ENGLAND T20 TRACKER: Who has been on form in the Blast and who has some work to do?

The Cricketer uses a unique algorithm to determine who is on course to play the T20 World Cup in Australia next year, looking at recent Ashes and T20 Blast performances

1 - Ben Stokes: Whatever situation England find themselves in, Ben Stokes is the man. The last T20 World Cup may have ended on a sour note for the Durham allrounder, but his experiences in the latest 50-over competition should have decimated any angst and sorrow he still held from that night in Kolkata. An absolute dead certain to be a key figure for England in Australia.

2 - Jos Buttler: This summer may not have gone as desired for Jos Buttler (so far at least), yet the lull from the wicketkeeper batsman appears to be the calm before the storm rather than a concerning loss of form. His World Cup century against Pakistan was a reminder that he still remains one of the most destructive batsmen in the world game. If England have won a World Cup without Buttler in the best nick, imagine what could happen if he finds his mojo once more...

3 - Joe Root: The player who fails to get drawn into the hard-hitting, bludgeoning batsmanship of some of his colleagues, Joe Root perhaps possesses the most unnerving temperament of any England player in the format. A formidable performance in the World T20 final three years ago, there is something to admire about his form in limited-overs cricket. Still to find red-ball form this summer, Root is another permanent fixture for a few years yet. 

4 - Jason Roy: There may be current discussions as to his best position in the red-ball game, however Roy's strengths in the 20-over format are limitless. Power, accuracy and timing in abundance, there was a certain lack of joie de vivre when he was out of the England World Cup side through injury. With Alex Hales' England career still unclear, Roy's role in the side takes on greater importance, and if his Test form does not hinder his limited-overs performances, he could lead England to back-to-back World Cups.

5 - Jonny Bairstow: Another opening batsman in limited-overs cricket who has been on the receiving end of criticism in Test cricket after averaging just under 23 in the format since the start of 2018. But in the shortest format, Bairstow's sheer force remains one of the principle destructive mechanisms available to any England side. As much adept against spin as he is the quicker bowlers, his partnership with Roy may be one England are reticent to break up regardless of what Alex Hales does over the next 12 months.

6 - Jofra Archer: Has been getting back into rhythm after a well-deserved break following his substantial part in England achieving World Cup glory. Hasn't wowed with the limited chances he has had in the Blast this year, but putting an England shirt on seems to bring the best out of the paceman in T20s as well, after he troubled the Pakistan in the one-off game in May. England will hope the same rings true if he is picked for the second Ashes Test at Lord's next week.

^{Jos Buttler has not set the summer alight as yet}

7 - Adil Rashid: Injury complaints over the World Cup period did not prevent the legspinner from putting his best foot forward for the back end of the tournament. His variations in terms of flight and spin have bamboozled some of the best in the game in recent years, and despite batsmen's propensity to deliver the impossible, that additional risk opens up a greater wicket-taking gap for the likes of the crafty spinner.

8 - Ben Foakes: Arguably England's most talented glovesman, Ben Foakes would have hoped to be hammering down the door in consideration for the World T20 in Australia in 2020. Sadly, injury and limited time at the crease when he has been available for selection in the T20 Blast has meant that he has not been able to put his case forward in the best way possible. Nevertheless, expect him to be around in the thoughts of the think tank regardless of how the Blast pans out.

9 - David Willey: Would have been gutted to miss out on the World Cup squad, and his form for Yorkshire in the T20 Blast have demonstrated there may be some remnants of frustration from his omission from the 50-over tournament. Wickets and economy have rarely been found together in a bowling performance, while he has only managed to muster a couple of 30s with the bat. However, with England he has always been a reliable T20 performer and that may work in his favour should things get a little hairy.

10 - Moeen Ali: Appears to be on an all-time low confidence-wise. Dropped from the ODI side in the World Cup and now at risk of being omitted from the Ashes side at Lord's next week, Ali will hope some revitalisation at Worcestershire will not only help him become an England regular again but give him the edge ahead of some of his teammates if he can help his county defend their Blast title.

11 - Mark Wood: A real shame that his summer has once again be cut short through injury, because he was delivering his very best form during the World Cup. Nevertheless, the sort of performances he was giving before his injury would be threatening in any format, and given the nature of Australian pitches he should almost be guaranteed a spot in the XI.

12 - Tom Curran: The older Curran brother has experienced a rather mixed T20 Blast campaign so far. His burst against Glamorgan, when he took 3-3 from his two overs to set The Oval alight was counteracted by a horrendous wicketless return against Essex when he went for 21 runs an over from his three overs. Complemented with flourishes now and again with the bat, Curran's current inconsistency has come in a season which could well be one to forget for Surrey.

