English eyes might be on events in Moscow on Tuesday evening but as well as that huge World Cup clash the nations cricketers are also in action when they take on India in the first T20 at Old Trafford.
This is the beginning of a massive summer between these two proud cricketing countries and there is a real feeling that this opening match could set the tone for what lies ahead so both should be bang up for this one.
England
There should be an air of confidence around England heading into this match because they have been in good form in recent times but this is by far the toughest test they will have encounters on their decent run and it will be interesting to see how they handle the challenge. England generally know only one way which is keep the gas down and go on the attack.
It might be that a different strategy is required for this match as it is hard to regularly go on the offensive against this Indian line up. One thing they are definitely going to have to do is bowl well. If they don’t do that their chances in this match will diminish rapidly. Their batting is likely to be fine but you do worry about the bowling.
India
If India had not played a couple of warm up matches leading into this series then you could well be forgiven for being worried for them but they have done and they dominated both of them so they should be bang up to speed, which has to give them every chance of playing their best cricket. They will need to play that though.
India will probably rely on their spinners to do much of the damage but in a stroke of luck the weather has played perfectly into their hands in that regard and with their batsmen all capable against spin there will be plenty for India to be licking their lips about heading into both this match and this tour.
Team News
Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes are still missing for England and Tom Curran has joined them on the treatment table so we can expect England to be close to unchanged from the side which thrashed Australia last week.
India only have a couple of decisions to make themselves. Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the series so they need to find another seamer which looks like being Umesh Yadav while Dinesh Karthik and Suresh Raina will be pushing for places in the side.
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Betting
I’m not going to get massively involved in this match but there is no way I can let this India price go without backing it. England have feasted on a weak Australian side over the last few weeks but this India bowling attack in particular looks a completely different proposition.
The other massive difference between India and that Australia team is how well they plan spin and while England beat Australia in the ODI here last month it was comfortably their worst batting display of the five. All of that makes me think India can draw first blood in this one.
Tips
WON – Back India to beat England for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Coral
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