T20 cricket is a one over game. One over brings back lost momentum, one over brings down all gained momentum, one over gives hopes to many back at their country, one over takes away all hopes from people of one’s country, one over make friendships, one over creates foes. With this kind of entertaining and heart stopping situation the format creates, the T20 World Cup 2022 has been one hell of a ride for every cricket fan across the world. The unstoppable jinx of the T20 World Cup of the host country not keeping it’s hands on the coveted trophy continues with the defending champions and hosts Australia exiting the tournament albeit England and Sri Lanka’s master plan to ouster them. Not only did the high voltage games happen, there were rain frustrations caused to the teams and the fans making it a tough job for the teams to swiftly move on and there were unthinkable upsets which personifies the beauty of the game and the spirits of the cricketers. After a topsy turvy ride for 2 weeks, we have the semi-finalists in England, New Zealand from Group 1 and India, Pakistan from Group 2. We are now going to view the preview of the Semi-Final 2 between two T20 powerhouses in India and England.
Overview:
England: “Perseverance is the key to success. Never give up and keep making efforts. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock – Invajy” The perseverance the Poms had been showing has been immense and immaculate this T20 WC. From starting on a slow and steady chase against the Afghans to getting almost there for a win and rain robbing their chance against the Irish, from facing a rain marred abandonment against the Aussies to decimating the dark horse Kiwis and playing a thriller against the Lankans, the Poms have had everything they had to face in this competition. The batting has been below par with the standards they have set with Buttler and Hales clicking in just a match or two and the middle order not showing much confidence and entertainment. But their bowling has been their USP and saviour in every match they played. Be it Sam Curran’s 5-fer against the Afghans, Mark Wood’s 3-fer against the Lankans, Livingstone’s part time spin controlling the opponents, the Poms had been sailing seamlessly in the boat they are travelling. Ben Stokes has been not in the form he had been and still feel that he hasn’t shown his potential which he possess. Dawid Malan, who was former No.1 in T20Is hasn’t been performing to his standards and is now ruled out of the semi-finals against India and is likely to be replaced by Phil Salt. Also, their pace spearhead Mark Wood has been facing some discomfort in his body and would miss the crucial encounter and can be replaced by either of David Willey / Chris Jordan.The rivalry the Poms had been having with India in T20 format is healthy and we can expect a cracker of a competition between them and India and England would be eyeing to keep their hands again on the coveted trophy after 2010.
India: “Arise! Awake! and do not stop until the goal is reached – Swami Vivekananda”. Each and every player except the openers in the Indian contigent are following the famous quote by Swami Vivekananda. Despite having a strong depth in batting and bowling, the openers of the Indian team have registered their highest partnership score in their last league match against Zim – 27/1. This has been the biggest worry the Indian team carries going into the semi-finals against England. But the brothers of destruction in Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav are making it a point that they are here to decimate each and everyone coming their way. Be it the nerve wracking innings of Virat Kohli against Pakistan to SKY’s mind boggling shot making against Zimbabwe and Netherlands, the duo have been setting their standards high one match after the other and are breaking the benchmarks they set themselves. One could say, we can see the shades of Virat Kohli of 2016 where he smashed 273 runs in five innings at a breathtaking average of 136.50 and won the Player of the Tournament award and there are no doubts that he can get the same again in the current T20 WC at Australia. He is currently the highest run getter with 246 runs in 5 innings with an average of 123.00. In the bowling front, everyone had concerns over Shami being picked in the main squad but he has been smashing his critics with his bowling and the rising star Arshdeep is making a point that he is here to stay and dominate. He had a wonderous start to his T20 WC career by picking Babar Azam in his first ball he bowled and is now the highest wicket taker for India this T20 WC with 10 wickets. The Indians would be raring to go and keep their hands on the prestigious trophy after they failed to grab it during 2014 and would like to end their 15 year drought of winning the T20 WC again.
Players to watch out:
India:
Ravichandran Ashwin:
The current spin head of the Indian team at Australia for T20 WC and a mastermind in the game of cricket, Ashwin's contribution for the team against the English for the penultimate challenge would be one of the key to success. The off spinner is now the highest wicket taker for India in T20 World Cups with 32 wickets in 23 games averaging 16.40 and and bowling at an economy of 6.32. With the England having left handers in Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Sam Curran who can change the game at any instance, his presence and his bowling would be crucial to determine the next steps ahead. Also, his presence would ensure the opponents are inside the boundaries of what they wish to accomplish!!
