Depleted England believe they can still surprise the Twenty20 world in Bangladesh, as long as they back themselves to play bold cricket.

Graham Thorpe, limited-overs batting coach, insists England have a “puncher’s chance” of regaining the title they won in the Caribbean four years ago.

Their chastening 27-run defeat in the first of three Twenty20s against West Indies on Sunday was a distinctly discouraging performance, particularly because England were undone by spin, which is sure to be a potent weapon again for all contenders in Bangladesh.

Yesterday’s confirmation that Joe Root will be absent in the subcontinent due to a broken thumb and injury worries over captain Stuart Broad and his deputy Eoin Morgan, both struggling with knee trouble, are no help either.

They will also, of course, be without Kevin Pietersen – after the England Board axed the controversial record run-scorer from all future plans – in West Indies, in Bangladesh and anywhere else.

Thorpe is nonetheless still optimistic about England’s prospects.

“The simple fact is he’s not here, and he’s not going to be here,” Thorpe said of Pietersen, after England’s remaining batsmen had collectively faltered togo 1-0 down with two to play at the Kensington Oval. “We have what we have in the squad, and for me it’s capable of surprising people in Bangladesh. But to do that, we must be bold.”

England failed to get out of the group stages when they tried to defend their title in Sri Lanka in 2012, a tournament where Pietersen was once again absent during his ‘reintegration’ phase.

Few rate their chances highly of performing significantly better this time.

But Thorpe added: “At the Twenty20 World Cup, we have a puncher’s chance if we get things right. I think that’s the realistic side of it for me.”

A dose of realism may not go amiss either – especially after West Indies’ spinners took six England wickets for 46 in 10 overs at the weekend.

The tourists will be up against the same opponents, at the same venue, today (22:00 UAE time) – a must-win fixture if they are to avoid series defeat. A 7,000-mile trip east, via London, will then await them before two warm-up matches in Fatullah and then the start of their campaign in Chittagong.

“We know we need to improve and we know we need to work out what is our best line-up, and we have four games to go until our first one,” said Thorpe.

One more victory at Bridgetown at least – England beat the Windies in last week’s one-day international series – would be heartening on the way to Bangladesh. But it is there that they will face the biggest challenge.

“I don’t think we will ever say we dominate in the sub-continent,” said Thorpe. “In the first 50-over game (in Antigua ), we had a few problems – and we addressed them, and came back very well.

“It’s about remaining upbeat, we want the guys up top to be positive.” He believes England must balance learning lessons from defeat, and dwelling unnecessarily on it.

“It can happen in Twenty20, it can run away from you pretty quickly in Bangladesh, we all know the footwork and shot selection are going to be crucial.”

England are likely to name at least one more spin option today alongside James Tredwell.

The indications are that Morgan will be fit to lead the side in the absence of Broad, scheduled to have an injection on his patella tendinitis in the hope of recovering in time to return in Bangladesh.

For West Indies, key spinner Sunil Narine was set to have a scan after hurting his knee in the field on Sunday. He was rated doubtful, but not definitely ruled out of the second match.

Meanwhile, England’s Ravi Bopara and West Indies’ Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels have been fined for a level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the first T20.

The three players were found to have breached Article 2.1.8 of the code, which states: “Where the facts of the alleged incident are not adequately or clearly covered by any of the (above) offence, conduct that either: (a) is contrary to the spirit of the game; or (b) brings the game into disrepute”.

For their involvements in the incident, Bopara was fined 25 per cent of his match fee, while Sammy and Samuels were fined 20 and 10 per cent respectively.