Sky Sports activities Cricket professional Nasser Hussain displays on England’s qualification by means of to the Tremendous 8s stage of the Males’s T20 World Cup, seems forward to the sport in opposition to the West Indies on Wednesday night time and says who he is backing to make the semi-finals…
England, out of all the perimeters, have most likely had the least cricket at this match. However the important thing factor was getting by means of to the Tremendous 8s.
They’re world champions and so they’ve now acquired to indicate why they’re world champions.
They’d 1 / 4 of a recreation in opposition to Scotland, a full recreation in opposition to Australia… after which two extra very quick video games, as a result of they received so convincingly in opposition to Oman after which had one other rain-affected win over Namibia.
Towards Scotland, who is aware of whether or not they’ll have chased down that rating with out the rain… however they weren’t overly convincing within the discipline and with the ball in that first recreation in Barbados. I feel they’ve put that proper since.
They acquired walloped by Australia, however that may occur to anybody – Australia are a mighty outfit in any format.
There’s then the worry of dropping, the worry of going out. That is why England did such a very good job in Antigua, the place they have been convincing of their final two video games – they have been within the last-chance saloon and needed to produce their ‘A’ recreation in opposition to two affiliate nations and so they did that.
‘England will not take any workforce flippantly in Tremendous 8s’
They most likely have not had as a lot time within the center as they want… however within the area of 5 days arising, they have three video games, and I feel they will benefit from the rhythm of truly enjoying cricket.
That is the case for a number of groups going into the Tremendous 8s… the Indian batters, who needed to play in New York quite a bit, their high order, the South African high order, they go into this stage with out many runs underneath their belt as a result of batting was so tough.
I’ve not minded the pitches on this match. Within the IPL, it was geared an excessive amount of in the direction of batting and there have been too many large scores, sixes and fours.
Right here, it is gone a bit bit extra in favour of the bowlers. In New York, I feel that pitch went too far within the favour of the bowlers, however Dallas was good, Barbados was respectable and I would say St Lucia will most likely be the choose of the lot in case you’re a batter.
I do not suppose there may be a neater facet of the draw within the Tremendous 8s. We at the moment are in a state of affairs the place each facet will probably be anticipating to get by means of to the semi-finals.
The shorter the sport, the shorter the format, something can occur. And as we have seen already, there’s been some unimaginable upsets – the affiliate nations have achieved themselves proud, they’ve performed plenty of good cricket.
As Pakistan discovered, having misplaced in a Tremendous Over in opposition to the USA, and as Canada discovered in opposition to them within the opening recreation, each facet has struggled in opposition to the USA – they’re an excellent outfit.
England is not going to be taking any workforce flippantly. Will probably be a tricky recreation and they are going to be hoping after they go into that one which the job is already achieved.
‘St Lucia floor fits England’s type’
They first face the West Indies although, the hosts, and will probably be an excellent ambiance in St Lucia on Wednesday night time.
However a giant crowd supporting the opposition will not upset them an excessive amount of. These England gamers have performed within the IPL, they’ve performed in large video games, in World Cup finals.
Plus, they are going to be happy to be in St Lucia. It is a good pitch, which fits their type of play – they’ve batters within the likes of Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, who need to go arduous on the ball… though the West Indies, as we all know, even have some very large hitters.
It was crucial in England’s final recreation that Bairstow and Harry Brook performed rather well, placing on that fantastic partnership. That is one other tick for England that these two have had time within the center going into this recreation.
They’ve tempo of their armoury as nicely with Jofra Archer and Mark Wooden, plus Adil Rashid, the No 1 ranked T20 bowler… they have every little thing in place.
Archer has impressed to date. He is acquired nice rhythm and he is tailored to circumstances… he is a really good cricketer. It isn’t all about tempo, tempo, tempo.
Liam Livingstone is the one concern for the West Indies recreation, with that facet pressure of his – it isn’t one thing that’s simply going to vanish within the subsequent couple of days.
If he does not get by means of the health check, I might play Sam Curran – he is the like-for-like alternative. It provides you one other all-round choice and one other left-hander choice.
We at the moment are moving into the enterprise finish of the match. There are not any straightforward video games and England should be at their greatest in the event that they need to qualify for the semi-finals – it is simply getting your expertise proper, placing in a efficiency and getting on a roll.
They’re the world champions on this format and when different sides have a look at England, they will be that lengthy batting lineup and considering: ‘we had higher be at our greatest’.
South Africa are a very good facet, however I will go together with England and the host nation the West Indies to make it from their group.
What’s subsequent on the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup?
The Tremendous 8s stage of the Males’s T20 World Cup will get underneath approach on Wednesday when the USA face South Africa in Antigua, stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 3pm (first ball 3.30pm).
England‘s Tremendous 8s opener takes place in opposition to co-hosts the West Indies later the identical day in St Lucia, stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket at 1am (first ball 1.30am) within the early hours of Thursday morning.
England are in Group 2 for the eight-team second stage of the match, alongside the West Indies, USA and South Africa.
Making up Group 1 are Afghanistan and India, in addition to Australia and Bangladesh, who face one another on Thursday.
The highest two groups from every group progress by means of to the semi-finals.
Watch each match from the T20 World Cup, together with the ultimate in Barbados on Saturday June 29, stay on Sky Sports activities.
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