| Hosts: India Dates: 5 October-19 November |
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After the controversy over who they need to and should not choose, England arrive on the World Cup in India with an excellent likelihood.
They’ve change into a profitable white-ball outfit – first beneath Eoin Morgan and now Jos Buttler – and could be most individuals’s second favourites behind hosts India.
If England go all the method it might be the crowning glory for this era of gamers.
Sure, profitable the 2019 World Cup on that unbelievable day at Lord’s was fantastic, however, by way of an accomplishment, defending that title in India, with out the house assist or the familiarity of situations, actually could be particular.
England are feared as a staff. Opposition bowlers are intimidated, understanding full effectively the harmful energy the batting line-up possesses.
There are extra query marks round England’s bowling, particularly with Ben Stokes not having the ability to steadiness the staff and play his position with the ball due to an injured knee.
Will leg-spinner Adil Rashid be match sufficient to final the match? How will all-rounder Moeen Ali fare? Which of the seamers will they choose?
However England – and, simply as importantly, their opponents – know they’ll chase any rating and that isn’t a foul place to start out.
Their 3-1 sequence win towards New Zealand final month additionally answered a couple of questions following the uncertainty over choice.
Stokes’ 182 put to mattress any absurd doubts over whether or not he ought to have been picked after popping out of retirement.
Dawid Malan at all times appears to need to justify his place, however he nailed down that spot on the high of the order together with his century, a 96 and one other fifty.
Individuals have to let him get on with it as a result of his file speaks for itself. I’m at all times astonished folks query him.
As soon as Malan secured that spot opening with Jonny Bairstow it was at all times going to weaken Jason Roy’s place within the squad.
You want the spare batter to be extra of a utility participant and, though you wouldn’t name Harry Brook on opener, he might do it if wanted, in addition to his extra pure place within the center order.
Captains and administration at all times discuss competitors for locations being an excellent factor, however I do know from my very own expertise as a participant that it it isn’t at all times so. It will probably unfold amongst your mates within the staff and change into an unhealthy state of affairs.
Roy has made himself out there ought to England have to name up a reserve and that may be a good factor; it reveals a contented camp.
Hopefully the 15 gamers within the squad can now settle all the way down to enterprise.
One concern that has come out of the sequence towards New Zealand is the type of Joe Root after he made three single-figure scores and a 29.
I’d not say I’m apprehensive – only a bit shocked. Root is a implausible 50-over participant, do not forget.
Is he nonetheless feeling he has to push his scoring price an excessive amount of, like he could have felt with ‘Bazball’ within the Take a look at staff?
If he’s, he should neglect that as a result of he already scores at an excellent price with out taking too many possibilities.
His method ought to be: are available at quantity three if England lose an early wicket, bat nearly all of the overs and rating 100.
That method, with Buttler, Bairstow, Stokes and Liam Livingstone round him, England will rating huge totals.
These World Cups are all about momentum. England acquired on a roll final time in these must-win video games towards India and New Zealand within the group stage earlier than cruising previous Australia within the semi-finals – they usually have a pleasant begin to this match.
They face New Zealand on Thursday before Kane Williamson is fit to return, then Bangladesh in Dharamshala – the place situations go well with seamers greater than anyplace else in India – after which Afghanistan.
We should always not take something with no consideration, however they need to anticipate to be hitting South Africa on the again of three good wins.
That stated, I’d by no means rule out New Zealand doing effectively at a World Cup.
I’ve predicted them as one in all my semi-finalists, together with England, India and Australia.
You could take a look at New Zealand man-for-man and suppose there are stronger XIs, however they’re tenacious and have such an excellent file, having reached the ultimate of the previous two 50-over World Cups, plus two semi-finals and one other ultimate within the T20 format.
South Africa are an fascinating aspect too. Quinton de Kock will retire from one-day internationals after this match and he might not be the one one.
However the Proteas have discovered some kind, coming from 2-0 all the way down to beat Australia final month, regardless of all their issues structurally at residence.
That shambles might even galvanise them. It did with West Indies on the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.
India are going to be very robust to beat.
In that 2016 World Cup, the final world white-ball match right here, I bear in mind India’s first match was performed on a troublesome, spinning pitch and it counted towards them once they have been bowled out for 79 by New Zealand.
I might be to see what the pitches are like this time.
It’s in India’s pursuits to supply good surfaces for batting slightly than mud bowls, which detract from good ODI cricket, and the match might be higher if the hosts go far.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to be in Mumbai for the 2011 World Cup ultimate, when MS Dhoni hit a six to seal victory.
Afterwards you anticipate hundreds of individuals to be shifting away from the bottom, however as a substitute folks have been pouring into the world across the Wankhede Stadium, all whereas I used to be making an attempt to get away for a flight. It was inconceivable.
This time I used to be greeted by an indication in Mumbai airport saying this would be the biggest World Cup ever – and why not?
I am eager to see what the crowds are like for impartial video games, however it will likely be noisy, vibrant and nice enjoyable.
The 50-over recreation lurches from being extraordinarily profitable to being in disaster and in the mean time it does appear the format beneath essentially the most menace.
What makes World Cups so good is the jeopardy, one thing missing from bilateral sequence when a staff lose however transfer on to a different recreation in three days.
Furthermore, today folks suppose if one thing is just not carried out shortly then it isn’t thrilling. This match might be a reminder that isn’t true.
What higher option to begin than a repeat of the best ultimate ever performed?
Jonathan Agnew was chatting with BBC Sport’s Matthew Henry.