No but, it seems the team batting first has generally had the advantage in this tournament, couple that with NZ being a side who ain't great with the bat but are possibly the best at slowing and pressuring the oppo with the ball and it was never going to be easy for India, a decent start and NZ score looked inadequate, it wasn't a good start! Bah!
Saw a stat yesterday, in which it was stated that Bairstow and Roy have the highest opening partnership average, nearly 68, of all partnerships, IN THE HISTORY OF 50 OVER CRICKET, where the partnership has played at least 15 games together.
Really nervous about todays game. Toss will be critical. Stats favour the team batting first,but who knows? About time we kicked Aussie ass.
! Currently beating it, and the Whingers, easily. No nerves from Jonny and Jason, cruising. Not even cruising, come to think about it, just doing what comes naturally.
When I wrote that last post England were on 94, they are now on 124 without loss, Roy hitting Smith for three successive maximums.
The forecast at Lords is for cloud cover - until circa 2 p.m. when the sun should break through. So, win the toss and insert New Zealand? Will Woakes & Archer get any swing? Or bat first to post a target for them to chase later? please log in to view this image Good luck England
At the risk of being branded a sour puss I have to say I find it hard to take any real satisfaction from winning the competition when the Kiwis were deprived of a tight but deserved win by such an outrageous piece of bad luck -- the deflected four overthrows which enabled England to tie the match at 50 overs.