Cricket

Defending T20 World Cup champions England have enlisted the services of renowned psychologist David Young for their upcoming campaign in the Americas. Young, who played a pivotal role in England's triumphant 2019 World Cup victory, has rejoined the team for the shortest format showpiece after their disappointing ODI World Cup performance in India last year.Young's impressive track record with Manchester City, where he helped the club secure four consecutive Premier League titles, has earned him a short-term appointment with the England cricket team. He previously worked with the team from 2016 to 2020 and is currently part of the support staff for the T20I series against Pakistan.England white-ball coach Matthew Mott praised Young's contributions, stating, "He's previously been with the team and he's already been a great ally in messages back to me, making sure my messages are clear." Mott emphasized the importance of having an external perspective to ensure that the team's messages are effectively communicated.Following their disappointing group stage exit at the 50-over World Cup, Mott acknowledged the need for the team to become more vulnerable and supportive of each other. "When you've had the kick in the pants like we've had, you can't just go 'business as usual'," Mott said. "You have to redefine how you go as a team."The team has made a conscious effort to foster a more open and supportive environment, recognizing that their previous insular approach contributed to their struggles in India. "We've made a commitment to be a bit more open in and around our training sessions, to help each other out a bit more," Mott explained. "In India, all of us were guilty of being a bit insular, and trying to problem-solve ourselves. We've made a commitment to open up and be a bit more vulnerable as a group so that we're helping each other."England will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Scotland on June 4 in Bridgetown, Barbados. With Young's expertise and the team's renewed commitment to vulnerability and support, they will aim to defend their title and reclaim their status as the world's leading T20 side.

England's T20 World Cup preparations have taken a psychological turn as they seek to rediscover their winning ways. Head coach Matthew Mott has enlisted the services of Manchester City's psychologist, David Young, to help the team become more emotionally resilient under pressure.Young, who previously worked with England from 2016 to 2020, has been brought back as a consultant ahead of the World Cup in the Caribbean. His appointment was influenced by Jos Buttler, who credits Young for his performance in the 2019 World Cup final.Mott believes it is time for England to "get the mojo back" after a disappointing 50-over World Cup last year. He has encouraged the team to be more open and vulnerable with each other, recognizing that they were too insular in India."We've made a commitment to be a bit more open in and around our training sessions, to help each other out a bit more," Mott said. "In India, all of us were guilty of being a bit insular, and trying to problem-solve ourselves."Mott has been impressed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru's resurgence in the IPL, suggesting that England could learn from their aggressive approach. He also acknowledged the criticism from former captain Eoin Morgan, but emphasized that only those within the dressing room can fully understand the team's dynamics.Buttler has indicated that he needs to provide more clarity to certain players, and Mott believes the squad will drive this change. "My style of coaching has always been more of a cooperative approach - keep asking questions on what does their game look like at its best, and if they're veering away from that, to drag them back on track," Mott said.England will confirm their World Cup squad before Saturday's second T20I against Pakistan. Despite niggles for Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood, Mott expects them to be available for selection later in the series. Jofra Archer's return has been delayed by rain, but he is likely to play in at least two of the remaining three T20Is.

England's captain, Jos Buttler, remains optimistic about his team's chances of retaining the T20 World Cup despite their disappointing performance in the 50-over World Cup. Buttler acknowledges that England's failures in India were not solely due to a lack of clarity from the team management.Despite being considered favorites for the 2023 World Cup, England lost six of their first seven matches, including a humiliating defeat to South Africa. Buttler himself endured a poor campaign with the bat, leading to criticism that his own struggles had impacted his communication within the squad.However, Buttler defended his leadership, stating that England's problem was simply a lack of execution. He admitted that there could have been more communication at times, but emphasized that the team's performance was ultimately below par.Buttler believes that England has the experience and talent to bounce back from adversity, as they did after losing to Ireland in the 2022 T20 World Cup. He highlighted the importance of playing well in crunch moments and adapting to different conditions.England gained valuable experience in the tournament's likely conditions during their T20I series against the West Indies before Christmas. Phil Salt emerged as a key player, cementing his status as Buttler's opening partner with back-to-back centuries.Buttler praised Salt's insatiable appetite for learning and his improved off-side game. He believes that Salt can be a key player for England in the World Cup.England's campaign begins against Scotland on June 4 in Bridgetown. They have enlisted the help of Kieron Pollard as a batting consultant, and Buttler is confident that the team's preparations will enable them to perform well.

