Defending champions trounced semi-final opponents in 2022 but face a revitalised team with form and focus

Ben Duckett was a bit cheeky when he suggested India’s Test team had been inspired by Bazball earlier in the year. But in the second semi-final of the men’s T20 World Cup on Thursday, at Providence Stadium, Guyana, England’s white-ballers meet a side they influenced – or at least jolted into life – two years ago.

Much like the rollercoaster this time around, England had scraped their way into the knockouts in 2022 before delivering a thumping 10-wicket victory over India in Adelaide. “We were unbelievable with the bat,” said Moeen Ali as the defending champions jetted off to Georgetown on Tuesday, recalling the day Jos Buttler and Alex Hales vaporised a target of 169 with a staggering four overs to spare.