England enter the ICC World Twenty20 on the back of very little competitive T20 cricket.

    The last time they were involved in T20 competition, in February, they drew a two-match series with Pakistan 1-1.

    Last November they also shared a series 1-1, this time against hosts South Africa.

    The squad that has been chosen for the World Twenty20 has undergone a touch of alteration since the South African series.

    The South African born duo of batsman Michael Lumb and wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter have been included as has 24-year-old all-rounder Ajmal Shahzad.

    Lumb and Kieswetter may well open the batting for England but their real strength lies in their middle-order.

    Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, who will captain the side, and Eoin Morgan are key to England’s ability to post defendable totals or chase down winning scores.

    An in-form Pietersen is capable of destroying any bowling attack while Collingwood is one of the most under-rated limited-overs batsmen in world cricket.

   The 33-year-old Collingwood has emerged as one of the best “finishers” in the business and his ability to bat effectively with the lower-order makes him essential to England’s batting success.

    Morgan, who made his international debut for Ireland before transferring his allegiances to England, has emerged as a genuine talent and his ability to manufacture scoring shots is an invaluable asset in the pressurised cauldron of international T20 cricket.

    Morgan’s international T20 record is comparable with some of the best in the game with the left-handed batsman averaging 59 with a strike-rate of over 150.

    England have not compiled the best of records in the World Twenty20, having failed to progress out of the Super Eight stages in their previous two appearances.

    Any chance they have of making a serious tilt at the title in 2010 will rest on their bowling attack’s ability to contain opposition batsmen.

    England lack an out-and-out speedster but swing bowler James Anderson can be a dangerous customer with the new ball in his hands while Stuart Broad, a more than capable all-rounder, has the ability to bowl unplayable deliveries.

    All-rounder Tim Bresnan, left-arm swing bowler Ryan Sidebottom and Shahzad will provide the back-up to the senior pair of Anderson and Broad.

    England’s trump card may lie in their spin attack.

    Spinners have proved to be a vitally important part of any T20 bowling attack and in Graeme Swann and James Tredwell England have two off-spinners that are capable of taking wickets as well as restricting runs.

    Swann, in particular, has blossomed as an international cricketer in the last 12 months and his lower-order batting abilities make him a vital cog in England’s XI.

    England are in the group with West Indies and Ireland, which could potentially prove to be quite tricky to advance out of.

    The hosts will be under enormous pressure to win both their group games to advance to the next stage of the competition while Ireland are a dangerous outfit and they would like nothing better than the chance to knock their rivals out of the tournament.