Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has made his predictions for England for the T20 World Cup 2022 being played in Australia. England are placed alongside Australia, New Zealand and Afghanistan in Group 1 of the Super 12 stage. They will also be joined by the Group A winners and Group B runners-up from the qualifying phase which are taking place now.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra named Jos Buttler as England’s likely Most Valuable Player (MVP). He said: “Most valuable player – I am going with Jos Buttler. Jos the boss, once again as a captain, opener and wicket-keeper. I am expecting him to have a great tournament. This team can lift the trophy if he has a good tournament. Who will be the highest run-scorer of this team? I am looking at their captain Buttler leading from the front. He is an amazing player, runs at a good strike rate. The conditions will be favorable for him. The ball will come onto the bat nicely. I feel he might score a century or two. When he gets set, he scores a century.”
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However, Aakash Chopra also feels Mark Wood will be the most successful bowler for last year’s semi-finalists as well. Wood has picked up 35 wickets in the 23 T20Is so far but he has failed to pick up a wicket in the three overs he bowled in England’s warm-up game against Pakistan as well.
He elaborated: “Who will pick up the most wickets for this team? I am saying Mark Wood. If he plays all the matches, his name will be there in the column of maximum wickets. He bowls fast and these conditions will favor him as well. Who will have the highest strike rate? They keep fighting amongst themselves, someone goes at 150 and the other guys go at 160 or 170. I am saying Liam Livingstone. I feel he might hit a ball or two from Gabba to Geelong, he is such a fantastic player.”
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“Where will this team reach? They should make it to the semi-finals. Australia, England and New Zealand are the three teams, there are bright chances of two of them going through. I am saying they (England) will go through, I have less expectations from New Zealand this time,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
