THE penny has finally dropped with the England selectors – and that is why they head into the World Twenty20 competition as genuine contenders.

The conservative shackles have been thrown off and replaced with inventive aggression following the inclusion of Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb at the top of the order.

Attack really is the only policy in Twenty20 and, in Lumb and Kieswetter, England finally have a pair of destructive batsmen who can seize the early initiative.

It is 14 years since Sri Lanka won the World Cup with their pinch-hitting openers. Thank goodness England have finally twigged.

For too long, we have seen laborious players with no courage in their convictions struggle to keep up with the cut and thrust of limited overs cricket.

Gone are the days when you bat sensibly and then flash the blade in the final 10 overs. Every ball counts in an era when teams are regularly posting scores in excess of 200 in 20 overs. If Lumb and Kieswetter come off, it also means there is less pressure on the middle order because they come to the crease with their team on the front foot.

With players like Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Eoin Morgan just behind the opening pair – England should have few problems in putting runs on the board.

Hopefully, the bowlers have the nous and skill to back up the batsmen.

Inventiveness is just as important with the ball and players like Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan will have to be on their mettle if they want to avoid disappearing into the Caribbean skies.

At odds of 10-1, the bookmakers certainly do not rate England as favourites but that will count in their favour.They might just spring a few surprises early doors and give the supposed big guns a run for their money.