Sky Sports activities Cricket knowledgeable Nasser Hussain displays on England’s qualification by way of to the Tremendous 8s stage of the Males’s T20 World Cup, appears to be like forward to the sport in opposition to the West Indies on Wednesday evening and says who he is backing to make the semi-finals…
England, out of all the perimeters, have most likely had the least cricket at this event. However the important thing factor was getting by way of to the Tremendous 8s.
They’re world champions they usually’ve now received to point out why they’re world champions.
They’d 1 / 4 of a recreation in opposition to Scotland, a full recreation in opposition to Australia… after which two extra very brief video games, as a result of they received so convincingly in opposition to Oman after which had one other rain-affected win over Namibia.
In opposition to Scotland, who is aware of whether or not they’ll have chased down that rating with out the rain… however they weren’t overly convincing within the area and with the ball in that first recreation in Barbados. I feel they’ve put that proper since.
They received walloped by Australia, however that may occur to anybody – Australia are a mighty outfit in any format.
There’s then the concern of shedding, the concern of going out. That is why England did such a very good job in Antigua, the place they have been convincing of their final two video games – they had been within the last-chance saloon and needed to produce their ‘A’ recreation in opposition to two affiliate nations they usually did that.
‘England will not take any group frivolously in Tremendous 8s’
They most likely have not had as a lot time within the center as they want… however within the house of 5 days developing, they have three video games, and I feel they will benefit from the rhythm of really taking part in cricket.
That is the case for a couple of groups going into the Tremendous 8s… the Indian batters, who needed to play in New York lots, their prime order, the South African prime order, they go into this stage with out many runs below their belt as a result of batting was so troublesome.
I’ve not minded the pitches on this event. Within the IPL, it was geared an excessive amount of in the direction of batting and there have been too many massive scores, sixes and fours.
Right here, it is gone somewhat bit extra in favour of the bowlers. In New York, I feel that pitch went too far within the favour of the bowlers, however Dallas was good, Barbados was first rate and I might say St Lucia will most likely be the decide of the lot should you’re a batter.
I do not assume there’s a neater aspect of the draw within the Tremendous 8s. We at the moment are in a state of affairs the place each aspect shall be anticipating to get by way of to the semi-finals.
The shorter the sport, the shorter the format, something can occur. And as we have seen already, there’s been some unimaginable upsets – the affiliate nations have performed themselves proud, they’ve performed quite a lot of good cricket.
As Pakistan came upon, having misplaced in a Tremendous Over in opposition to the USA, and as Canada came upon in opposition to them within the opening recreation, each aspect has struggled in opposition to the USA – they’re an excellent outfit.
England is not going to be taking any group frivolously. It will likely be a tricky recreation and they are going to be hoping after they go into that one which the job is already performed.
‘St Lucia floor fits England’s type’
They first face the West Indies although, the hosts, and will probably be an awesome environment in St Lucia on Wednesday evening.
However an enormous crowd supporting the opposition will not upset them an excessive amount of. These England gamers have performed within the IPL, they’ve performed in massive video games, in World Cup finals.
Plus, they are going to be happy to be in St Lucia. It is a good pitch, which fits their type of play – they’ve batters within the likes of Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, who wish to go exhausting on the ball… though the West Indies, as we all know, even have some very massive hitters.
It was crucial in England’s final recreation that Bairstow and Harry Brook performed very well, placing on that fantastic partnership. That is one other tick for England that these two have had time within the center going into this recreation.
They’ve tempo of their armoury as effectively with Jofra Archer and Mark Wooden, plus Adil Rashid, the No 1 ranked T20 bowler… they have all the things in place.
Archer has impressed to this point. He is received nice rhythm and he is tailored to situations… he is a really sensible cricketer. It is not all about tempo, tempo, tempo.
Liam Livingstone is the one concern for the West Indies recreation, with that aspect pressure of his – it isn’t one thing that’s simply going to vanish within the subsequent couple of days.
If he does not get by way of the health take a look at, I’d play Sam Curran – he is the like-for-like alternative. It provides you one other all-round choice and one other left-hander choice.
We at the moment are moving into the enterprise finish of the event. There aren’t any simple video games and England must be at their finest in the event that they wish to qualify for the semi-finals – it is simply getting your expertise proper, placing in a efficiency and getting on a roll.
They’re the world champions on this format and when different sides take a look at England, they will be taking a look at that lengthy batting lineup and considering: ‘we had higher be at our greatest’.
South Africa are a very good aspect, however I will go along with England and the host nation the West Indies to make it from their group.
What’s subsequent on the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup?
The Tremendous 8s stage of the Males’s T20 World Cup will get below manner on Wednesday when the USA face South Africa in Antigua, reside on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 3pm (first ball 3.30pm).
England‘s Tremendous 8s opener takes place in opposition to co-hosts the West Indies later the identical day in St Lucia, reside on Sky Sports activities Cricket at 1am (first ball 1.30am) within the early hours of Thursday morning.
England are in Group 2 for the eight-team second stage of the event, alongside the West Indies, USA and South Africa.
Making up Group 1 are Afghanistan and India, in addition to Australia and Bangladesh, who face one another on Thursday.
The highest two groups from every group progress by way of to the semi-finals.
Watch each match from the T20 World Cup, together with the ultimate in Barbados on Saturday June 29, reside on Sky Sports activities.
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