Sky Sports activities Cricket knowledgeable Nasser Hussain displays on England’s qualification by means of to the Tremendous 8s stage of the Males’s T20 World Cup, seems forward to the sport towards the West Indies on Wednesday evening and says who he is backing to make the semi-finals…
England, out of all the edges, have in all probability had the least cricket at this match. However the important thing factor was getting by means of to the Tremendous 8s.
They’re world champions they usually’ve now received to indicate why they’re world champions.
That they had 1 / 4 of a recreation towards Scotland, a full recreation towards Australia… after which two extra very brief video games, as a result of they received so convincingly towards Oman after which had one other rain-affected win over Namibia.
Towards 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 subject 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 dropping, the concern of going out. That is why England did such a superb job in Antigua, the place they have been convincing of their final two video games – they have been within the last-chance saloon and needed to produce their ‘A’ recreation towards two affiliate nations they usually did that.
‘England will not take any group evenly in Tremendous 8s’
They in all probability 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 high order, the South African high order, they go into this stage with out many runs underneath their belt as a result of batting was so tough.
I’ve not minded the pitches on this match. Within the IPL, it was geared an excessive amount of in direction of batting and there have been too many huge scores, sixes and fours.
Right here, it is gone a little bit 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 respectable and I might say St Lucia will in all probability be the choose of the lot for those who’re a batter.
I do not assume there’s a better facet of the draw within the Tremendous 8s. We at the moment are in a scenario the place each facet can be anticipating to get by means 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 finished themselves proud, they’ve performed plenty of good cricket.
As Pakistan discovered, having misplaced in a Tremendous Over towards the USA, and as Canada discovered towards them within the opening recreation, each facet has struggled towards the USA – they’re an excellent outfit.
England won’t be taking any group evenly. It is going to be a tricky recreation and they are going to be hoping once they go into that one which the job is already finished.
‘St Lucia floor fits England’s type’
They first face the West Indies although, the hosts, and it is going to be an excellent ambiance in St Lucia on Wednesday evening.
However a giant crowd supporting the opposition will not upset them an excessive amount of. These England gamers have performed within the IPL, they’ve performed in huge 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 need to go arduous on the ball… though the West Indies, as we all know, even have some very huge hitters.
It was crucial in England’s final recreation that Bairstow and Harry Brook performed rather 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 nicely with Jofra Archer and Mark Wooden, plus Adil Rashid, the No 1 ranked T20 bowler… they have every part in place.
Archer has impressed up to now. He is received nice rhythm and he is tailored to situations… he is a really good cricketer. It isn’t all about tempo, tempo, tempo.
Liam Livingstone is the one concern for the West Indies recreation, with that facet pressure of his – it is not one thing that’s simply going to vanish within the subsequent couple of days.
If he does not get by means of the health take a look at, I might 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 entering into the enterprise finish of the match. There aren’t any straightforward video games and England must be at their finest in the event that they need 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 that lengthy batting lineup and considering: ‘we had higher be at our greatest’.
South Africa are a superb facet, however I am going to 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 underneath means on Wednesday when the USA face South Africa in Antigua, dwell on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 3pm (first ball 3.30pm).
England‘s Tremendous 8s opener takes place towards co-hosts the West Indies later the identical day in St Lucia, dwell 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 match, 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 means of to the semi-finals.
Watch each match from the T20 World Cup, together with the ultimate in Barbados on Saturday June 29, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
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