ICC World Cup 2019 Match 38, England v India: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

The clash of the World Cup is here. The top two contenders for the title, who were touted as potential finalists at the start of the tournament, will meet after having traversed different journeys on their way here. India have emerged as the true contenders with a five-match unbeaten streak, helped by the washout in the game against New Zealand. England, on the other hand, have their backs against the wall after having lost two on the bounce and their semi-final hopes hanging in the balance.

India have appeared to be the all-conquering maverick thus far – the top three have got the runs on most occasions and when they haven’t the bowlers have defended relatively small totals thus not exposing the middle order too much. And in their last game, against the West Indies, MS Dhoni anchored the innings even as wickets fell in the middle overs. The bowlers then went on to defend 268 and did it quite well, bowling out the West Indies for 143.

However, England are an entirely different beast. England had won the ODI series against India at home last summer where they had played India’s spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav well. They had also managed to negate the threat posed by Jasprit Bumrah. England have a lineup – Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler – that can thwart a bowling attack touted by many as the tournament’s best, and make their opponents chase a 300-plus total for the first time this World Cup.

With the ball too England are better shaped than many other teams. They have two out-and-out quick bowlers in Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, a seam-and-swing bowler in Chris Woakes and two spinners – Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali – who have tasted success against India at home. Given India’s conservative approach with the bat, it is possible for this English attack to restrict India to under 300, the kind of totals their gun batting lineup, which has tasted success against these Indian bowlers in the past, can chase down.

Head to head

India lead the head-to-head tally 53-41 but the World Cup tally runs neck-to-neck with both teams having won three matches each. India and England also played a tied World Cup game in 2011. The last series between the two teams was won by England when they beat India 2-1 at home in 2018.

Key players

Ben Stokes (England): In two pressure situations, against Sri Lanka and Australia, Stokes carried his team forward even as the rest of the batsmen succumbed to pressure. With back-to-back half-centuries under his belt, the left hander can take on the Indian spinners with aplomb.

Virat Kohli (India): The India captain has become a run machine this World Cup and has scored four successive fifties thus far. However, a century has eluded him and he may look to get it in the most high-profile clash of the tournament.

Likely XIs

England: James Vince, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood.

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Vijay Shankar, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

Prediction

England stop India’s winning run and put an end to their own two-match losing streak.