Finishing innings has been England’s strength at this T20 World Cup, largely thanks to Will Jacks. The No 7 has been his side’s standout performer with four player-of-the-match awards and 191 runs in seven innings at a strike-rate of 176.85. Without Jacks’ 39 not out off 20 balls against Nepal and unbeaten 53 from 22 versus Italy, England might have been eliminated early.
Jacks also contributed 21 and took three wickets in the win over Sri Lanka, scored 28 against Pakistan and produced a swashbuckling 32 not out from 18 balls against New Zealand as England finished the Super 8s unbeaten. As Brendon McCullum’s side prepare for a seismic semi-final with India in Mumbai on Thursday (1.30pm UK, live on Sky Sports Cricket), another late Jacks cameo could be decisive if Jos Buttler and Phil Salt falter at the top.
Once predominantly an opener, the Surrey all-rounder has adapted superbly to a finisher’s role. Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, who worked with Jacks at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, told the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast he was surprised by Jacks’ transition. Karthik praised Jacks’ ability to rotate strike early and then attack at the death, noting his strength on the off-side makes him well suited to counter wide yorkers and slower-ball bumpers by clearing the covers or switching to the leg-side when fields close in.
If finishing is England’s superpower, starting has been their weakness. The much-vaunted opening pair of Salt and Buttler have managed a highest stand of just 38 in the tournament, registering nought against Pakistan and only two against New Zealand. Salt has at least produced a fifty — 62 versus Sri Lanka — but Buttler’s tournament form has been poor. His best score is 26 and he has failed to pass seven in each of his last five innings, averaging just 8.86, prompting questions about his future in the side.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain said he would not be surprised to see Buttler rediscover form for a match of this magnitude. Hussain pointed to Buttler’s mentality — a “if in doubt, go for it” approach the batter reportedly writes on his bat — and suggested the 35-year-old thrives on big occasions. Karthik added that Buttler sometimes appears to take his game personally and needs to trust his attacking instincts that make him such a threat as an opener.
Buttler produced a match-winning 80 not out against India in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final in Adelaide, although that game featured an injured Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah did play in India’s 68-run win over England in the 2024 semi-final in the Caribbean, and he dismissed Phil Salt in that match en route to 2-12.
How India use Bumrah in Mumbai has been widely debated, especially with England captain Harry Brook — fresh from a 50-ball century against Pakistan — representing the middle-order danger. Opinion is split. Karthik suggested India could hold Bumrah back for Brook, using Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy as match-ups to dismiss the game-changer, while Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya could target Buttler and Salt up front. Hussain argued India should use Bumrah early to unsettle England’s opening pair and keep the run-rate in check, pointing out Chakravarthy’s success against Brook on England’s India tour last year.
England and India meet in the second T20 World Cup semi-final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 1pm (1.30pm first ball) on Thursday.
2026 Men’s T20 World Cup knockouts (UK times; all games live on Sky Sports)
– Semi-finals
– Wednesday March 4: New Zealand beat South Africa by nine wickets (Kolkata)
– Thursday March 5: England vs India (Mumbai, 1.30pm)
– Final
– Sunday March 8: New Zealand vs TBC (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm)