England’s pre T20 World Cup phase seems gloomy

England’s T20 World Cup prep has hit some snags, but there’s a bright spot: Jofra Archer is set to return for his first home game in nearly four years, this Wednesday in Leeds.

Jofra Archer, the 29-year-old paceman, looked sharp in training at Headingley nets just two days before England’s summer campaign kicks off. This follows a successful outing for Sussex’s Second XI in Beckenham four days ago.

With only this four-match series against Pakistan remaining, England faces a tight turnaround to defend their T20 World Cup title, which kicks off in Barbados against Scotland in two weeks.

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After battling injuries for four years, particularly to his elbow and back, Archer is poised for his return in Wednesday’s series opener. England hopes to see him feature in at least three of the four matches.

Off-field hiccups have plagued England’s camp since their Leeds meet-up this weekend, despite a team-building barbecue at Jonny Bairstow’s on Sunday.

A family matter has delayed head coach Matthew Mott’s arrival. Assistant coach Richard Dawson led Monday’s practice in Leeds, with Mott expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday.

Rain threatens to dampen Wednesday’s series opener in Leeds. The forecast suggests fans might need an ark to navigate the Yorkshire weather.

England desperately needs this match to happen. It’s their final opportunity to assess players before finalizing the World Cup squad on Saturday.

Adding another layer of uncertainty, England captain Jos Buttler could be called away imminently. His wife, Louise, is due to deliver their third child in the coming days.

While these are situations beyond England’s control, and of course, family always comes first, it’s undeniable that their T20 World Cup preparations are facing some unexpected hurdles.

England, acutely aware of blaming a lack of preparation for their dismal 50-over World Cup showing last year, are desperate for a smoother run-up to this T20 World Cup defense.