Bangladesh sweep butter-fingered England aside

Good morning and welcome to live coverage of the third Twenty20 between Bangladesh and England from Dhaka. This winter England have played a T20 series in Pakistan, the World Cup in Australia, bilateral ODIs against Australia in Australia, a Test series in Pakistan, ODIs and T20s in South Africa, a Test series in New Zealand and ODIs and T20s in Bangladesh. I've been exhausted just covering it from London. Lord knows how the players must feel. Anyway, today they face the final curtain ... until the IPL starts

The world champions find themselves 2-0 down, which is not exactly unexpected given all the mitigating factors. Having won the World Cup only five months ago, they are on a different cycle entirely, trying to prepare for their defence of the 50-over World Cup by experimenting with top-order places for their all-rounders, Sam Curran and Moeen Ali, while the attractions of franchise cricket, the recently completed Test series in New Zealand and the limited number of central contracts available mean that a lot of contenders for batting roles are otherwise occupied.

While it would be hard to characterise this part of the tour as anything other than an encumbrance, there have been some successes, most of all the form of Jofra Archer that ought to put a smile on every fan of cricket and not just England supporters. The way he was used by Joe Root during the tour of New Zealand in 2019-20 as a kind of turbo Wagner, employing a thoroughbred to drag the rag and bone cart, almost destroyed this generational talent. But England's policy of wrapping him in cotton wool may yet make him a viable three-format bowler, used in Tests for impact rather than the entire series.

As Archer contemplates a broad future, Moeen may well be slimming three in 2021 down to one. Moeen has already retired from Test cricket and, while the 50-over World Cup in India this autumn is a clear priority, the 35-year-old has floated the idea of subsequently stepping away from the format.

"I don't set a lot of goals, but I want to play that World Cup, be a part of that World Cup and hopefully win that World Cup and then we'll see," he told talkSPORT 2 ahead of Tuesday's series-ending T20 in Bangladesh.

"I'm not saying I will retire or I'm not saying I won't retire. Another seven or eight months at 35 is a lot. It could be a time where I'm thinking that's me done now and I might look at Livingstone and Jacksy and think 'you know what, my time is up, I'd rather these guys get ready for the next World Cup.

"I haven't decided but I have sort of an idea of what I want to try and do. It genuinely makes me really happy when I see players coming in - whatever's best for us and the side and going to make us champions, that's more important and that's the bigger picture really."

Expanding on the attraction of continuing as T20 specialist, Moeen added: "I think it's something that's more logical and just makes more sense. If I'm playing well and playing all the franchise cricket - and playing for England - I don't see why not.

"Fifty overs does get harder the older you get, it's not easy to field and for sure it makes sense that I'll do that." Rob Bagchi