Whether it’s the crash, bang, wallop approach that’s helping England or home advantage, England has generated massive momentum as it strives to surpass its own standard.
Firstly, they got to 408 runs in the first match of their new era back in 2015 against red-hot New Zealand back in 2015. Then in 2016 broke their own record to set the highest ever ODI score of 444 and a few days back registered the highest ever score of 481-6 against Australia.
England is redefining and rewriting history even without their star all-rounders Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes.
If setting up the highest ever score was not enough. England made the mockery of 310 runs chase as it comfortably chased the target with five overs to spare.
With the next mega event to be held at home, there is no doubt why England are hot favourites heading into the series.
But perhaps their real test will be against the mighty Indians. India, which has heavyweights such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni to go with strong pace attack in Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav, and more importantly, the x-factor wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.
England got away the quota of 10 over from Joe Root for 44 runs against Australia. The conservative approach, despite Australia having centurion Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh at the crease and well set looking to explode. Australia’s batting approach was as antique as England’s back in 2014.
But India hsa Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya, who can strike it big against Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali from the word go.
Not to forget back in the 2013 and 2017 Champions Trophy, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma were the most destructive opening duo of the tournament and its no-brainer why India was so successful both times.
Both are not as destructive as Jason Roy-Jonny Bairstow-Alex Hales at the top, but Rohit-Shikhar’s experience holds them in good stead when it comes to which bowler to target and their record in ODI shows how well they have done it in ODI cricket from time to time.
England’s top order trio of Roy-Hales-Bairstow will be against the swing of Kumar and pace of Yadav, which won’t be easy to get going. That’s not all both were chief destroyers of batting line-up back in 2013 Champions Trophy.
Both are more experienced this time, and with the addition of Jasprit Bumrah who has unique action, is near to impossible to get away at death makes it the tight contest.
If England gets away with blazing starts and expects to continues with the same momentum in middle overs. They will have to deal with the two x-factors of the team, wrist spinners Yadav and Chahal. Both took 33 wickets among themselves in six-match.
Ask South African batsmen who played so much of IPL in India how they still found it difficult to get away against the duo.
Sachin Tendulkar made a valid point on how the introduction of two new balls has taken the threat of reverse swing out of the equation. But India has found to stop the run flow despite these odd thanks to their wrist spinners.
Jason Roy’s catch of Shaun Marsh was the highlight of the fourth ODI against Australia, but England have such abled man all around the field with Ben Stokes being the best, and Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, and even bowlers can take those half chances. India, who has implemented a strict fitness standard thanks to skipper Virat Kohli, is a ten times better fielding side than they were a decade back.
Bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav have perhaps the best-throwing arms in the team. Add to it the lightning-quick abilities of MS Dhoni behind the stumps, and it’s tough to separate which teams come on top at least on paper.
Perhaps the wrist spinner Yadav-Chahal gives India a wafer thin edge. But England is playing at home. A guy like Joe Root will be crucial here to hold the fort against spinners; he can very well do that and win matches single-handedly.
Jos Buttler, who had good IPL, will test spinners with his arrays of shots in his armoury. Eoin Morgan, the leading run-scorer for England in ODIs, is tough to tie down.
(Photo: AFP)
Perhaps after the end of three-match series, we will be left wanting more. And the real winner will be decided at the World Cup next year when it will matter.
Expect some riveting cricket on display. Impossible targets could be chased down, and some dramatic collapse could test the nerves of exciting players from both the side.
This has all it takes to be the series of the year.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Johnny Bairstow has hit his way back into form with a 45-ball century as he steered his side to a record-breaking win, easily chasing…
While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
England's chances of retaining the Twenty20 World Cup have been hit for six with the news Ben Stokes has opted out of selection for…
Bazball was developed as a strategy devised to use the resources efficiently rather than revolutionize the system.
England's tour of India has ended in abject fashion as the tourists were hammered by an innings and 64 runs inside three days, with…
India have bowled England out for a below-par 218 and cruised to 1-135 in reply to seize early control of the fifth and final…
