ENGLAND T20 TRACKER: Who has looked good in the Blast and who went well at Lord's?

The Cricketer uses a unique algorithm to determine who should make the T20 World Cup in Australia next year by examining recent red and white-ball performances

1 (1) - Ben Stokes: Not that there was any doubt over England’s talisman, but his hundred at Lord’s – a first international ton for two years – was a reminder of a rare ability to drive himself through the gears. He showed his ability to graft on Saturday evening, before allowing himself to tee off as England sped towards a declaration.

2 (2) - Jos Buttler: His Test form has deserted him in recent weeks, but that is of little true consequence. There are few white-ball cricketers more destructive and even fewer with the capacity to strike the ball into the areas that Buttler finds. That Australia have placed so much value on his wicket in the first two Tests is testament to the damage they are all too aware of.

3 (5) - Jofra Archer: For all the impact Archer has made in the Ashes and the World Cup, it was his T20 form that initially provoked the levels of fervent excitement around his inclusion that have not dropped since. Rapid and canny in equal measure, an expert death-bowler and a fearsome new-ball exponent. His bouncer - if it wasn't already - is now known to all in the cricketing universe.

4 (4) - Jason Roy: The Surrey man endured a fairly chastening Lord’s Test – the kind that truly opens your eyes to the challenges of Test cricket. Two runs, a duck and a crucial drop catch. The experiment is yet to pay off. That much, though, will be entirely irrelevant when England don their coloured kit come winter. Roy is one half of the world’s most devastating opening combination.

5 (3) - Joe Root: England’s red-ball captain has looked somewhat out of touch in the early embers of this Ashes series. He has found his stumps more exposed than in times gone by, while Australia know full well the value of his wicket. He was dropped from the T20 side in the recent past, with England packed full of top-order dashers. His record, however, continues to stand up.

^{Ben Stokes has had a terrific summer}

6 (6) - Jonny Bairstow: Another to have enjoyed a mixed red-ball summer, but another for whom that will count for nothing. An extraordinary IPL entrance showed the world that he has the T20 game to match that of his 50-over form. He and Roy will surely lead England’s charge – even with a wealth of other options.

7 (13) – Eoin Morgan: England’s captain. Having changed the face of English white-ball cricket in the last four years, he will remain in charge until he chooses otherwise. That, one feels, is his right. His bludgeoning of Rashid Khan during the World Cup was evidence that, even against the very best, Morgan has the capacity to clear the ropes as regularly as his teammates.

8 (12) – Moeen Ali: It has been a tough time for England’s off-spinning allrounder. Dropped from the Test side and opting to take a short break from Worcestershire duty, before returning to County Championship action in the current round of fixtures, Moeen remains a vital part of England’s squad. He is – in short-format cricket, at least – one of the country's most dominant players of spin going around.

9 (9) - David Willey: Unfortunate to be left out of England’s final World Cup squad, but a fine T20 bowler, where even two early overs of in-swing can be so effective. England have a wealth of left-arm options in the shortest format, with Harry Gurney, Reece Topley and Tymal Mills all enjoying fine seasons, but Willey has credit in the bank.

10 (15) – Liam Plunkett: Those writing off a 34-year-old Liam Plunkett have another thing coming. If it is unlikely that he will be seen in India in four years’ time for the 2023 World Cup, then next year’s World T20 remains on the radar of this unlikely mystery bowler. He is working on further deliveries. Having been written off in England colours many times before, he’s not done yet.

^{Jonny Bairstow will likely open the batting with Jason Roy}

11 (7) - Adil Rashid: Done for the summer, but hopeful that his persistent shoulder problem can be sorted in time for England to tour New Zealand and South Africa. Under Eoin Morgan’s tutelage, he has become an exceptional white-ball bowler. Even with Mason Crane, Matt Parkinson and Nathan Sowter waiting in the wrist-spinning wings, Rashid remains the current incumbent.

12 (-) - Sam Billings: A deeply frustrating summer for the Kent wicketkeeper, having badly injured his shoulder right at the start of the season. However, he has since returned to fitness and surely remains a part of England plans – Eoin Morgan referenced his name after the World Cup final. It is a big month ahead for Billings…

13 (-) - Sam Curran: His brother’s season ended in the disappointment of a side injury last week on a night when Sam put together the kind of match-winning knock that enticed Kings XI Punjab into capturing his signature for the 2019 IPL. If he enjoyed a mixed competition in India, it will have helped the younger Curran in the long run. Batting at three for Surrey last week, he whacked 47 off just 24 deliveries on a pitch that hardly encouraged stroke-play.

