England is going up against Australia this Saturday in the 36th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The match kicks off at 2 p.m. at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Australia’s team, after a shaky start, is still in the running to make it to the semi-finals. Mitchell Marsh has had to leave for home for personal reasons, and Glenn Maxwell is out for the upcoming match with England because he got hurt playing golf.
England, led by Jos Buttler, has only won one out of six games so far, which isn’t great for the defending champions. They only made 129 runs in their last game against India and they’re thinking about bringing in players like Jason Roy and Harry Brook to try and do better in batting.
So far, Australia lost their first game to India but started to win more after beating Sri Lanka. They also had big wins against Pakistan and the Netherlands. In their most recent game, they just beat New Zealand, thanks to Travis Head’s century.
England didn’t start well, losing to New Zealand even though Devon Conway and Ravindra both scored centuries. England’s only win so far was against Bangladesh, but then they lost to Afghanistan. They’ve also had big losses to South Africa and Sri Lanka, and they just lost to India by 100 runs.
When it comes to playing against each other, England and Australia have played 155 times. Australia has won 87 of those games, while England has won 63. There have been three games with no result and two draws.
At neutral places, they’ve played eight times, and just like the overall numbers, Australia has won more with six wins.
Key players to watch:
For Australia, Adam Zampa’s leg-spin has been crucial. He’s taken 16 wickets in the World Cup so far, including some big performances against New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Pakistan.
England’s Dawid Malan scored a century in the World Cup, but hasn’t been able to keep that up in other games. If he and possibly Jason Roy, who might play next, find their form, they could be tough for any team to face.
Possible teams for the match:
For the upcoming clash, Australia is likely to field a strong side with David Warner and Travis Head opening the batting, followed by a solid middle order comprising Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Cameron Green. Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis is expected to add depth to the lineup alongside the all-round abilities of Marcus Stoinis. Captain Pat Cummins will lead the bowling attack, supported by the pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, with Adam Zampa rounding off as the team’s primary spinner.
On the English side, openers Jason Roy and Dawid Malan are set to take the crease, with Joe Root steadying the innings at number three. The versatile Ben Stokes, along with newcomer Harry Brook, will bolster the middle order. Skipper and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler is likely to bring his aggressive batting style, supported by the spin and all-round capabilities of Moeen Ali. The bowling department will likely include Chris Woakes, David Willey, the leg-spin of Adil Rashid, and the pace of Mark Wood to complete the lineup.
Prediction:
Australia has been winning a lot recently, while England hasn’t been doing as well. This makes Australia the likely favorite for the upcoming game.
