What are the biggest threats to England retaining the T20 World Cup in 2024?
England are the 2022 T20 World Champions after defeating Pakistan at the MCG in the final of the 2022 competition in November.
Jos Buttler’s team followed up their annihilation of India in the semi-final by defeating Pakistan by 5 wickets in the final. Overall, it is widely regarded that England were the best team in the competition, and thoroughly deserved their win. It’s likely that fans of India, Pakistan and even Australia, might disagree, but the statistics tell a different story.
So with the 2024 T20 World Cup already just over 18 months away, how are England likely to fare when they come to defend their trophy?
Who is favourites to win the 2024 T20 World Cup?
Yes, it’s England who are the favourites to win the 2024 T20 World Cup. Jos Buttler’s team are 11/4 in the latest ICC World Twenty20 betting odds, that’s the same price as India, and just ahead of Australia who are 10/3 to regain the cup they won in the delayed 2021 T20 World Cup just 12 months ago.
After the big three comes New Zealand at 5/1, Pakistan at 6/1, and South Africa at 9/1. Along with India and Australia, they are the sides most likely to wrestle the trophy out of the hands of the current world champions.
What are the biggest obstacles in the way of England defending the trophy in 2024?
First up, India and Australia. Both these countries are proud and determined cricketing nations, neither will take what happened in Australia in 2022 lying down, and both will come back strongly.
The Indians were absolutely destroyed by England in the semi-final, losing by 10 wickets, and they’ve already made moves to rectify the situation. The entire Indian selection committee was removed just over a week after the nation’s humiliating exit, suggesting the world cricketing superpower is preparing to fight back.
Australia will also be smarting from their exit. They went out in the Super 12 group stage, not even making it to the semi-final. This was even more embarrassing for the Australians, as they were not only the defending champions but also hosting the competition. It goes without saying that Australia will also be looking to implement changes in time for the 2024 competition.
Playing Conditions
The 2024 ICC T20 World Cup is being held in the West Indies and the USA. It will be the first time that an ICC event has had matches staged in the USA.
In the last competition in Australia, the weather was awful, and the pitches suited the English bowling attack. At times the weather resembled an awful English summer, as opposed to Australia. The part that the playing conditions played in England winning shouldn’t be underestimated. It played into England’s hands.
That is highly unlikely to be the case when the competition is played predominantly in the Caribbean in 18 months’ time. The teams will all be playing in different conditions, and the pitches will be more suitable to nations other than England, therefore levelling up the playing field somewhat.
The next tournament is all set up to be an exciting affair but there is plenty of time to wait until then so it will be interesting to see how the teams change between now and then.
