Chris Woakes heads into Bangladesh T20 series with eye on ODI World Cup

H aving played three 50-over matches in Bangladesh with an eye on this year’s ODI World Cup, England now play three 20-over matches, also with an eye on this year’s ODI World Cup. Shorter format, similar conditions (indeed, Thursday’s first T20 will be played on the same pitch at Chattogram’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium as that last, lost, low-scoring ODI) and a similar focus.

“It does feel a little bit strange, playing a format that isn’t overly necessary right now,” Chris Woakes said on Tuesday. “Nonetheless, you’re playing for England and you want to win.”

Matthew Mott, England’s white-ball coach, said of this series that “you can’t waste these opportunities on the subcontinent and the majority of players are pushing for ODI selection … so it’s probably more geared towards the ODI World Cup.”

They go into it with a slightly changed squad, Jason Roy and James Vince having left the group while Ben Duckett and Chris Jordan have joined, the former jetting in from the Test tour of New Zealand to press his case as a white-ball batter in the subcontinent, one he made so impressively in averaging 46.6, with a strike rate of 158.2, during the T20 series in Pakistan last year.

With Will Jacks back home recovering from a thigh injury the squad is light on batters, all of whom can expect to play every game while the bowlers rotate. Jofra Archer was the only player who missed Tuesday’s training session, having been told to rest after his exertions in Monday’s final ODI. This does not rule him out of the opening match, but does illustrate how cautious England are being about his return from multiple injuries.

For Woakes, this is a last opportunity to hone his skills in these conditions before October’s World Cup, having opted