CHENNAI: An inconsistent England are expected to rejig their line-up with the hope of beating West Indies in their final World Cup Group B match on Thursday to keep alive their quarterfinal prospects.
Out of form pace bowler James Anderson may have to pave way for Chris Tremlett, while Matt Prior is expected to drop down the batting order so that either Ravi Bopara or Ian Bell can partner captain Andrew Strauss at the top.
Having tied their match with India and gone down to Ireland and Bangladesh, a victory would keep England afloat even though Strauss and his men would move into the quarterfinals only if other Group B results also favour them.
Strauss and off-spinner Graeme Swann have recovered from a stomach bug to join the team that looked jaded in the tournament.
West Indies, on the other hand, will be banking on fit-again opener Chris Gayle and in-form all-rounder Kieron Pollard to provide the batting firepower that would take them through to the quarterfinals.
Captain Darren Sammy expects coach Ottis Gibson's experience of working with England to provide them the insider knowledge that would come handy in this contest.
STATBOX
Facts and figures relating to the Group B World Cup match at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Thursday.
Head-to-head record: West Indies lead 41-37 (NR: 4)
In the World Cups: England lead 4-1
In the sub-continent: England lead 3-1
* The teams first played each other in Sept. 1973 at Headingley, Leeds when England chased down a modest 181 in a thrilling one wicket win. The response to that match set in motion the creation of the World Cup in 1975.
* Since then England are still seeking their first 50-over World Cup while West Indies are a pale self of the indomitable bunch that dominated the first two editions.
* England camp (LWLTW) have to beat West Indies if they are to have any hope of reaching the last eight. Even then if other Group B results do not fall their way, England might find themselves as the only test-playing nation not to make the cut.
* West Indies (WWWLL), on the other hand, have had a poor year, fell behind Bangladesh in ODI rankings and then lost to South Africa in their opening Cup match. Since then they have gone from strength to strength having dismissed Netherlands, Bangladesh and Ireland easily.
* West Indies need to win one of their remaining games against England or India to confirm their place in the quarter-finals. If they win both matches, they could finish as group leaders.
* It is likely to be a clash between the English batsmen in form - Andrew Strauss (298 runs), Jonathan Trott (289 runs) and to a lesser extent, Ian Bell (193 runs) - against the West Indian in-form bowlers - Sulieman Benn (12 wickets at an economy of 4.43) and Kemar Roach (11 wickets at 4.00)
* The West Indies batsmen have not been in the best of forms, besides Devon Smith (202 runs), while the English bowlers have really struggled against most oppositions, other than South Africa, with Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan (nine wickets each) being the only consistent bowlers.
* England will have a slight advantage having played in Chennai earlier in their win against South Africa, where the pitch was not a very high scoring one and good line and length bowlers were rewarded for their toils.
toi
Out of form pace bowler James Anderson may have to pave way for Chris Tremlett, while Matt Prior is expected to drop down the batting order so that either Ravi Bopara or Ian Bell can partner captain Andrew Strauss at the top.
Having tied their match with India and gone down to Ireland and Bangladesh, a victory would keep England afloat even though Strauss and his men would move into the quarterfinals only if other Group B results also favour them.
Strauss and off-spinner Graeme Swann have recovered from a stomach bug to join the team that looked jaded in the tournament.
West Indies, on the other hand, will be banking on fit-again opener Chris Gayle and in-form all-rounder Kieron Pollard to provide the batting firepower that would take them through to the quarterfinals.
Captain Darren Sammy expects coach Ottis Gibson's experience of working with England to provide them the insider knowledge that would come handy in this contest.
STATBOX
Facts and figures relating to the Group B World Cup match at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Thursday.
Head-to-head record: West Indies lead 41-37 (NR: 4)
In the World Cups: England lead 4-1
In the sub-continent: England lead 3-1
* The teams first played each other in Sept. 1973 at Headingley, Leeds when England chased down a modest 181 in a thrilling one wicket win. The response to that match set in motion the creation of the World Cup in 1975.
* Since then England are still seeking their first 50-over World Cup while West Indies are a pale self of the indomitable bunch that dominated the first two editions.
* England camp (LWLTW) have to beat West Indies if they are to have any hope of reaching the last eight. Even then if other Group B results do not fall their way, England might find themselves as the only test-playing nation not to make the cut.
* West Indies (WWWLL), on the other hand, have had a poor year, fell behind Bangladesh in ODI rankings and then lost to South Africa in their opening Cup match. Since then they have gone from strength to strength having dismissed Netherlands, Bangladesh and Ireland easily.
* West Indies need to win one of their remaining games against England or India to confirm their place in the quarter-finals. If they win both matches, they could finish as group leaders.
* It is likely to be a clash between the English batsmen in form - Andrew Strauss (298 runs), Jonathan Trott (289 runs) and to a lesser extent, Ian Bell (193 runs) - against the West Indian in-form bowlers - Sulieman Benn (12 wickets at an economy of 4.43) and Kemar Roach (11 wickets at 4.00)
* The West Indies batsmen have not been in the best of forms, besides Devon Smith (202 runs), while the English bowlers have really struggled against most oppositions, other than South Africa, with Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan (nine wickets each) being the only consistent bowlers.
* England will have a slight advantage having played in Chennai earlier in their win against South Africa, where the pitch was not a very high scoring one and good line and length bowlers were rewarded for their toils.
toi
No comments:
Post a Comment