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ICC 2016 World T20: 'Exciting' England can win, says Matt Prior

'This young team has huge ability and can play with freedom'

Wednesday 9 March 2016 11:12, UK

England's players celebrate the dismissal of South Africa's Hashim Amla during the first of two T20 matches being played against South Africa, at Newlands
Image: England's young crop of T20 internationals celebrate a wicket during the series in South Africa

Matt Prior says the turnaround in England's white-ball cricket has been incredible since their embarrassing display at the 2015 World Cup.

England exited the 50-over competition at the group stage after losing to Bangladesh by 15 runs a year ago.

But Prior says England can challenge for the ICC World T20, despite their recent 3-2 ODI and 2-0 T20 defeats to South Africa.

Kyle Abbott and Chris Morris of South Africa celebrate as Reece Topley of England reacts after missing a chance to win the 1st Twenty20 International
Image: South Africa celebrate as Reece Topley misses a final-ball run out to win the first T20I

"This young team has a huge amount of ability and can play with a lot of enjoyment and freedom," said the former wicketkeeper.

"England learned a huge amount from their bad performance in last year's World Cup. Sometimes you get to a point where there is no other option but to change completely, and that's what they've done. It has been fantastic.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 09: England captain Eoin Morgan looks dejected as he leaves the field after the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between Engla
Image: A dejected England captain Eoin Morgan leads his team off the field after their 2015 World Cup exit

"They've decided to go with a young squad for the World T20, a young team, and probably rightly so. These young players have grown up playing T20 cricket.

"You hope their attitude doesn't change despite the reverses in South Africa - you want them to continue to play with that freedom and enjoyment - but it's always a challenge for England teams to go over to the sub-continent, in Test cricket, but particularly in one-day and T20 cricket.

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England captain Eoin Morgan says he's confident his side are playing in the right manner and hails the positive mindset of the squad

"The conditions are different - the wickets are slower, lower, and take a bit more spin - and our batsmen tend to prefer the ball coming onto the bat a bit more.

"But nowadays the guys have spent a lot of time in the sub-continent, with England Lions, or academies, and spend a lot of time on those surfaces. So far me that is no longer an excuse.

"I'm really excited about the tournament; I can't wait to see how good these guys can be and how they cope with the challenge."

Live ICC World T20 Cricket

Sky Sports is the only place you can watch all 35 games in 27 days of the 2016 ICC World T20, with England's first game against the West Indies live on Sky Sports 2 from 1.30pm on Wednesday 16th March. Or watch from £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.

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