Four years after Australia beat New Zealand to win the Cricket World Cup in 2015, the 2019 tournament gets underway as hosts England take on South Africa in the opening match at The Oval with both sides looking to get off to a winning start.
England head into the tournament as the favourites to win the competition and will look to lay down an early marker to justify that billing here. South Africa aren’t really being talked about how they would like to be so this is a chance to make people take notice of them.
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England
There isn’t a whole lot more to say about England that hasn’t been said other than to question whether they can handle the pressure of knowing this is the time they have spent four years battering bowling attacks around the world for. That was all done with an element of freedom about it, building up to this tournament. It takes a brave side to keep going in that manner but that is the mantra they have instilled in themselves.
If England are to surprise us in this tournament in terms of their performances it would be by their bowling attack coming to the party and really dominating. They’ve shown that they don’t need that to happen but were it to it wouldn’t have help the side, especially if they are carrying one or two doubts about just how hard to go at it throughout with the bat.
South Africa
It has been covered to death about how South Africa don’t have the best of fortunes in this tournament but eventually that will all change and of course they will be hoping that happens here. Whether it does or not could come down to how long they can fly under the radar. I have to admit I see a few better sides than them but often good teams enjoy ramming such thoughts down their critics’ throats.
In many ways South Africa are the exact opposite to England. I think they have a wonderful bowling attack, it might lack variety in the seam department but it is still full of quality and their two mystery spin options are up there with any in the world. They don’t look the force with the bat without AB de Villiers though and haven’t done since he left the international stage.
Team News
Eoin Morgan declared a clean bill of health among his side for the opening match which means that he is fit to play despite concerns over a finger injury earlier in the week. It suggests that Adil Rashid is fine to play too so the only decision is on which batsmen to play.
Dale Steyn has been ruled out of the opening match for South Africa which means Kagiso Rabada and Lundi Ngidi are likely to get the new ball. Rassie van der Dussen looks to have got the nod over Aiden Markram.
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Betting
There was a bit in the wicket here when England played Pakistan in a recent ODI series although there was a lot of rain around in the build up to that match and that game ended up getting washed out with a lot more on the day. I don’t expect much of that here and ultimately we usually get a great wicket on this ground. England usually score big here and the question is whether South Africa can match them. I’m not convinced they can. I expect England to win this match but rather than taking 4/9 on it I’m going to add England to hit the most sixes as well to get the price up to 11/10. There aren’t many matches where England won’t hit the most sixes in this competition and I don’t think this will be one of them.
Ben Stokes tends to have a decent record against South Africa in all formats. His highest Test score came against them in Cape Town and he has an ODI ton against them as well along with a couple of 50s. In fact in ODIs against South Africa he averages 38.14 against them which is more than his career average. South Africa have the pace men to get stuck into this England order early doors so it isn’t a forlorn hope that he gets in reasonably early. He has three 50s in his last eight ODIs so he’s in decent nick and at 9/1 he looks value to lead England’s run scoring here.
Tips
Back England to win and hit the most sixes for a 5/10 stake at 2.10 with Betfair
Back it here:
WON – Back B.Stokes Top England Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 with Bet365
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