^{David Willey will look to make the T20 World Cup after missing out on the 50-over competition}

13 - Eoin Morgan: A World Cup winning captain who has led his side admirably in both formats since he has been leader. May not have been as fluent with the bat during the World Cup as he would have hoped, but that innings against Afghanistan had all the T20 traits in there and more. Whether he will view this as a perfect time to call it quits for England limited-overs cricket remains to be seen, but if he decides to pursue further international success he will once again be an integral part of that, regardless of how the rest of the Blast campaign with Middlesex transpires.

14 - James Vince: Features in The Cricketer's T20 Blast Team of the Week and with good reason. Has hammered his way back into form and put the cackling whispers about his World Cup endeavours behind him. Demonstrated his very best against Essex and has put Hampshire back on track for a quarter-final T20 Blast spot.

15 - Liam Plunkett: The man of the World Cup final, could his World Cup success tempt him into extending his England career and doing his best to try and remain part of the set-up for Australia 2020? He has been a regular in the 20-overs side for the last four years now and his mix of cross seamers and variations seem to pick up wickets no matter how many times batsmen seem to face him. Particularly at home on home soil, it will very much be up to the Surrey allrounder as to how far he wishes to push himself as he comes towards the end of his carrer.

16 - Liam Dawson: Another Hampshire player who figures in the Team of the Week, Liam Dawson has, in tandem with Mason Crane, spun Hampshire to not one but two wins in the last week. He saw no action during the World Cup, but his value in T20 cricket continues to rise and he will be a serious consideration if England require assistance or a replacement for Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.

17 - Chris Jordan: Injury has prevented the allrounder from making a substantial impact on the T20 Blast, but when he has featured in recent games he has been working well to get back to fitness. His athleticism in the field still continues to amaze, and while he may be on the expensive side he has the knack of taking wickets.

^{Will Eoin Morgan continue his limited-overs international career?}

18 - Tom Banton: Quite simply this youngster is sensational. A remarkable reverse hit off Sam Curran against Surrey demonstrated the peerless flair he possesses in the county game. Be on your toes Roy and Bairstow. 

19 - Saqib Mahmood: A man with excellent death skills, Mahmood stole the show in the latest instalment of the Roses clash by keeping his cool when it mattered most. With Archer, Willey and Jordan all demonstrating aptitude at the end of the innings, Mahmood faces a fight to get in there amongst them, but if he carries on his current form there is no reason why another season of county cricket alongside the remainder of this one could not force him into the reckoning.

20 - Matthew Parkinson: An unfortunate name to miss out on the Team of the Week, this could be the season Parkinson well and truly sets the cats among the pigeons in terms of England selection. Still a raw talent, but that talent is there in abundance and his 3-22 against Nottinghamshire was testament to that.

21 - Alex Hales: This could get tasty couldn't it? Roy and Bairstow's partnership in white-ball cricket excelled and reached a new level in the World Cup, and Tom Banton is showing all the tricks in the book. Then there's the small matter of Hales, who has not quite wowed spectators to the same extent with bat in hand this summer. His record with England goes in his favour, but the reason for his ban and current indifferent form may be decisively against him.

22 - Dawid Malan: Hasn't played a T20I since February 2018, but if the current top scorer in the T20 Blast doesn't get a look in, what chance does anyone have? A half-century against Somerset to go with his century earlier in the tournament, Malan's average of above 50 in this year's 20-over competition has come as a pleasant surprise to the Lord's faithful.

23 - Mason Crane: The other half of the unique spin duo at Hampshire, Crane is starting to exhibit the form that saw him picked for two T20Is against South Africa in 2017. Continue this partnership with Liam Dawson and there could be unprecedented competition in the England's T20 spin department.

24 - Pat Brown: The leading wicket taker in the Blast last year with 31 scalps, this campaign has not been as fruitful with a return of nine wickets from six games, but to dismiss him so quickly after his stellar 2018 Blast campaign would be foolish. Worcestershire's opening batsmen have fired, and if Brown bowls one spell where he takes a glut of wickets it could well reignite the fire and drive that saw him to the top of the leaderboard last year.

25 - Tymal Mills: Took 3-23 to inflict the first defeat on Kent in this year's T20 Blast, Tymal Mills still possesses the arsenal for the big occasion. Dismissed both Heino Kuhn and Mohammad Nabi, Mills has imbued a good economy with wicket-taking deliveries and given the call for left-arm bowlers to be picked at this year's World Cup, he could represent a popular pick next year.

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