Virat Kohli:
The adopted son of the city of Adelaide, Virat Kohli would be raring to go all guns to ensure he gets the chance to be a part and hold the T20 WC for the first time before he calls it a day from the format in the near future. Currently topping the run getters table with 246 runs at an average of 123, he would be on top gun mode to ensure he becomes the highest run scorer in all T20 WC's surpassing his own record of 319 runs in 6 innings at an average of 106.33 and SR of 129.14 in 2014 T20 WC.
England:
Jos Buttler:
The swash buckling opener has not been in great rhythm in this WC and has scored only 119 runs in 4 matches played and is yet to bring the fireworks. This is understood as he is back after injury and didn't participate even in one game in the series vs Pakistan as he wanted to keep himself fit for the World Cup. His partnership with Alex Hales is also not worthy noticable but he can bludgeon the opposition at his day. Watch out as he may go all out against the bowling attack and ensure his comeback would be remembered for ages.
Sam Curran:
Sam Curran is the leading wicket taker for England in this WC with 10 wickets to his name inuding a 5-fer. The current Indian openers are susceptible to left arm pace and would be wary to play them. This would be the opportunity for Sam Curran to topple the top order and gain the momentum for England.
Probable Playing XI:
England: Alex Hales, Jos Buttler (C & WK), Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Mark Wood / David Willey / Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid.
India: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant / Dinesh Karthik (WK), Axar Patel/Deepak Hooda, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Arshdeep Singh.
Adelaide Oval T20I Record:
Matches: 14
Won by the team batting first: 7
Won by the team batting second: 6
No Result: 1
Highest Total: 233 for 2 by Australia vs England in 2019
Lowest Total: 117 All Out by Zimbabwe vs Netherlands in 2022
Highest Individual Scorer: David Warner (Australia) - 100 not out vs Sri Lanka in 2019
Best Bowling Innings: Shane Watson (Australia) - 4 for 15 vs England in 2011
India vs England T20 World Cup Results:
2007 Group Stage: India won by 18 runs
2009 Group Stage: England won by 3 runs
2012 Group Stage: India won by 90 runs
Pitch / Weather Report:
The temperature is expected to around 21°C on the match day with 39% humidity and 5.8 km/h wind speed. There are 20% chances of precipitation during the game.
The pitch at the Adelaide Oval has been a sporting wicket for all involved in the game. The pacers, spinners and batters can have a good time if they utilize the conditions to their advantage. The balanced nature of the pitch at the Adelaide Oval is what has caught all the eye balls. The par score is expected to be around 160-170 runs.
(Credits: possible11.com and indiafantasy.com)
Venue: Adelaide Oval
Date & Time: Nov 10th at 1:30 PM IST and local time 18:30 AEDT
Live Streaming: Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar
Interesting Facts:
- India have faced England in 22 T20I matches. India has emerged victorious in 12 matches, whereas England won 10 of those 22 games.
- India toured England for a three match T20I series earlier this year in the month of July which India won,2-1
- England and India have faced each other in 3 matches in ICC T20 World Cup tournaments. Out of these 3 games , England have won 1 whereas India have come out victorious on 2 occasions.
- The historic match between India and England dates back to 2007 where Yuvraj Singh ended the career of Stuart Broad in T20 by hitting 6 sixes in an over.
- Records of Indians vs England in T20I:
Virat Kohli:
19 innings
589 runs
Yuzvendra Chahal:
11 innings
16 wkts
- Records of England players vs India in T20I:
Chris Jordan:
14 innings
18 wkts
Jos Buttler:
17 innings
395 runs
- In the last 4 T20I series held between India and England, India won all 4 series.
- Virat Kohli in Adelaide in T20I:
2 innings
154 runs
Strike Rate: 155.55
- England will playing their first T20I match at Adelaide Oval
- Ben stokes yet to score a fifty in T20I
- Alex Hales needs 13 runs to complete 2000 T20I runs
- Virat Kohli requires 42 runs to complete 4000 runs in T20I.
- Teams losing the toss end up winning at this venue. A total of 11 T20I matches have been condcuted at the Adelaide Oval and in all the 11 matches, the teams that have lost the toss have won the match
(Credits: My dear cricket fanatic friends)
Our prediction:
We expect a nerve wracking contest but India to advance to the grand finale. Though their openers form is a matter of concern, but they are proven match winners and with Rahul now coming back to form, Rohit can work on his original game and bring about fireworks in the semis. One has to carefully handle the duo of Mark Wood and Sam Curran and can take on the spin trio of Livingstone, Rashid and Moeen so that the target would be safe to chase/defend. Watch out for the England openers too and specially Livingstone with his monstrous sixers as he has some experience playing BBL and can turn the tide like anything. It's going to be a battle with both bat and ball and the best team would turn out to face the ultimate challenge.
Dream 11 Team:
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