this year. However, the 49-year-old has expressed concerns about England's inconsistent performances, claiming that they are not the white-ball team they once were.
England sneaked into the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 after Australia beat Scotland in their final group game in Gros Islet. The defending champions were on the verge of group-stage exit after a wash-out against Scotland and losing to Australia but defeated Oman and Namibia to reignite their campaign.
In his column for The Telegraph, Vaughan wrote:
"It wouldn’t surprise me if England won the tournament. England are a very dangerous team. My worry is that they can play incredibly well, but they can produce a performance which is very average. They’ve become a team that’s quite inconsistent, which is not what we’re used to from the white-ball team."
The 2005 Ashes-winning captain reckons Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler will be most integral to England's chances, earmarking the latter to win matches single-handedly. He wrote:
"To get to the semi-finals and even further, England need two players at their best. Jofra Archer is hugely important for England. He’s that bowler who can bowl every over of the 20, and his return has been very good so far.
"And then Jos Buttler has got to find form. The skipper needs to find a bit of rhythm with the bat. Jos is that kind of player that can win a game on his own. England are going to need him."
Buttler had a decent IPL 2024 season and started the T20 World Cup in promising fashion but is yet to set the tournament on fire. He has had scores of 24, 42, and 0 in three innings and will be keen to explode in the Super 8 phase.
"How England didn’t play Reece Topley for the first two matches is beyond me" - Michael Vaughan
Vaughan also praised England for affecting crucial changes by bringing in Reece Topley and Sam Curran, claiming that both players are perfectly suited for the conditions. He wrote:
"In the last two games, England have rectified their big mistake at the start of the World Cup. How England didn’t play Reece Topley for the first two matches is beyond me. He bowls that first over, swinging the new ball as a left-armer.
"I also liked England’s change in team formation against Scotland, bringing in Sam Curran. He’s the T20 expert; he’s got all the tools. A man who bats and bowls left-handed is so valuable – can bowl in the different phases of an innings, can smash the ball and is an excellent fielder too."
England will face the likes of USA, West Indies, and South Africa in the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
