England win! In a clinical display over perennial underdogs New Zealand, England claim their first Cricket World Cup.
The Kiwis were brave but the Poms were too good with their brutish batting, balanced bowling and sharp fielding.
That’s what we’re all expecting to read after the World Cup final on Sunday. England should claim the trophy. And this is why (or why not).
England’s batting runs so deep it puts the Mariana Trench to shame. All but one of their top five has scored a ton this World Cup.
Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy impose at the top of the order. Both have scored more than 400 runs during this campaign, Bairstow with 496 at 49.60 and Roy with 426 at 71.
Across 31 innings together, their average stand is 67.70. Every three innings, they’ll put on at least a century partnership. They score at a freakish rate – 7.11 runs per over
Should New Zealand nip out Bairstow and Roy, there’s not much reprieve.
The clinical Joe Root tops England’s World Cup scoring with 549 runs at 68.62. Although not consistently at this best during this campaign, Eoin Morgan (362 at 45.25) has shown he’s capable of playing different roles from mainstay to finisher.
(Photo by Gareth Copley-IDI/IDI via Getty Images)
Ben Stokes (381 at 54.42) has batted with maturity throughout, accumulating four fifties in the process. While Jos Buttler (253 at 31.62) has batted selflessly as usual.
In contrast, the New Zealand side has scored just two centuries. Both came off the bat of their classy skipper Kane Williamson, who’s tallied 548 runs at 91.33.
Ross Taylor has been a solid contributor too (335 at 41.87), but the rest of the line-up has been impotent.
England stumbled through the middle part of the round-robin phase, dropping two games in a row.
But they’ve been irrepressible since that 64-run loss against Australia. They accounted for indomitable India, whipped New Zealand and then made Australia look mediocre.
The English have been red-hot in the one-day arena for years now. They’ve won a staggering 33 of their last 37 matches at home – an 89% win rate.
They enjoy a 70% winning record for all one-day matches in the last two years. This trumps the form of the past three World Cup champs – Australia’s was 55% in 2015 and 64% in 2007, while India’s was 59% in 2011 – and they go at a brisk run rate of 6.29 since the last World Cup, the highest of all nations.
In the other camp, New Zealand started the World Cup strongly with five straight wins. But their momentum halted as they lost three on the trot.
However, their gritty performance against a formidable India shouldn’t be overlooked.
England breezed through their semi. On the other hand, New Zealand ground their way through their one-day match in two.
Does New Zealand have the fortitude to back up their win over India against the No.1 ranked side?
History shows that tough and tight wins can tax the winning semi-finalist. Many go on to lose the main event. New Zealand knows this well after pinching a semi-final thriller against South Africa in the 2015 Cricket World Cup before being pumped in the final against Australia.
So, England win… right?
Everything says this should be so. But what if?
What if Martin Guptill finds his grove and blasts a double century. Let’s not forget he scored an unbeaten 237 at the previous World Cup.
What if Jason Roy pops his hamstring while attempting a quick single and runs out Jonny Bairstow in the process?
What if Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson dismantle England’s middle order?
So, who wins?
Who knows.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Hahaha it's funny but I've always felt more fondly towards the Kiwis than the Poms. Maybe because it's of the huge amount of whinging Poms in Perth that makes us so anti them over here. Never felt the same animosity with Kiwis. Obviously different for you...
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Don't know if I can deal with another NZ v England final. Let's hope the Aussies can turn it round
Republican
Guest
......better still, NZ are beaten in both even if its perfidious Albion who are the victors.
Republican
Guest
........to be sure, the tour is a long odds punt but not the Netball. I still reckon it will be a NZ v England final. Australia have been a tad inconsistent of late while England have improved dramatically in recent years and are playing at home, which might just help them get over the top of us in a semi. NZ to take it out either way......
Republican
Guest
.......well, I must disagree. Both NZ & England are like peas in a pod in so many ways while I am yet to meet a Kiwi that doesn't support everyone else v us. I reckon your Kiwi mates are an exception......
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
'The vast majority of Aussies will hardly give a cursory glance to the Rugby WC and that’s the long and short of it' sad but true
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Nah Australia will win the netball and the bloke who is 4th in the Tour De France isn't a genuine contender, wait til the high mountain alpine stages, the welshman Geraint Thomas will wipe the floor.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Neither a kiwi double or a English double is particularly desirable but for mine i'm hoping that NZ win tonight and then maybe Ireland or Wales can do the miracle and knock the Kiwis off in the rugby?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Nahhh, the poms are the worst for mine. I've got plenty of Pommie and Kiwi mates and whilst I can't stand the Kiwis winning the rugby when it comes to the cricket I don't really mind, their pretty chilled really and my mates would go for Aus over England. The English however are the worst, every time we lose the Ashes they are unbearable.. last years soccer world cup the whole "its coming home" thing was hilarious, nothing made me happier when Croatia took them down a peg and I hope our mates from across the ditch do the same!
Republican
Guest
......wrong, so very wrong. Its pressure in the end that will be the Sassenach's downfall. NZ are cruising and have very little pressure on them since they are just happy to have made the final. They will play a tempered and rational game while England will implode, irrationally and impulsively, mark my words.......
Republican
Guest
........oh and Australia accounted for both comfortably in the lead up rounds. A fickle and quirky game is Cricket.......
Republican
Guest
.......Australians have heaps more sporting and cultural currency invested in Cricket than they do in what is after all, a novelly niche code, in Rugby Union. The vast majority of Aussies will hardly give a cursory glance to the Rugby WC and that's the long and short of it.
Republican
Guest
.........I always glean so much more elation, from a NZ loss over an Ozzie victory truth be told......
Republican
Guest
......I reckon they will. The pressure to win at home will simply be too much to manage sadly......
Republican
Guest
.........I would far prefer Mother Albion get up in the silly game they invented. The vast majority of NZ'ers barrack or anyone v Australia, such is their contempt for us, so I have always returned - in kind......
Republican
Guest
......no head and heart about it for myself as I hold zero affection for either. I will say my intuition, which has been spot on up until this point, says NZ will win the WC of Cricket for 2019. They will also take out the Netball v the Sassenach on the strength of it, with the Aussies again underwhelming. NZ may even win the Tour De France with one of theirs currently in 4th place overall. I have to say however that since the Union WC is a foregone conclusion, as no one holds a candle to the AB's, the codes showcase event is rendered a meaningless.......
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Well fair play then What about the eng press if the eng win the double? Theyre fairly on the nose at the best of times I def agree that a kiwi double would also be highly undesirable. Go the springboks?
Mungbean74
Roar Rookie
I actually love Eddie! I’m an Aussie living in Miyazaki Japan and he had his Japan team based here and he did wonders for Japan rugby. He’s also bringing the English team here. I want the Wallabies to do well, but I’d rather any team knock NZ over.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Thats true but imagine if the eng rugby team and Eddie Jones take out the RWC?
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Weather for London - 'Any patchy rain or showers this morning will slowly fade, to leave a drier and brighter afternoon with some sunny spells' 16-22* Could well favour the team bowling first. Go NZ!