We take a look at Tuesday nights (25/6/2019) ICC Cricket World Cup match which is between England and Australia. England head into the match as the slights favourites to win what looks like a cracking match.
When: Tuesday, June 25th at 7:30PM
Where: Lord’s
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Preview:
The big one between cricketing arch rivals Australia vs England has finally arrived, to be played at English cricketing HQ in London and this Wolf for one is quite excited.
Both England and the Aussies are perched in the top 4 of the table, but the Aussies sit slightly more comfortably, two points ahead and having already played the all-singing, all-dancing India. England has momentarily lost star opening aggressor Jason Roy and has recorded losses against Pakistan and lowly Sri Lanka.
The 2019 World Cup in the Mother Country, hosted by the world’s #1 ranked ODI team was meant to be England’s crowning glory, a 48-game ticker tape parade that culminates in them finally winning the World Cup. Their attacking batting approach has served it well on flat pitches and in less-meaningful matches, but this one carries much more importance for them. The whole cup does. Lose this game and suddenly, they are peeking over their shoulders for teams striving for their semi-final spot.
England, the batting benchmark in ODI cricket since 2015, has at times been exhilarating in this tournament. Joe Root has led the batting fray, with two centuries, three fifties and 424 runs. He has been harder to remove than early spring mould in some games and has been the leading architect of some of England’s larger team innings. The Poms bowlers have also enjoyed success, led by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood with the new ball, both delivering some ‘heat’ in excess of 150 m/ph with the white rock. Both have struck early and late in opposition innings and have been ably assisted by Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali’s spin bowling in the middle overs.
Australia’s opening batsmen (David Warner, 447 runs & Aaron Finch, 396 runs) and opening bowlers (Mitchell Starc, 15 wickets & Pat Cummins, 11 wickets) have dominated for the Aussies. These brilliant contributions have arguably papered over from some of the other issues the ream has yet to fully resolve this Cup. Steve Smith has made a few fifties, but has also found himself in the unusual position of coming in very late in the innings and trying to slog, which is not really his go. But if this top order can give the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Marcus Stoinis and even Nathan Coulter-Nile (thanks to his 92 off 60 balls against the Windies) license to light up the batting pyrotechnics, the Aussies are also capable of a big score, such as the 5/381 they carded against Bangladesh.
The Aussies have lacked depth with their other seam bowlers, who have not taken 10 wickets between them and have lacked penetration. Spinner Adam Zampa has been scored off at over 7 runs per over and that needs to be reined in by him. Short of releasing a live goat onto the field with his name painted on the side, spinner Nathan Lyon must be wondering how to best get his name before the Aussie selectors.
The Wolf has found it very difficult to make a winning selection here. The English machine looks to have more firing pistons at the moment, but the pressure on them to perform in this game is white hot. None of them will be buying Wednesday’s local papers (or Thursday’s) if they lose. The Aussies can certainly win, provided they can make some early incisions with the ball, otherwise they could be left to chase 350+. If pressed, The Wolf will tip the Aussies though, backing Smith, Starc, Maxwell and Cummins to aid their opening batsmen to deliver a win.
One thing The Wolf is confident about is that Steve Smith loves batting at Lords and he is with him to meet his runs line of 37.5 runs here. The former skipper will looking to make a major personal batting contribution in what is shaping to be a classic.
Odds:
Tip: Australia at $2.08
*Odds correct at time of posting. Subject to change