As England put together to face USA within the remaining Tremendous 8s match of the T20 World Cup on Sunday, reside Sky Sports activities Cricketwe take a look at what they should attain the semi-finals.
Plus, we assess what’s working for the reigning champions within the match and what components of their recreation they should clear up…
How can England attain the semi-finals?
The simplest manner is for England to beat the USA in Barbados on Sunday (3.30pm) after which for leaders South Africa to beat the West Indies in Antigua on Monday. On this situation, South Africa (six factors) and England (4 factors) will advance, whereas West Indies (two factors) and USA (zero factors) will probably be eradicated.
If England and the West Indies win their remaining matches and find yourself degree with South Africa on 4 factors, the 2 qualifying spots from Group 2 of the Tremendous 8s will probably be decreased to our outdated good friend’s clear sheet.
West Indies are one of the best of the three sides in the mean time, so a win over South Africa by any margin would see the hosts by way of and depart second place to whichever of England and South Africa has the higher web report.
England may nonetheless progress in the event that they lose to the USA, though they’d then want the West Indies to lose closely to South Africa to complete above the Caribbean facet on pure tempo.
If the USA utterly conceal from England, they may additionally make the semifinals on sheer pace, however they will additionally want South Africa to beat the West Indies, so their prospects actually look fairly bleak.
For England the intention is to win and win effectively.
What’s working for England?
Trumps, like Sky Sports activities’ Nasser Hussain named them, in leg-spinner Adil Rashid and quick bowler Jofra Archer.
Rashid took 1-21 from 4 overs within the eight-wicket win over the West Indies, adopted by 1-20 within the seven-run loss to South Africa, along with his seven wickets within the match coming at an financial system price of seven.40.
Rashid’s Seventeenth-over double in opposition to the West Indies was essential to England’s victory in that recreation – as was the 4 runs from Archer that preceded it when the paceman dismissed then-batsman Nicholas Pooran.
Archer is England’s main wicket-taker with 9 at an financial system price of seven.29. He obtained a couple of hits in opposition to South Africa when his first over made 21, however then he made simply 19 runs within the subsequent three.
His capability to interrupt the batsmen shortly, in addition to hammer them with slower balls, is a crucial a part of England’s arsenal.
We additionally need to reward England’s efficiency, which was beautiful in opposition to South Africa. Buttler set the instance with a powerful one-handed catch and direct kick, however Harry Brook and Sam Curran additionally made wonderful diving catches.
Elsewhere, there was one optimistic after England’s destructive fold in opposition to the Proteas as Brooke (53 off 37) and Liam Livingston (33 off 17) produced an honest knock, hitting 78 off 42 balls in a partnership of 61-4 within the match. chasing 164 and threatening to steal earlier than South Africa’s lethal bowlers shone.
With Brook additionally scoring 47 in opposition to Namibia within the final match of the primary spherical, neither he nor Livingston – so usually a peripheral determine with the bat resulting from his lower-middle-order place – will probably be ignored when wanted in opposition to the USA and, England will hope, within the knockout phases.
What must be improved?
As entertaining and rewarding as it’s, the baseless stand-off between Brooke and Livingston cannot masks a number of the issues — even minor ones — at a better degree.
Sure, Phil Salt excelled in opposition to the West Indies with 87 off 47 balls, together with 30 runs in a single over, however his different knocks had been solely fleeting cameos, whereas opening accomplice Buttler has but to actually ignite and extra didn’t exceed fifty.
Buttler, arguably one of the best white-ball batsman on the planet, mentioned his staff’s loss to South Africa was resulting from robust performances, with the Proteas, largely by way of Quinton de Kock, smashed 63-0 and England a complete of 41-1.
The captain will need extra influence early within the match in opposition to the USA, whether or not setting the rating or chasing, whereas England’s bowling within the first six overs can be an space that wants enchancment.
Excluding the sport in opposition to Oman, during which England decreased the Related Nations to 25-4, they’ve taken simply two wickets within the first six overs of their remaining 5 matches – each in opposition to Australia, however solely after they scored 70 runs within the first 5 overs .
They need to have had a wicket in opposition to Scotland however Mark Wooden was penalized for lacking the ball after George Munsey bowled Butler.
Wooden’s type extra typically could possibly be a trigger for concern in England as a result of round his scorching 3-12 in opposition to Oman, he was thrashed by Australia, West Indies and South Africa, conceding greater than 10 runs an over in every of these matches.
Chris Jordan could also be contemplating a recall in his native Barbados on Sunday, though Tom Hartley is an possibility if England need extra up entrance, whereas they’ll all the time carry again huge striker and part-time spinner Will Jacks, who lately misplaced his house to Curran’s left seam.
Watch reside England vs USA World Cup T20 Tremendous 8s match Sky Sports activities Cricket from 15:00 on Sunday (15:30 first ball).
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