3 minute read
One of the biggest sporting events this year is the Cricket World Cup and Racing and Sports will cover some of the feature matches of the tournament.
We'll provide a look at the form going in and a few betting predictions.
ENGLAND V AUSTRALIA
Tuesday 25 June @ Lord's
So the big one has arrived. No matter the circumstances, any match involving the oldest of rivals is one the cricketing world takes great note of.
However in this case, it does look, with the greatest of respect to the kiwis, that the entire World Cup revolves around England, India and Australia.
So the round robin clash between two of them has to be well savoured and tightly fought. The form guides will be marked harshly here.
England arrive in good spirits even if a little injury curtailed and also after the loss to Sri Lanka. The Jason Roy hamstring was a hurdle as he races to be fit for the Aussies. He is very much their opening gambit in a fast game of chess.
They have also encountered issues with Liam Plunkett and the skipper himself. Eoin Morgan's back is under enough pressure with the weight of a nation (or in his case two of them) so he does not need any more spasms.
This team feels emboldened at present. They are going big with the bat and bowling quick with the ball.
Joe Root has two hundreds and has three mates with one. Many teams are struggling to get one to make three figures. Only three members of the squad are batting less than a 100 strike rate (Root is one of them).
They love to play from the front so they jump from the gates at get motoring immediately. Boundary batting is their domain. Working the singles is not their go.
Then you have Wood and Archer sending down the cherry at a velocity which means attack is not the only thought in a batsman's mind. Sometimes it's even self-preservation.
It's a high tempo brand that has little nuance to it. A long batting line up provides them comfort to take it on for long periods knowing they can recover a stumble or their bowlers can gain early incisions.
Australia, by contrast, is relying on a much tighter group of contributors. It's really been two and a bit batsman and two and a bit bowlers.
That is a perilous path to follow when one of them does not come off.
It starts at the top with Warner and Finch. To his great credit, Warner has compartmentalised the off field crowd issues with his on field performances.
He has taken his time - striking at only 87 when he'd usually be well over 100. But wickets in hand seem necessary in this event and for this team.
His captain is holding his end up as well. Aaron Finch continues to play straight and collectively the two of them have played 12 innings, scoring a 50 or more eight times.
We've seen some fleeting exploits from Steve Smith and some virtuoso slogging from Glenn Maxwell. They need some time at the crease. Not much else has been proffered.
The bowlers are essentially a similar story. Starc and Cummins have done a fine job in taking wickets but the other three quicks in the squad have had a trundle and have ten wickets between them from 73 overs.
The allrounders are hardly inspiring at present and then the leggie Zampa is going at seven per over. That won't cut the mustard in the big games under pressure. Surely, SURELY, Nathan Lyon has to play soon.
Lord's only enters the World Cup fray this weekend so it's hard to know how the pitch will play. One influence could be that this will be a refreshed 22 yard strip after being used in the South Africa/Pakistan game on Sunday.
The further into June we get the warmer the weather 'should' be and therefore less likely we get a green seamer. But it may slow up after double use.
England will back themselves to run down any total. Not sure this Australian team is capable of that so they really need to bat first you'd think for their own confidence.
The home team have had it over the old enemy of late. Early intervention from the Aussie quicks will be required.
Pat Cummins ability to bowl the cross seam change ups can net him wickets through the innings – especially when the tonking occurs at the end. Like him to take a few at Lord's.
Another interesting stat is that England has hit 52 sixes in the tournament to Australia's 35. Now of course who the opposition is becomes important but England do like to take the long-handle. Suspect they will go again here.
Suggested Bets: Pat Cummins – +1.5 Wickets @ $1.72
Suggested Bets: England to hit most sixes @ $1.77