If rain stays away from a sold-out Headingley - and the forecast was sadly not too clever 24 hours outtoday marks the start of this road to possible redemption; the first in a four-match T20 series against Pakistan that serves as their only preparation ahead of next month's short-form World Cup in the Caribbean and the US.
Even in cricket's most capricious format, England should start out among the favourites, being blessed with wave after wave of power-hitters and able to draw upon the experience of lifting the trophy back in 2022. With Jofra Archer about to return after 14 months on the sidelines, their attack has been significantly upgraded too.
And yet memories of last winter's borderline no-show in India still linger; that collective loss of form and identity which led to six defeats from their first seven group games. Rob Key, the team director, tried to absorb much of the blame by the end, choosing to offer Buttler and Matthew Mott another chance to show they have the requisite chemistry as captain and coach.
Mott signed off from India unwilling to publicly share any lessons, such was the grizzly nature of events and the Australian's mood at the time. But Buttler, not always the most forthcoming, offered a couple of areas for improvement yesterday as his side geared up for this initial warm-up against Pakistan.
Denne historien er fra May 22, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 22, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Carse gives thanks after England return
Brydon Carse has expressed his thanks to the \"incredibly supportive\" England setup after his rapid reintegration following his ban, and hopes to repay the faith shown in him, first in the remaining one-day internationals against Australia and then in the Test series in Pakistan that follows immediately.
Evenepoel and Brown win races against time once more
The double Olympic gold medallist Remco Evenepoel successfully defended the world time trial title he won in last year's World Road Championships in Glasgow, with victory in this year's event in Zurich.
All or nothing Manchester City should either be vindicated or damned by hearing
Let's start by going back to December 2016.
Pylons v property Why disputed power lines may not hit house prices
The village of Beauly, near Inverness, marks the starting point of what was once Britain's largest and most controversial power grid project: a 137-mile electricity superhighway from the quiet Highlands village to a large substation in Denny near Falkirk.
Losses from obesity higher than weight loss jab costs
Rising healthcare costs and productivity losses from the global obesity crisis far outstrip the cost of new weight-loss drugs, according to a report, which also calls on governments to prioritise prevention by promoting a healthy diet.
Diesel and petrol prices fall at fastest rate since December
The price of petrol and diesel in the UK is falling at the fastest pace this year, with households paying about £4 less to fill up a family car than they did a month ago.
Tech firms must help refund victims of fraud, says HSBC
HSBC has thrown its weight behind calls for tech firms to pay up for fraud, saying incoming compensation rules requiring banks to reimburse scam victims up to £85,000 will fail to stem the flow of fraud, and prove that the financial sector is not the problem.
Succession drama Fox News fate at stake as Murdochs take family shares to court
One family succession battle is gripping the media and dominating water cooler conversations at the New York headquarters of Fox News.
Leftist Dissanayake wins Sri Lankan presidential election after historic runoff
A Marxist leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has won Sri Lanka's presidential election, in what is being seen as a widespread rejection of the old political elite blamed for the country's continuing economic woes.
Gaza Seven killed in Israeli airstrike on school shelter
Seven people were killed yesterday after an Israeli airstrike hit a school housing displaced people in western Gaza City, Palestinian health officials said, amid fears that Gaza's worsening humanitarian crisis might be forgotten as tensions boil between Hezbollah and Israel.
