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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

4 questions England must answer ahead of World Cup defence including Ben Stokes' future

With England wrapping up a 2-1 series win over Bangladesh, Jos Buttler's side will not play another ODI until September.

They are set to play four games against New Zealand, followed by three against Ireland and will then jet off to India to embark on their defence of the 50-over World Cup crown they won in such dramatic fashion back in 2019.

Since that historic win, ODIs have taken something of a backseat with England instead focusing on Test cricket and T20 cricket given there was not another 50-over World Cup until this year.

And with that in mind, Mirror Sport has taken a look at four questions facing England as they look to retain the World Cup...

Will Ben Stokes unretire?

Having retired from ODI cricket last year citing an "unsustainable" schedule, England are keen for Stokes to reverse his decision and return for the World Cup. White ball coach Matthew Mott has repeatedly spoken about wanting Stokes in his side at the tournament and it is easy to see why, given his heroics in both the 2019 final and last year's T20 World Cup final.

As an all-rounder capable of batting in the top four, Stokes offers balance to the team and the fact he is a left-hander adds variety given the majority of England's top-order options are right-handers. However, there are question marks over his fitness with a chronic left knee issue plaguing him during the recent New Zealand Test series and England are hoping he will get through the upcoming IPL unscathed.

The Ashes being squeezed into a short 46-day window will not help matters either, but Stokes could conceivably take a two-month break after the series and return for the World Cup in October and look to work his magic for a third time. However, it remains to be seen whether his knee will hold up and whether Mott and co. can tempt him into it.

Ben Stokes retired from ODIs last year, but England coach Matthew Mott wants him to reverse his decision for the World Cup (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

What is the first choice top order?

There has been much discussion about what England's top order will look like heading into the tournament and whether it will remain the same as it was in the 2019 World Cup. Jonny Bairstow looks certain to open when he returns from a broken leg, while Jason Roy appears to have regained some form with timely centuries against South Africa and Bangladesh.

Joe Root was England's leading run scorer in the last World Cup, with 556 runs at an average of 61.77 across 11 innings. However, he has only batted in 12 ODIs since then, failing to score a hundred and seeing his average drop to 35.10.

Dawid Malan, meanwhile, has been making a compelling case for inclusion in England's top three since the World Cup, having struck 745 runs at 57.30 across 17 innings. This run includes four centuries and three fifties, with his most recent hundred a match winning effort against Bangladesh in similar conditions to what England will face in India later this year.

Root, however, is an excellent player of spin and it would be a huge call not to pick him at number three for the World Cup. Fringe players like Phil Salt, James Vince and Ben Duckett have failed to make the most of recent opportunities, but new star Harry Brook will almost certainly be involved.

Exactly how Mott and Buttler see England's top order lining up remains to be seen, which brings us onto the next point....

Dawid Malan has made a compelling case for a spot in England's top order at the World Cup (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

How to balance the side?

Since taking charge last summer, Mott's preferred balance of the side has been to go with four batters, Buttler at five, three all-rounders and three frontline bowlers. Moeen Ali is almost certain to be one of those all-rounders, given his status as vice-captain and his experience.

Much depends on whether Stokes will return and whether his knee will allow him to bowl enough to be considered an all-rounder, but Sam Curran and Chris Woakes are competing for the seam-bowling all-rounder spot. Curran was player of the tournament at the T20 World Cup and impressed with both bat and ball against Bangladesh.

Woakes, meanwhile, is a double World Cup winner, experienced performer and particularly adept with the new ball. There is, of course, every chance that both players could make the side and lengthen England's tail further.

Liam Livingstone and Will Jacks could make the side as the third all-rounder, but a fully fit Stokes could see them sidelined. Mott could also decide to tinker with the balance of his side and play an extra batter, negating any debate over how to fit the likes of Malan and Brook into the team.

Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone's all-round skills could be key (Will Russell-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

What are the spin options?

Spin looks set to be key given the tournament is being staged in India and Adil Rashid will be crucial to England's chances, with the leg-spinner now England's third-highest wicket taker in ODI history. Moeen will offer some support with his off-breaks, but the 35-year-old has only bowled his full quota twice in 23 appearances since the start of 2021.

Livingstone's ability to bowl both off spin and leg spin will make him a very attractive option for England, particularly when coupled with his destructive batting ability, while the likes of Jacks and Rehan Ahmed both made their ODI debuts against Bangladesh. Both are potential options and picked up Test match five-fers against Pakistan last year.

However, they are inexperienced ODI players and perhaps this tournament has come a bit too early for them, although it would not be a surprise to see at least one of Jacks or Ahmed in the squad. Root's ability with the ball should not be underestimated either as he also has a Test match five-fer and, like Livingstone, is capable of bowling both off spin and leg spin.

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