ICC World Cup 2019 Match 12, England v Bangladesh: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

England and Bangladesh both began their World Cup campaigns by beating South Africa, but were brought back to ground zero in their next encounters, by Pakistan and New Zealand respectively in games that were decided in the final few overs.

Although England appear to be a much better side on paper, the way Bangladesh have performed in their first two matches – smashing 330 against South Africa and then picking up 8 New Zealand wickets while defending a modest 244 – has shown that they can challenge any team on any given day.

The spin troika of Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain picked up two wickets apiece at The Oval even as Shakib registered his second half-century in as many matches. Bangladesh had batted well against South Africa but there were some question marks over their bowling as South Africa fell just 21 short of the target. Against New Zealand, though, the spinners combined to initiate a slide and kept Bangladesh in the contest until Mitchell Santner and Lockie Ferguson held their nerves and took their team home.

However, the conditions in Cardiff could be vastly different from The Oval, with pacers ruling the roost on helpful green surfaces. In four innings so far at Sophia Gardens, no team has crossed 250 and pacers have picked up 21 of the 30 wickets to fall. It is here that England hold the advantage over their Asian opponents as their fast bowlers – Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Liam Plunkett and Mark Wood – are versatile and at least two of them are capable of breaching the 90mph barrier consistently, unlike Bangladesh who boast of medium pacers.

Add to this the strength of their power-packed batting line-up – Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler have at least a half century so far – that can match and even out-bat their Bangladeshi counterparts on scoring rate and you see the balance tilting in England’s favour.

Head to head

Bangladesh had knocked England out of the 2015 World Cup, an event that marked the renaissance of English ODI cricket as we see now. However, England dominate the head-to-head count 16-4. Two of these four victories for Bangladesh have come in World Cup clashes – in 2011 and 2015 – and another in the last series played between the two sides on England’s tour of Bangladesh in 2016-17 where the visitors won the 3-match ODI series 2-1. Bangladesh lead the World Cup tally 2-1.

Key players

Jos Buttler (England): Chasing 349 against Pakistan, Buttler kept England in the match as long as he was at the crease even as wickets fell around him. His 103 off 76 balls and a 130-run partnership with Root put England on the path of the highest successful chase in World Cup history before Pakistan struck back at the death. Buttler is touted as the best finisher going around in international cricket, and for good reason.

Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh): Shakib has scored fifties in both the games he has played so far and has picked up crucial wickets as well. He was Player of the Match against South Africa and the top scorer for his team against New Zealand. He is Bangladesh’s MVP in this World Cup.

Likely XIs

England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Mithun, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Mustafizur Rahman.

Prediction

England’s power-packed batting lineup proves out to be too much for Bangladesh as the hosts avenge their campaign-ending loss at the last World Cup.