No team has successfully defended the Twenty20 World Cup title. England understand the challenge as they prepare for the tournament in the West Indies and the United States.
Seven months ago, Jos Buttler's team aimed to retain the 50-over world title they won on home soil. However, they had a disappointing tournament in India, winning three out of nine group games and finishing seventh in the standings.
"That pride was obviously dented and it was a really disappointing competition," Buttler said. "But life moves on, it's a chapter in the book and there's lessons you learn but we're presented with a new opportunity, a different format."
Buttler, 33, scored two centuries for Rajasthan Royals in this year's Indian Premier League, but England's recent T20 record is poor.
Since beating Pakistan in the 2022 final, they have lost series in Bangladesh and West Indies and drew 2-2 at home with New Zealand, dropping to third in the world rankings behind India and Australia.
Drawn in Group B with Australia, Namibia, Oman, and Scotland, England should easily reach the Super Eight stage of the tournament. They then need to rediscover the form that brought them the 2022 trophy.
Ben Stokes, who led them to victory in the final two years ago, is not in the squad. Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, and Harry Brook will need to provide top-order consistency.
The return of Jofra Archer after major injury problems is a boost for England, but Mark Wood and Reece Topley, the other genuine fast bowlers, also have fitness issues.
This could place a heavy burden on seamers Sam Curran and Chris Jordan.
England will rely on experienced spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali to contain the scoring rate during the middle overs.
Curran has struggled over the past year, taking only seven wickets in his last eight T20 internationals. Buttler will need him to show the form that earned him the player of the tournament award in 2022.
Curran recently produced a match-winning performance for Punjab Kings in the IPL, with bowling figures of 2-24 and making 63 not out.
The 25-year-old will be a key player if England are to lift the T20 World Cup trophy for the third time.
(Reuters)
Emma Raducanu during a practice session REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)