England set to go with extra batter for T20 World Cup opener

England set to go with extra batter for T20 World Cup opener with Liam Livingstone to return ahead of schedule, with returning Alex Hales determined to get off to a ‘good start’

• England are set to go with an extra batter for their T20 World Cup opener
• Jos Buttler’s side face Afghanistan on Saturday as they begin their tournament
• Liam Livingstone is ahead of schedule in his return from injury and is set to play
• Left-arm bowler David Willey seems in line to replace the injured Reece Topley
• Alex Hales has emphasised the importance of England starting off positively 

England plan to go into the Twenty20 World Cup here on Saturday all guns blazing after deciding to pack their team to face Afghanistan with all their big-hitting batters.

Liam Livingstone is set to return ahead of schedule from the injury that appeared to damage his World Cup hopes and could bat as low as seven, while he will be joined in the middle order by vice-captain Moeen Ali and rising star Harry Brook.

It represents something of a change of heart by captain Jos Buttler, who likes to have as many bowling options at his disposal as possible and was thought to be leaning towards the all-round talents of Sam Curran at seven.

But the return to full fitness of Livingstone, who damaged his left ankle slipping on a curb in August, and the emerging brilliance of Brook have made it near impossible for Buttler to choose between them.

Liam Livingstone is set to be fit for England’s T20 World Cup opener against Afghanistan

The big hitting batter was a doubt for the tournament after picking up an ankle injury

So now the captain and coach Matthew Mott look certain to pick both to take on Afghanistan’s array of spinners, led by the outstanding Rashid Khan, at a Perth Stadium not renowned for helping the slower bowlers.

If any batsman is under threat it is believed to be Alex Hales, who appeared to cement his place at the top of the order when making 84 in the first of three internationals against Australia at the start of this tour but has done little since.

Hales has done enough to make the team now, not least because of his experience and exceptional record in Australia, but if England do decide to go with an extra bowler in subsequent matches he could be vulnerable. Both Ben Stokes and Dawid Malan could open.

Captain Jos Buttler has regularly gone with an extra bowler but is set to change his methods

Returning batter Alex Hales has emphasised the importance of England starting off well

The desperately unfortunate absence of Reece Topley, who fears he will need surgery on the ankle he damaged while stepping on a boundary marker in Brisbane on Monday, may open the door for the surprise choice of David Willey.

The selection of Willey in Topley’s place would retain a second left-arm option for England along with Curran and he appears to be just ahead of Chris Jordan, returning from injury himself, and Chris Woakes in the bowling pecking order.

Mott has been at pains here to say the line-up could be different in each game as England encounter different conditions around Australia but picking the extra batter does seem to be something of a mission statement.

England know, with only five games in a Super 12 group that includes both last year’s T20 World Cup finalists in Australia and New Zealand, that they cannot afford any early slip-ups if they are to reach the semi-finals, as Hales pointed out yesterday.

David Willey is at the front of the queue to replace the injured Reece Topley in England’s team

Bowlers Chris Jordan (left) and Chris Woakes (right) are set to miss out in favour of Willey

‘We just have to get off to a good start,’ said Hales. ‘It’s different to franchise competitions. 

‘More often than not you have 10 to 14 games in those and it’s not the end of the world if you’re finding your feet in the first few games. But with this being only five games it’s so important to find early momentum.’

Providing Hales does get the nod his appearance at the top of the order on Saturday will be the culmination of a return that looked as if it would never happen when he was initially left out of this squad.

Jonny Bairstow’s freak injury allowed space for Hales to return to the England set-up

But another freak injury, this one to Jonny Bairstow, opened the door for a man who was banished by England on the brink of their successful 2019 50-over World Cup campaign when it emerged he had failed a second test for recreational drug use.

‘I’m very excited,’ he added. ‘I’ve really enjoyed being back around the squad in Pakistan and now here. Australia is a place where I’ve got a lot of good memories so that experience will be important to me and hopefully play a big part in our batting line-up.’

England (probable line-up against Afghanistan:) Buttler (captain and keeper), Hales, Malan, Stokes, Brook, Livingstone, Moeen, Curran, Willey, Rashid, Wood.

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