AUS vs ENG

Key Features –

1. Aaron Finch and David Warner built an amazing foundation to their innings, even under overcast conditions, to score a partnership of 123 runs for the opening stand. Their individual scores were 100(116) and 53(61) respectively.

2. Alex Carey had a good finishing continuing his consistency as a lower order finisher. He scored an unbeaten 38(27)*.

3. Getting Vince, Root and Morgan in a span of a total of 12 runs was always a great feat for the Left-Arm Seamers of the Australian side (Starc and Behrendorf) giving a huge boost to Australia in the second innings.

4. Ben Stokes yet again played a fighting knock but couldn’t get a good supporting partnership to be built alongside him. He scored an 89(115), before being a victim to Starc.

5. Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorf just proved the worth of Left-Arm Seamers in a side by being completely unplayable by all the batsmen out there of England. They had spells of 4/43(8.4) and 5/44(10) respectively, picking up a total of 9 out of 10 scalps.

Post-Match Analysis –
1. Australia got a huge boost from their opening batsmen in the first innings and then, from their opening bowlers in the second innings. That always made it certain that they had the upper hand throughout the game.

2. Australia now officially becomes the first team to book a berth in the playoffs with 12 points in 7 matches with just one loss and 6 wins to their name. They are on top of all the charts, i.e., the points table, the highest run getters list (David Warner and Aaron Finch at 1&2 respectively) and also the highest wicket takers list (Mitchell Starc). They are yet again dominating this World Cup hands down!

3. It was difficult to dismiss Joe Root in this tournament in a score less than 50, other than a 21 vs Bangladesh. This is the first instance in this World Cup that Joe Root was out without reaching double figures and it had to be Mitchell Starc’s amazing inswinging delivery for a plumb LBW to get rid of such a consistent batsman for a cheap score of just 8. That was a huge loss to England today.

4. Jason Roy will be available for the last two fixtures against India and New Zealand which are must-wins for England if they want to qualify for the playoffs, that too against the two unbeaten teams in this World Cup. His return will not only increase the morale of the team but also give a higher chance of a bigger opening stand as compared to that given by Vince in the 3 games, with his individual scores of 26,14,0.

5. Australia play their next two against New Zealand and South Africa respectively and remember, they have already qualified for the playoffs and can always try different combinations and rest some key players before the knockout phase.

6. England are still placed 4th on the points table with 8 points and are desperate for a win against atleast one of the two teams they face next.

7. Australia’s sheer dominance over each team might be a warning statement for all the teams who are still fighting for the remaining three playoff spots that they’re here to win their 6th title without fail!

Up Next –

Pakistan vs New Zealand

If Pakistan wants any chances of qualification to the playoffs, they have to win this game otherwise they would stand no chance. So, the miracle they proved against England, they have to revive that miracle tomorrow against the Kiwis.

New Zealand have been unbeaten in this tournament so far and are just one win away to formally qualify for the playoffs with 3 games still remaining for them, including the one tomorrow.

The fourth spot of the playoffs is open for Pakistan and they would want to play their hearts out tomorrow like they did against the Proteas and continue their winning momentum.

On the contray, New Zealand has been unbeaten due to which they would surely pose a great threat for Pakistan in tomorrow’s battle.

All in all, even though New Zealand go as favourites, it’s Cricket and can’t be certain when both teams look to book a berth in the playoffs. Hence, a contest worth watching!

Probable XIs –

NZ – Guptill, Munro, Williamson, Taylor, Blundell, Neesham, Grandhomme, Santner, Boult, Ferguson, Southee

PAK – Fakhar, Imam, Babar, Hafeez, Sohail, Sarfaraz, Imad, Shadab, Amir, Wahab, Shaheen

Possible Replacements –

1. NONE for Pakistan after a comfortable victory against the Proteas. They would like to stick with the same winning combination. The only possible change could be Hasan Ali or Mohammad Hasnain in for Shaheen Afridi who again had a poor outing with the ball against SA.

2. New Zealand have been unbeaten and have fielded the same XI in every game and are highly unlikely to make any changes in the battle tomorrow as well until they have a official confirmation of qualification for the knockout phase. But however, Tom Blundell and Tim Southee seem to be raring to go and in great form as well as compared to Tom Latham and Matt Henry respectively and can be changed for some better team combinations before they go into the Playoffs.