The Roar's Cricket World Cup expert tips and predictions: Week 6

The Cricket World Cup rolls into the final week of action with seemingly more on the line than there was this time last week, with some huge games ahead to determine the make-up of the final four. Here to guide you through them are The Roar’s expert tipping panel.

To think that just a week ago, we were all sitting around, wondering what the point was of playing the final set of games because the top four was surely locked and loaded.

If we could have hit fast forward there and then, taking us directly to knockout cricket, there are plenty who would have accepted the offer.

And yet, one week later, following England’s twin failures to Sri Lanka and Australia, as well as Pakistan’s form, the tournament has been burst wide open, and just maybe, the hosts could miss the top four, although a lot of that could hinge on their result overnight against India, which, at the time of writing, is looking fairly positive.

The final week of action will get underway with the struggling West Indies, who unbelievably haven’t found a way to win again since their first-up demolition job of Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka.

The race for the finals will get serious after that though, with Bangladesh looking to stay alive against India before England play a crucial game against New Zealand, with neither team locked into the finals yet.

Afghanistan will play the West Indies on Thursday in a bit of a nothing game, but it will be the final chance for the Afghanis to put a win on the board at this tournament.

Pending on earlier results, Bangladesh and Pakistan could be the most crucial game of the entire tournament on Friday, before the race for the top spot on the table comes down to the final day as India take on Sri Lanka, and Australia are back in action after seven days rest against South Africa.

The deadline to have your tips as part of The Crowd’s figures (by using the form below) is at 6pm (AEST) on Monday evening ahead of the first game of the week.

Ronan O’Connell

Tips: West Indies, India, England, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Australia

The Windies have checked out and tend to struggle with motivation so I’m tipping Sri Lanka to finish their tournament on a high with a win here.

India are rolling through this World Cup like a Maybach and as much as it would be great for the tournament for Bangladesh to win this match I don’t see it happening. India’s bowling is just too good.

The Kiwis have gone off the boil at the worst possible time. Not only have they lost their past two matches but their batting lineup is a mess. England will take advantage of their vulnerability here.

It would be brilliant for world cricket if Afghanistan can go home with at least one win under their belt and this match is a huge opportunity to do just that after losing a thriller to Pakistan. Yet I still can’t tip them, their batting is just too flaky so I’m going with the Windies.

This is a hell of a match. Both of these teams are still a big chance to pip England for a spot in the semi-finals. This is such a tough pick, I can’t split these teams. But I’m going to go with Pakistan purely because I think Babar Azam is a man for the big moments.

India are on another level to Sri Lanka in ODIs these days and should give them a nice old hiding in this match. It won’t be close.

Australia, incredibly, have now won 15 of their last 16 ODIs, as well as all three of their warm-up matches in the UK prior to this tournament. That’s 18 wins from 19 games, a phenomenal run of form. SA’s batting lineup is labouring at present and Australia’s attack has just hit top gear. Australia for me.

(Andy Kearns/Getty Images)

David Schout

Tips: West Indies, India, England, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Australia

Neither the West Indies nor Sri Lanka have had a very memorable World Cup, bar the latter’s famous win over England at Headingley. On talent alone (Pooran, Hetmyer, Cottrell, Thomas) the Windies have the edge, so I’ll go for them, albeit without an awful lot of confidence.

I’m going with favourites India against Bangladesh but really hope the plucky Tigers can have a real crack. A win would also set up an incredible final game against Pakistan, the winner of which could make the semi-finals.

I’ve stuck by England with my tips throughout the World Cup, so I’m picking them again over the Black Caps. Some warmer, drier weather presents itself this week so Eoin Morgan could get the road he (and Jonny Bairstow) so desire.

I’ve said all tournament that I really, really want Afghanistan to win at least one game, and I really, really hope they knock off the Windies. But I’m tipping Jason Holder and co who, to be honest, could go either way here given it’s a dead rubber.

Pending other results, Pakistan versus Bangladesh could be a straight shootout for the fourth spot. And it would be fitting that two of the tournament’s most exciting outfits get to do so. I’m tipping a Babar Azam ton with a Pakistan win and, potentially, a semi-final against Australia or India.

India’s last game before the semis could be a rout, with Sri Lanka half a foot on the plane. Expect Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, as they’ve done all World Cup, to dominate.

The Aussies will have had a full seven-day break before they face the Proteas and as such, will be resting no one before their semi-final. Eight months ago, Faf du Plessis’s side comfortably beat the Aussies on home soil, but both sides have gone in opposite directions since then. Australia for me.

