The T20 World Cup is now well into its second week and while some sides are lighting up the tournament, others are struggling to find their feet.
After a long year of playing Test, ODIs and this format, often in disrupted spells, it is hardly surprising that the more travelled nations are failing to fire.
That hasn’t tempered the action, though, and one team looks out in front when compared to the rest.
Can England Double-Up?
After being crowned 50-over world champions on home soil in 2019, England look the side to beat after dominant wins over the West Indies, who they skittled for 55, Bangladesh and Australia.
On Monday, there were a few nerves against Sri Lanka, with England put into bat after losing the toss, the first time in the tournament that Eoin Morgan’s side have fielded second.
Jos Buttler, who inspired England on Saturday with 71 against Australia, was at it again as he crashed 101 off 67 balls in Sharjah to help his team post 163-4 from their 20 overs.
Brilliant Buttler
The England opener delivers the first century of the ICC Men's #T20WorldCup 2021.#ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/XsLkKWq0gW
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) November 1, 2021
Sri Lanka kept themselves in contention in the run chase with five overs to go, with 41 runs required from 24 balls, but England managed to turn the screw with two superb pieces of fielding.
Jason Roy and Sam Billings firstly combined near the boundary rope to dismiss Wanindu Hasaranga for 34 before Buttler threw down the stumps to get rid of Dasun Shanuka for 26.
England ended up bowling out Sri Lanka for 137, recording a 26-run victory to make it four wins from four and putting one foot firmly in the semi-finals.
Morgan’s men are 6/4 favourites to become the first team to hold both the 50-over and 20-over World Cup crowns at the same time and, based on their performances so far, it is hard to see them being beaten.
The only blow for England is the injury picked up to Tymal Mills, who had to leave the field midway through his second over, and his spot is likely to be taken by either Mark Wood or David Willey.
Selection Questions for Australia
Australia opened their campaign with a five-wicket win over South Africa and were even more emphatic in defeating Sri Lanka second time out.
However, you often learn most from defeat and the Baggy Green Men have work to do after Saturday’s humiliation at the hands of England.
The Three Lions dominated the match, with Chris Jordan taking 3-17 before Buttler steered them home with 71 from 32 balls to wrap up the result with almost half of the innings to play.
Immediately, the knives came out, with doubts as to whether Steve Smith should be in the team, especially batting as high as three.
Smith and David Warner made just one each in Dubai in an innings that was anchored by skipper Aaron Finch’s 44. It seems inevitable that Glenn Maxwell, 14/1 to be his team’s top batsmen during the tournament, will move up the order in time for Thursday’s fixture with Bangladesh.
Australia are 4/23 to win that match and Finch and his side will hope a win can facilitate a successful second half of their tournament.
India in Trouble?
One team really struggling are India. A number of Ravi Shastri’s players have had a long year with two series against England and, of course, the disrupted IPL.
It may well be catching up with them having lost their opener against Pakistan by 10 wickets, before losing by eight dismissals to New Zealand on Sunday.
The Kiwis took out their target of 111 with five and a half overs to spare and, despite an opening loss to Pakistan, may be the ones to watch in Group 2.
In contrast, the inaugural T20 World Cup winners in 2007, India, are as big as 25/1 to win a second title but do have chances to make up some ground. They play Afghanistan on Wednesday before closing Group 2 against Scotland and Namibia on Friday and next Monday.
Will it be enough, though? Former England all-rounder Kevin Pietersen has even come to India’s defence, tweeting in Hindi that the players are “not robots and they need support at all times” in a bid to appease the expectant Indian public who are far from happy.
Even so, with Virat Kohli their only batter to have passed 50 and Jasprit Bumrah their sole bowler to have taken wickets in the tournament, it looks likely that the Men in Blue will be heading home early from the Middle East.
*All odds correct at time of writing.