Matthew Mott is keen on rejuvenating his England squad’s confidence as they gear up for the T20 World Cup. To assist in this endeavor, he has enlisted the services of a psychologist from Manchester City. This move aims to foster emotional vulnerability within the team, equipping players with the tools to handle pressure more effectively in the Caribbean. Mott believes that rekindling their “mojo” is crucial for performing well in the tournament and sees this psychological support as a key component in achieving that goal.
Manchester City’s Psychologist to Help England Players:
David Young, who served with England between 2016 and 2020, played a role in Manchester City’s remarkable period of success, which saw them clinch four consecutive Premier League titles. With City’s blessing, he has now returned as a consultant on a short-term basis to support the England team ahead of next month’s World Cup. Young’s expertise is expected to provide valuable insights and bolster the squad’s preparations for the upcoming tournament.
Jos Buttler played a key role in bringing David Young back, having previously praised him for his support during the 2019 World Cup final. Young joined the England squad in Leeds before their rained-out first T20I against Pakistan on Wednesday. He will reunite with them in Cardiff on Monday after assisting Manchester City in their preparations for the FA Cup final against Manchester United on Saturday.
England’s white-ball coach Matthew Mott said, “He’s previously been with the team and he’s already been a great ally in messages back to me, making sure my messages are clear. It’s always good to have someone who’s a little bit removed from the squad to make sure you’re landing your messages… He’s still doing other roles but we’ve got him for this series, and the start of the World Cup as well.”
England’s World Cup Reflection:
England’s management is keen to avoid repeating the errors from last year’s 50-over World Cup, where they were ousted in the group stage, winning only three out of nine matches, with two victories occurring post-elimination. Mott characterized the experience as “death by a thousand cuts” and emphasized that such a setback necessitates a shift in approach. “After a blow like that, you can’t just carry on as usual. It’s essential to redefine our direction as a team,” he stated.
Mott said, “As a group, we’ve made a commitment to be a bit more open in and around our training sessions, to help each other out a bit more. In India, all of us were guilty of being a bit insular, and trying to problem-solve ourselves. We’ve made a commitment to open up and be a bit more vulnerable as a group so that we’re helping each other.”
Observing the IPL from a distance, Mott astutely suggests that England could draw inspiration from Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s triumphant spree to secure a spot in the playoffs. He proposes that England harness similar strategies, adaptability, and consistency to enhance their chances of qualifying in their respective tournaments, igniting a fresh perspective on cross-sport learning and adaptation. He said, “The way they had nothing to lose and came out and played a different brand of cricket – could we have done that earlier? Maybe, yes. On reflection, we didn’t react as we should have after the start.”
Former England captain Eoin Morgan expressed sharp discontent with England’s performance in India, insinuating underlying issues within the dressing room beyond mere underperformance. Mott, whose tenure as coach coincided with Morgan’s captaincy, acknowledged their lack of communication since. Nonetheless, he holds Morgan’s perspective in high regard, emphasizing mutual respect despite their professional distance.
He further said, “Family and friends got more upset about it than I did. Initially, of course you take it a bit personally but he’s there to have an opinion… All I’ll say is that only the people within the dressing-room can fully understand what’s going on. Once you leave the dressing-room, you might hear titbits of stuff, but you don’t really know how the team’s operating.”
Buttler recently hinted at the necessity of providing certain players with clearer guidance, a sentiment echoed by Mott, who affirmed the team’s commitment to instigating this shift. Mott emphasizes his coaching philosophy, characterized by collaboration and continuous dialogue, aimed at aligning players with their optimal performance standards and steering them back on course when needed.
He added, “We feel like it’s time to get the mojo back and go out and really express ourselves as a team. I think T20, as opposed to ODI, is so much clearer in the way the players can approach it. We’ve seen in the IPL, you have to go out and really take the game on from the start. Most teams are going to go that way, so it’s going to be an exciting World Cup.”
England’s Squad for Upcoming T20 World Cup:
England is poised to finalize their World Cup squad to the ICC ahead of Saturday’s second T20I at Edgbaston. The squad is expected to consist of the same 15 players initially selected, despite concerns about injuries to Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood. The decision underscores the team’s confidence in their chosen lineup, prioritizing continuity and stability for the upcoming tournament. Mott said, “Probably not for the next game at this stage, but definitely later in the series, they’ll be up for selection.”
The rain delay on Wednesday postponed Jofra Archer’s return, but he’s expected to feature in at least two of the remaining three T20Is. Mott expressed England’s confidence in their optimal XI for the Caribbean, indicating a readiness to include Tom Hartley in the World Cup squad even if he doesn’t debut in this series. Mott emphasized Hartley’s extensive experience in top-tier cricket over the past year.
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