Dan Liebke

Tips: Sri Lanka, India, England, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Australia

Perilously close to being a meaningless game to open at the time of making these tips. But Sri Lanka theoretically have a path to the finals. It’s a meandering path, full of fantastic horrors, and despite a brave face, the Sri Lankan side are surely marching to their doom. But it’s more than what the West Indies have, and that might make all the difference.

I would love nothing more than Bangladesh to defeat India and keep their semi-final hopes alive. But realistically I don’t know how they can achieve this. Something absurd from Shakib Al Hasan presumably. Prove me wrong, Bangladesh. Prove me wrong.

England will almost certainly need to win against the Black Caps to make the semi-finals. After an undefeated early run, New Zealand’s wheels have started to fall off. Why they were playing on wheels in the first place remains a mystery. Nevertheless, England’s desperation should get them home over the Black Caps.

The West Indies will still be partying. Afghanistan to snatch their first win in their final match.

There’s every chance Pakistan and Bangladesh will be an elimination match for the fourth semi-final spot. So, it’s a good time for Pakistan’s World Cup coin to come down heads and ensure them victory.

India have too much power for Sri Lanka, and will therefore win this match. Sometimes cricket is that simple.

After a break of eight days, will South Africa show up to this match? I don’t mean metaphorically. I mean literally. Will there be an actual South African team fronting for this final game? I can’t guarantee that, and thus, in good conscience, I can’t tip them. Australia to go into the semi-finals with one final win.

Daniel Jeffrey

Tips: West Indies, India, England, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Australia

Hard to believe that the West Indies are still stuck on one win. With Sri Lanka’s finals hopes all but gone, the men from the Caribbean should pick up their second victory here.

India should be able to handle Bangladesh, even though it’s must-win time for the Tigers.

New Zealand’s lack of batting depth has been exposed in their last couple of matches. I’m worried their strong start to the tournament against relatively weak sides has inflated everyone’s perception of them. An England side in need of a win will be no easy task, and I’ll take the hosts in this one.

It would be a shame to see Afghanistan leave England without a World Cup win. They’ve come close a couple of times, but the West Indies might fancy their chances against a spin-heavy attack.

Writing this before England’s matches against India and New Zealand, it’s hard to know just how important this match is going to be. If the hosts have dropped even one match, this one between Bangladesh and Pakistan is going to be one for the ages, with an atmosphere to match. Pakistan seem to have a little more momentum right now, so I’ll take them and their better attack to get the win.

(Photo by Action Foto Sport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

India shouldn’t be troubled by Sri Lanka (although the Lankans have surprised us before in this World Cup), and the same should be said about Australia when facing South Africa. Let’s go with the favourites in both matches to finish off the group stage strongly.

Scott Pryde

Tips: West Indies, India, England, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Australia

Just a huge week of cricket ahead, but let’s start off with the games that really mean something for the final four, then deal with the dead rubbers.

Bangladesh and India on Tuesday is the first of those. As much as you’d love to see the Tigers stay in the race to play finals cricket, they just don’t have the depth to go with India unless they find a way to take a heap of early wickets and expose the middle order.

England and New Zealand promises to be a belter, but a vital one at that. The struggles of the home side have been well documented, and even if they do find a way to beat India overnight, with Pakistan’s win over Afghanistan, they still need to win to be safe.

New Zealand, on the other hand, are into their final game, and a win will leave them needing a net run rate situational to make the finals, should Pakistan win their final game.

England are the more well-rounded of the two sides though, although it could well depend on what sort of pitch is served up.

That brings us to the third critical clash between Bangladesh and Pakistan. If Bangladesh managed to beat India on Monday, both teams are still alive. Pakistan have the top order though, with the class of Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, as well as the excellent spin bowling of Shadab Khan probably enough to get them past the one man army of Shakib Al Hasan.

There is plenty of intrigue around the final day as well. India and Australia should both win their matches against the surprising Sri Lanka and struggling South Africa respectively in comfortable fashion, but first place could still be on the line.

In the other games, I’ll take the West Indies to pick up their first wins in weeks, beating Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Hard to see either team competing with them if the batting gets going, and while it’s a big if, neither of the bowling attacks should threaten the man from the Carribean.

Scores don’t include the results from India and England. These will be updated on Monday morning.

Go in the draw to win $2K by joining The Roar‘s 2019 Cricket World Cup tipping comp by submitting your tips below!

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