After a mixed run in England’s recent 4-3 T20I series win in Pakistan, Phil Salt has another chance in the upcoming series against Australia to press his case in England’s starting XI for the T20 World Cup.
The T20 World Cup champions in 2010 and runners-up in 2016 continue their preparation for the upcoming edition with a three-match T20I series against hosts Australia, beginning on October 9.
With Jos Buttler set to return to the international fold after over two months, the management is now left with a decision to leave either of the experienced and returning Alex Hales or Phil Salt out for the other to partner the skipper at the top.
Hales had a mixed run in England’s recent 4-3 series win over Pakistan, as did Salt, who struck a blazing 88* off 41 in the sixth game to help the visitors draw level in the series after having scored 59 combined in his previous five outings. Both have had a fair share of experience of playing in Australia during the Big Bash League – Hales for Sydney Thunder and Salt for Adelaide Strikers – and it’s the former who probably stands ahead in the pecking order.
As for Salt, that the first match of the series will be played at Perth’s Optus Stadium presents a slight advantage. The right-hander had smashed 59 off 31 balls against Perth Scorchers during the BBL 2019-20, and was roped in by the reigning champions Scorchers ahead of the upcoming edition earlier this year. His new base is expected to suit his aggressive play at the top, given of his abilities to play square of the wicket against pace.
“Expecting it to be fast and bouncy. It’s a good wicket to bat, suits my game,”
he told reporters while speaking of the Perth conditions on Friday.
“The boundaries are pretty big square and generally does suit the guys who are stronger square of the wicket.”
As of now, it remains unclear if Salt can still fit into the XI alongside Hales, and whether he would be tasked to play an out-and-out aggressor.
“Not too sure right now. “It’s not a conversation we’ve had yet,”
Salt said when asked of his role in the line-up.
The wicketkeeper seeks inputs and a piece of advice from swashbuckling all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who has made an impact in the past for the Scorchers, and has the knowledge of the venue, which will also host England’s first game of the T20 World Cup – against Afghanistan on October 22.
“Obviously he’s (Livingstone) done really well here and it would be silly not to lean on him on exactly how to play these conditions,”
he said.
The prime focus for Salt in terms of his own game and the team remains to carry forward the positives from the Pakistan tour in the upcoming series and the World Cup.
“It’s a series to win and we’ve got an eye on the World Cup. It’s very important to keep the momentum rolling after Pakistan. To beat them in their own conditions…that’s very tough to do.
“We played with a lot of guys who hadn’t played much international cricket so we’re pretty happy with how that went. We want to keep the ball rolling and continue the momentum.”
The second and third T20I between England and Australia will be played at the Manuka Oval, Canberra on October 12 and 14, respectively. The T20 World Cup 2022 kick-starts on October 16, with Sri Lanka taking on Namibia and UAE up against the Netherlands – both in Geelong – in Group A qualifying round fixtures.
