IND vs NZ

4th match to be abandoned in 7 matches. A new World Record! Instead of teams breaking records, it’s the RAIN which breaks records!

So, guess who tops the points table now??

RAINS! 4 WINS! more than any team participating in the world cup!

It was the most awaited fixture since both teams are undefeated as of yet. This just changes equations on the points table! Another 1 point to both the teams and both are still on a winning streak and guess what? It’s likely that both of them continue to be undefeated till the end of the group stage since both these teams don’t face each other now.

New Zealand is still on the 1st position on the points table with 3 wins and 1 N/R in their 4 matches. On the other hand, India is on the 3rd position on the Points table with 2 wins and 1 N/R in their 3 matches.

New Zealand take on South Africa next and India take on Pakistan in their next fixture.

Up Next –

West Indies vs England

It’s going to be a battle between the in-form batting attack vs the in-form bowling attack.

England are coming off victorious against Bangladesh and West Indies have had a long break after the fixture against Australia since they had a match washed off against South Africa in the middle.

There are chances of rain tomorrow too which does not seem a surprise seeing how this World Cup has been going in the past one week.

England are ranked 1 in the ICC ODI Rankings and are also the hosts, hence are the favourites for tomorrow’s clash if it at all happens.

Probable XIs –

England – Roy, Bairstow, Root, Morgan, Stokes, Buttler, Moeen, Plunkett, Archer, Wood, Curran

West Indies – Gayle, Lewis, Pooran, Hope, Hetmeyer, Russell, Holder, Brathwaite, Cottrell, Thomas, Roach/Bravo.

Possible replacements –

1. Moeen is a handy bat down the order and against a quality bowling attack in those overcast conditions, they might be looking for a depth in their batting. Hence, making Adil Rashid going to the bench who hasn’t been doing anything worthwhile with the ball. They’d go with a combination of reliable Batting till 10, 4 regular seamers with the 5th bowler quota to be bowled by Moeen and Stokes. Also, Woakes although has been good with the bat whenever he got a chance, he has been leaking way too many runs and not been too effective, hence giving a chance for the management to think about replacing him with Tom Curran who is also an excellent batsman and can be effective in the powerplay overs as well as in the death overs. Though two changes from a winning combination is highly unlikely to happen, but playing against a quality team in an important tournament might be taken into consideration by the team management.

2. Andre Russell had a slight injury and wasn’t included in the XI that started against South Africa in the washed out fixture earlier this week. According to reports, he is now fit and would play a key role in the fixture against England with both bat and ball. This would mean that Darren Bravo who had replaced him in the previous game would have to sit out. But, there’s also a possibility of Kemar Roach having to sit out with Darren playing at No.5 to strengthen their depth in the batting since they play a quality team like England. This is upto the team management whether to go with an extra batsman in the form of Bravo or an extra bowler in the form of Roach. Bravo would mean a combination of Reliable Batting till 9 with exactly 5 bowlers who’d have to bowl 10 overs each unless Gayle is handed the ball which is unlikely to happen. On the other hand, if Roach is included, they’ll go with 6 bowling options and reliable batting till 8.