England vs Pakistan T20I Abandoned Due to Persistent RainThe highly anticipated first T20I between England and Pakistan was unfortunately called off before the scheduled start time due to incessant rain that drenched Leeds throughout the day. The ground was saturated with puddles, leaving the umpires with no choice but to abandon the match.This match was crucial for both teams as it was their last opportunity to assess their players before finalizing their squads for the upcoming T20 World Cup. England was particularly eager to give Jofra Archer a game before the squad announcement deadline on Saturday, but the rain dashed those hopes. England will now have to make a decision on Archer's inclusion without seeing him play a competitive match.Pakistan, on the other hand, remains the only team among the 20 World Cup participants to have not announced their provisional squad. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had intended to finalize the squad after the first T20I against England, but the rain prevented them from doing so.The inclement weather in Yorkshire also thwarted Pakistan's plans to give their players a final look before selecting the traveling party for North America. The two teams are scheduled to play three more games before departing for the World Cup: at Edgbaston on Saturday, Cardiff on Tuesday, and The Oval on June 2.

England vs Pakistan 1st T20I: Preview, Team News, and Live UpdatesEngland and Pakistan will lock horns in the opening T20I of their four-match series on Wednesday at Headingley in Leeds. The match marks the start of a highly anticipated series between two of the world's top cricket nations.Pakistan's Recent FormPakistan will enter the series on the back of a 2-1 T20I series victory over Ireland. Captain Babar Azam led the charge with a brilliant century in the second match, while Haris Rauf impressed with his pace and accuracy. However, the team has released pacer Hasan Ali from the squad due to fitness concerns.England's SquadEngland will be without the services of Liam Livingstone, who is recovering from a knee injury. However, the team has been bolstered by the return of several key players from the Indian Premier League (IPL), including Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Phil Salt, and Sam Curran.Key Players to WatchEngland:* Jos Buttler (wicket-keeper batsman)* Jonny Bairstow (batsman)* Phil Salt (batsman)* Sam Curran (all-rounder)* Adil Rashid (leg-spinner)Pakistan:* Babar Azam (captain, batsman)* Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper batsman)* Fakhar Zaman (batsman)* Haris Rauf (fast bowler)* Shaheen Afridi (fast bowler)Match Details* Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2023* Time: 6:30 PM BST* Venue: Headingley, Leeds* Live Scorecard: [Link to live scorecard]

England's captain, Heather Knight, has emphasized the team's commitment to their aggressive batting approach, which proved successful in their recent T20I series sweep against Pakistan. However, she acknowledges the need for adaptation to the different rhythms of the 50-over format as they prepare for the first ODI against the same opponents on Friday.Knight's crucial innings of 49 from 44 balls in the first T20I at Edgbaston helped rescue England from a precarious position. She expressed confidence in the team's ability to post competitive totals, as demonstrated by their varied performances in each match."We posted pretty good totals each time, which was really pleasing," Knight said. "Knowing different ways to punch out a score is really important. That's a good sign, and I think it's a real strength of ours, that depth we have in our batting."Knight praised the team's response to the slower pace of Pakistan's bowlers, highlighting the importance of learning how to approach such conditions. She believes this experience will be valuable for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh."The response from the top-order from that first game was really good," she said. "I feel like it's a really good learning for us about how we're going to approach those bowlers on potentially slower wickets."While maintaining their aggressive mindset, Knight recognizes the need for a more calculated approach in ODI cricket. "In ODI cricket, you have a little bit more time to read situations and cope with the ebbs and flows of the games," she explained. "There's obviously a lot of space to be aggressive, but you've got to do it for longer and be a bit more calculated."Tammy Beaumont, who missed the T20Is, is expected to return to the ODI squad, alongside Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt. Kate Cross will also play a key role as a senior seamer, especially with Nat Sciver-Brunt's limited availability as a bowler.Knight acknowledged the intense competition within England's batting lineup, with Sophia Dunkley also pushing for a recall. She believes this competition will drive individual improvement.However, Knight recognizes the challenges that the switch to the ODI format may pose, particularly for younger players who are more accustomed to T20 cricket. She cited Alice Capsey as an example, who has played significantly more T20 matches than List A games."Alice is still working out the tempo that she wants to go at," Knight said. "She's had success in dominating the powerplay, but it's about expanding her game and learning to adapt to different situations."Knight also faces a dilemma in balancing her spin attack, with Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, and Sarah Glenn all vying for selection. "It's something that we haven't really done, but it's so hard to leave one of them out there," she said.While the T20 World Cup remains England's primary focus, Knight is mindful of the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2025. "For me, it's about improving as a team, be it in the T20 format or the one-day format," she said. "I want us to focus on what we're doing now, which is trying to win the series against Pakistan."

