On a glorious spring day in Perth, the eve of their first game, Jos Buttler insisted that no clouds linger on his horizon before a Twenty20 World Cup for which England consider themselves serious contenders. “I certainly don’t see us as favourites,” he said. “I see us as a very dangerous side that the opposition will be wary of playing against.”
Though Liam Livingstone seemed to be moving a little gingerly in training and is not expected to play in the first of three warm-up T20s against Australia, the remainder of the squad seems in good health and spirit. The team for Sunday’s game at Perth Stadium will not be released until the toss, but with Buttler having spent the tour of Pakistan sidelined by a calf injury it will come as a significant boost that England’s captain will be reporting for duty.
