Cricket World Cup Preview – Sunday, June 29th
The pressure is on. No two ways about it, England have to step up to the plate and produce. Realistically they need to win at least one of their last two games, maybe needing to do both in order to make it to the semi-finals of the World Cup. But they are heading into what is arguably their toughest game of the competition as they face up to India.
England v India Cricket Winner Odds*
India 4/5
England even money
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on June 28th, 2019 at 5:25 pm)
Things falling apart for England
Just when England were motoring along, setting World Cup records, things have since fallen apart. Their tumble started with a shock defeat against Sri Lanka back on June 21st. Sri Lanka took the match win there by 20 runs, one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far. England couldn’t deliver on a slower batting pitch. So that left the tournament hosts rocking on their heels. In their next contest, Australia came along and knocked them down to their knees.
Australia took a big, convincing win over England at Lord’s to leave the English with back to back tournament defeats. So now the permutations for a top-four finish for the pre-tournament looks troublesome. A win in this one would ease a tremendous amount of pressure. But part of the problem here is that they are facing India and this is happening at Edgbaston, a ground which is going to suit India more than it is England.
England do look to have tightened up as if the pressure is getting to them. Their top order has been affected by the loss of opener Jason Roy, but that one absence shouldn’t bring the whole team down. Who will be stepping up with the bat for England on the weekend? They are going to need a big innings from someone against the spin and it’s Joe Root, the steadiest of the English batsman who could be the one to hold things together. He is at 11/4 to be England’s top batsman* (betting odds taken from bet365 on June 28th, 2019 at 4:33 pm)
Head to Head
England and India met for a three-match ODI series last year in England. After dropping the first game at Nottingham, England won the last two matches to take the series. They were both big wins as well. In the last five years, they have faced each other in twelve ODI fixtures. The head to head from that is tied at six wins each.
How much is Edgbaston going to be a factor? India have won the last two meetings there. The first was back in 2013 when they took a tight 5-run victory. England then lost by nine wickets a year later in Birmingham against them.
Can India be beaten?
For most of this tournament, India have made things look ever so easy. They remain undefeated with five wins from six games (the one fixture washed out) and so they are well on track to push for a top of the table finish. They have looked extremely good and have already knocked off Australia, who have just beaten England. Again it is worth taking a look at the Edgbaston ground. Just recently Pakistan used the slower, spinning touch to great advantage to take a win over the previously unbeaten New Zealand.
So England are the ones least likely to produce a strong batting performance in this one. Pakistan remember, right at the start of the tournament undid England’s top order by opening with spin. India got a chance to open their arms a bit as they thrashed the West Indies by 125 runs at Old Trafford. How about a punt at captain Virat Kohli to be the one to stand up to the English pressure and guide his side to a big score? He is the 5/2 favourite to be India’s Top Batsman* (betting odds taken from bet365 on June 28th, 2019 at 4:33 pm).
England v India Prediction
There is no question that England are starting to look a little nervy. Even if you took out the scenario of the World Cup here, India would be favourites to win this match. They are in great form at the moment and produced big time against Australia. England couldn’t match that and therefore it is the India match outright win that appeals at 4/5 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on June 28th, 2019 at 4:33 pm)
