Other than Pakistan there will be no team less prepared for the World Twenty20 in April and May than England.

The bizarre paradox that in an era of short-format overkill there are very few Twenty20 internationals means that the Indian Premier League, which finishes less than a week before the World Twenty20 begins on April 30 in the Caribbean, is the key preparation for players going into the tournament.

Between now and April there are just nine Twenty20 Internationals. Australia play five, West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand three and England two. India, Sri Lanka and South Africa have none scheduled. While all teams will doubtless arrange some warm-up games shortly before the World Twenty20 begins, it is the IPL that will be critical for two reasons: 1) Because it takes place so close to the World Twenty20; 2) Because it is the most competitive Twenty20 event in the calendar.

England’s relationship with the IPL has been fraught to say the least. Compared to the other main nations, our players are IPL virgins. This year is no different. England’s tour to Bangladesh overlaps with the first two weeks of the IPL. They will go from Test matches against Bangladesh to Twenty20s against allcomers in the West Indies a month later. A testing trial of adaptation to be sure.

Now look at the number of representatives each country will have at the IPL. The Indian players, naturally, will have full exposure, as they have in the two IPLs to date. South Africa have 17, Australia 16 and Sri Lanka 12. A rung down are West Indies (7) and New Zealand (6). Pakistan, shunned by the Indian franchises largely because of political tensions between the two nations, are worst off. Currently no Pakistani will be playing in the IPL.

England’s seven representatives appears a reasonable number until you look at the names. OK, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan will be there (though they’ll be late arrivals). But the remaining four have not been picked for England’s two Twenty20s against Pakistan in the UAE next month: Graham Napier, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara. Even if these four impress in India (providing they get a game) it will surely be too late to make England’s squad for the World Twenty20.

Until the ECB loosens their tense relations with the IPL England will always be heading into these tournaments well behind the rest.

Benj Moorehead is editorial assistant of The Wisden Cricketer