14 (-) - Liam Livingstone: The Lancashire had his first taste of international cricket against South Africa back in 2017. In truth, it was a difficult introduction for the powerful allrounder. Since then, however, his talents have continued to blossom with both bat and ball. Few hit it either harder or further, while his mixture of off-breaks and leg-spinners are a more than useful tool. Having honed his T20 game during the 2019 IPL with Rajasthan Royals, he looks ready for more.

15 (16) - Tom Banton: There is little that hasn’t been said about the Somerset youngster. It seems inevitable that he will form part of England’s winter. By extension, it seems inevitable that he will do so with some considerable success. He has all the talent and more.

16 (19) - Dawid Malan: The Middlesex skipper has been in prime form through this year’s Blast. If his televised hundred against Surrey was a knock for the ages, then his unbeaten 91 against Gloucestershire on the out-ground pasture of Radlett was not far behind. An average of 50 in T20 internationals is a reminder of his fine talents.

17 (17) - Chris Jordan: The Sussex seamer almost broke into England’s World Cup squad on the back of his form for England over last winter. Since then, he has enjoyed a solid Blast campaign, with his county having lost just once thus far in the competition.

^{Dawid Malan has enjoyed an excellent Blast campaign}

18 (21) - Alex Hales: The Nottinghamshire man has already signed up as an international marquee player for this winter’s Mzansi Super League as he continues to push himself in the T20 arena. Hales earmarked the World T20 as his goal after being deselected from England’s World Cup squad. His game-winning ability – especially in this format – will make him difficult to leave out again.

19 (20) - Matthew Parkinson: Lancashire’s rise to the top of the North Group has been helped, in no small part, by the leg-spin of Parkinson. A ballsy wrist-spinner, unafraid to toss the ball well above the eye-line, he has had batsmen stumped for fun in this year’s Blast. Alongside Finn, he sits atop the wicket-taker list of this year’s competition. And at an economy rate of just 7.30 as well.

20 (16) - Liam Dawson: Always dependable with either bat or ball, the Hampshire left-arm spinner is always there or thereabouts. Few sides have successfully taken down his bowling, although he would expect more from himself with the bat – his high score in this year’s competition sits at 47.

21 (24) - Pat Brown: The leading wicket-taker in last year’s Blast and a huge talent. He was part of the Worcestershire attack that improbably defended 117 against Durham last week; at one stage, the home side needed just 39 runs from 51 deliveries with all 10 wickets in hand. Brown, however, did not concede a boundary in his death overs as he squeezed the game out in his side’s favour. A must for England’s winter programme.

22 (22) - Saqib Mahmood: England have an eye on Mahmood. That much is certainly clear. He has enjoyed a superb year, beginning it with a series of impressive white-ball performances in the Royal London Cup, while his death-bowling in the T20 Blast has helped Lancashire over the line – most notably against Yorkshire.

23 (23) - Mason Crane: The young leg-spinner hasn’t played since August 2 but has had a fruitful return to T20 cricket – the format that led to his England debut back in 2017. A serious back injury has shown no ill-effects on his abilities to spin the ball sharply. A side strain as proven frustrating in recent weeks, but he is a key part of this Hampshire side.

24 (-) - Steven Finn: Nobody has taken more T20 Blast wickets this season than the Middlesex seamer, which represents some effort. His England record speaks for itself – Finn takes wickets. Few would begrudge the gangly right-armer another crack at international cricket and, with injuries taking their toll on England’s attack, he could well get his chance.

25 (25) - Tymal Mills: It was disappointing to see the left-arm fast quickie suffer a new back problem earlier this week that may keep him out of the remainder of this year’s Blast. Either way, he has been mightily impressive in the seven games he has played. Bowling seriously sharp with his back-of-the-hand slower ball as the perfect variation, it has been a month that may well have reopened the eyes of England’s selectors – if, and it’s a big if with Mills, he can recover from his latest injury.

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