England out to spoil promoter’s dream final in MCG clash with India

A blockbuster second semi-final of the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup awaits on Thursday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, pitting together Group 2 toppers India, who have the best record out of the four semi-finalists, against England who boast a lineup of match-winners with plenty of experience in Australia but who are yet to hit anywhere near top gear. Could you ask for much more, given that the winner of this match will face one of New Zealand, the most well-oiled team of the World Cup, and mercurial and rejuvenated Pakistan in the final?

Arguably the most unpredictable T20 World Cup of all has reached the final four stage, and while excitement duly builds around a potential India versus Pakistan final at the MCG, the task at hand for India and England is to see off the other. India have won four of their five matches – it could have been a perfect five, if not for Virat Kohl dropping Aiden Markram and Rohit Sharma missing a run out to get David Miller – while Jos Buttler’s England has huffed and puffed its way into the final four.

Rohit Sharma’s team grabbed top spot in Group 2 to meet England in the semi-finals, following an easy win over Zimbabwe at the SCG. Their bowling has been good, especially the rookie left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, and some good contributions from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami have seen this team dominate regularly. The batting has been all about Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli, so England will feel that if they knock off these two batsmen, the game could be theirs.

India have had problems against quality left-arm pace, and while he may not crank it up, the left-armer Sam Curran has been very impressive in this World Cup with ten wickets at a very good 6.4 runs per over whole bowling at the back end of innings.

England first struggled to beat Afghanistan, then lost to Ireland on DLS, then saw their massive game with Australia washed out, and had to defeat Sri Lanka to keep the hosts out of the semi-finals. With just one global trophy to show for after playing such a huge role in revolutionizing white-ball cricket seven years ago, England will be out to prove a point at the MCG.

TEAM NEWS

INDIA

Rohit sustained a blow to the forearm by the throw-down specialist on Tuesday, but is expected to play. The dilemma is whether to play Rishabh Pant, who got his first match of the tournament against Zimbabwe, or Dinesh Karthik who has been the first-choice wicketkeeper and finisher. Given the fact that Pant is a left-hand batsman, and that England have a canny legspinner in Adil Rashid, there is merit to chancing him at the MCG. But Pant has not scored anything of note in five T20I innings, so it remains a very close call.

Speaking of legspin, Yuzvendra Chahal has not featured in a single game this tournament, but given England’s own struggles against his kind of bowling there is merit in sitting out Axar Patel for Chahal. But will India risk playing Pant, with just one opportunity in the World Cup, as well as a bowler who has played at all?

India likely XI: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Axar Patel, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Arshdeep Singh

ENGLAND

Dawid Malan left the field injured during England’s Super 12 match against Sri Lanka and is a doubt for this match. Moeen Ali, England’s vice-captain, has hinted that the team has the depth to replace Malan, whose injury “doesn’t look good”.

If Malan cannot recover in time, then given England’s recent preference for batting depth it is likely that Phil Salt gets the nod. He is the only other batting option in England’s 15-man squad. The other choices are Chris Jordan, David Willey and Tymal Mills, should England look to add bowling options in Adelaide.

England likely XI: 1 Jos Buttler (capt/wk), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Phil Salt, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Liam Livingstone, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Chris Woakes, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark Wood

PITCH & CONDITIONS

Of the six matches held at the MCG in the tournament, only two went the distance (India vs Pakistan, India vs Zimbabwe) and one was curtailed (England vs Ireland). The other three were washed out. The good news is that there is no rain forecast for Thursday.

The MCG has aided pace more than spin, but this means that the openers need to cash in on the ball coming onto the bat. Here, England have the edge.

PREDICTION

You’d be inclined to say India, given they have played better cricket. But when you consider that England are in the semi-finals without coming anywhere near top form, that is dangerous. Very tough to call, but given the manner in which they have punched above their weight despite some glaring batting problems, go for India to edge this one. It all comes down to Kohli and the superb Suryakumar.