Jos Buttler, England's T20I captain, has defended the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) decision to withdraw players from the Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan. However, he believes that international cricket should not overlap with the IPL, the world's premier franchise league.Buttler, along with seven other members of England's provisional T20 World Cup squad, left the IPL before the end of the group stage. Four of these players, including Buttler, represented franchises that qualified for the knockouts. England's players returned to Leeds on Saturday night ahead of Wednesday's opening T20I.Rob Key, the managing director of England men's cricket, stated that Buttler had driven the decision to bring players home from India. He emphasized the importance of the squad spending time together before traveling to the Caribbean.Buttler explained his reasoning, saying, "As an England captain, my main priority is to be playing for England. I think that these games have been in the calendar for a long time. Of course, leading into a World Cup, your No. 1 priority is playing for England and performing for England. I feel like this is the best preparation."Buttler's absence has left a significant void in his franchise, Rajasthan Royals. Tom Kohler-Cadmore was brought in for the final two group games but has struggled to make an impact.Other national boards have taken a different approach. West Indies and South Africa have both missed players for their T20I series due to IPL commitments. Ireland allowed Josh Little to remain in India during their recent series against Pakistan.Key has stated that the ECB tried to keep the situation fluid with players before deciding to bring them home. However, there has been some criticism in India about the early return of English players.Sanjay Bangar, the head of cricket development at Punjab Kings, claimed that the ECB had assured them that all players would be available before the December auction. However, as ESPNcricinfo reported, this was always subject to fitness, international duty, and any periods of unavailability submitted by players on their auction applications.The dates for England's T20I series against Pakistan were announced in July 2023 and have been in the ICC's Future Tours Programme since August 2022. In contrast, the BCCI only finalized the IPL's fixture list for the 2024 season after the tournament had started.Sam Curran, who captained Punjab in eight of his 13 appearances this season, believes the ECB's decision was justified. He said, "It was a decision that was made, that it was probably the right thing for us all to come back. It was only fair for all franchise to lose a player each or so… it would have been quite harsh if some franchises got to keep a couple of players and then some didn't."The Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA) will hold a global scheduling symposium for members later this year. CEO Tom Moffat revealed that a recent player survey showed widespread support for international and franchise 'windows', as proposed by Buttler.

England Players' Early IPL Exit Sparks DebateLegendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and all-rounder Irfan Pathan have criticized England players for leaving the Indian Premier League (IPL) early this season. With the T20 World Cup approaching, England captain Jos Buttler and several other players returned home to prepare for the tournament.Gavaskar has called for penalties against the players, while Pathan believes they should either commit to the full season or not participate at all. However, former England captain Michael Vaughan has defended the players, stating that representing their country takes precedence.Vaughan pointed out that the England players left to play a five-match series against Pakistan, which was scheduled on the calendar. He believes that the players' absence from the IPL will give them a better chance to prepare for the T20 World Cup.This year's IPL schedule has been criticized for not having enough double-headers on Saturdays, which has led to the season being stretched. Vaughan believes that if the schedule had been more compact, the England players would not have left early.Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Will Jacks, and Reece Topley are among the England players who have left the IPL to join the national squad. Their departure has raised questions about the commitment of foreign players to the tournament.The debate over the England players' early exit highlights the tension between national and franchise cricket. While players have a responsibility to represent their countries, they also have contractual obligations to their IPL teams. Finding a balance between these commitments is crucial for the long-term health of both international and domestic cricket.

England's fast-bowling stocks have suffered a significant setback with the news that Jamie Overton has been diagnosed with a lower-back stress fracture. The injury will sideline him for the upcoming Test series against West Indies and Sri Lanka this summer.Overton made his Test debut at Headingley in June 2022, impressing with two wickets against New Zealand and a gritty 97 from No. 8. However, a stress fracture ruled him out of the Ashes last summer. Despite initial scans on his back being inconclusive, he has now been diagnosed with another stress fracture that is likely to keep him out for the rest of the English summer.The news is a cruel blow for Overton, who was expected to feature in England's squad for the T20 World Cup in June. He had been in impressive form for Surrey in the County Championship, but felt discomfort after their draw against Somerset.England's fast-bowling depth will be tested this summer, especially with Stuart Broad having retired after the Ashes and James Anderson set to bow out of international cricket after the first West Indies Test at Lord's.Josh Tongue, who joined Nottinghamshire from Worcestershire in the off-season, is yet to feature this season and is unlikely to play Test cricket this summer due to a pectoral muscle issue. Saqib Mahmood, who is returning from multiple stress fractures of his own, has also experienced setbacks, while Matthew Potts only bowled three overs in Lancashire's second innings against Durham.The injury concerns highlight the importance of managing fast bowlers' workloads and ensuring they are adequately rested and rehabilitated. England will need to find replacements for Overton and other injured bowlers to maintain their competitiveness in the upcoming Test series.