England vs India, 2nd semi-final Guyana, June 27, 10:30 a.m. local time
Big picture – Adelaide redux
All the best origin stories start with intense trauma. England’s comeback from their humiliation in Adelaide at the 2015 ODI World Cup has been well documented: the abandonment of reluctance and the acceptance of risk, the faith in a new generation under the leadership of a handful of wise old leaders and reaping rewards. this could hardly have been accepted as long as the old mentality dominated – including (albeit briefly) the simultaneous World Cups of the 50 and 20 age categories.
Who knows rightly where England’s narrative arc now stands, particularly after that feeble 50-over defense in India last year, but also during a nervy trip across the Caribbean that was worn , almost exclusively, by their brutal treatment of associated opponents.
What we do know, however, is that – as they passed through Adelaide in November 2022 on their way to that second world title – England’s arc crossed India’s nadir. As in 2015, after that ten-wicket thrashing in the T20 World Cup semi-final, the feeling was that of a team so absorbed in dominating on home soil that it had lost sight of the need to adapt to foreign conditions. Something urgently needed to change, and judging by India’s inexorable (but not yet rewarded) response, it surely has.
Here, however, is an appetizing test of the new Indian methods. At some point it seems inevitable that their decade-long drought at ICC events will have to end, but then again they probably assumed it was already over after reaching the 50-over final of last year in Ahmedabad. Although Ben Stokes’ experience in Kolkata in 2016 was a vital factor in England’s subsequent glory, the trauma of that defeat against Australia will surely have strengthened India’s resolve as they face the end of another world tournament. No one should expect an easy ride in a knockout scenario, especially when the desire to win has been allowed to consume the process of getting there.
England, on the other hand, has recently been consumed by an entirely different emotion. The fear of failure had not been a particularly familiar bedfellow during their years of white-ball feeding, but with so much silverware to lose, they seemed paralyzed by anxiety throughout. the 50-year-old World Cup and still in their formless form. defeat in the group stage against the now absent Australians in Barbados.
Now, however, you wonder if achieving the bare minimum of team expectations – a fourth consecutive T20 World Cup semi-final – can spark something different in the psyche of a group of players who know clearly what it takes to cross the double. India has not won a World Cup since 2011; South Africa and Afghanistan, on the other side of the draw, have never won at all. England could still be in contention for a third title in five years.
As Australia has spent its entire existence demonstrating, this familiarity with the unique pressures of knockout competitions clearly counts for something. But so is the burning desire to prove a point that has lasted for years. Assuming the rain stays away, either position will have to give way. It promises to be compelling no matter what.
Form Guide
India WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first) England WLWWW
In the spotlight – Rohit, Buttler, Rashid, Kuldeep
In such a high-stakes match, it’s impossible to ignore the influence of both captains – fly-halfs and icons in their own right, and two men who have reached a level of form that has the power to dictate their team’s prospects .
Rohit Sharma That is exactly what he did in their victory over Australia in St Lucia, throwing caution to the wind – literally – in his calculated assault on Mitchell Starc, and accelerating ever deeper into his day job in the unbridled manner that has been his calling card since that notoriously reticent display in Adelaide in 2022. Rohit’s conscious break from the milestone-driven Indian mould could yet prove to be his most important legacy as captain, especially if he can land the trophy that has eluded his country since the man himself was a rookie in 2007.
Jos Buttler, on the other hand, has yet to shy away from his right to find his feet in any given innings – and his collaboration with Phil Salt helps immensely in that regard – but his brutal 83 from 38 balls against the United States was the kind of hits at your fingertips. shows that his England teams have habitually practiced producing in the net. Perhaps more than any other great contemporary, Buttler is a player of mood – prone to deep introspection when his game goes awry, as it did during a dismal 50-over World Cup campaign, but capable to reach astonishing heights when his mind is in the right direction. place. He is two matches away from back-to-back T20 titles, and at the moment it looks like that prospect is empowering.
However, two wrist players in complete control of their respective games will stand in the way of the men and their teams. Adil Rachid was England’s key bowler in the knockout stages of the 2022 T20 World Cup, returning a combined 3 for 42 in eight overs against India and Pakistan, and after starting a tentatively phased sideline of groups, he grew into the tournament with impeccable mastery of flight. , rhythm and variation – its google rarely failing to hit its mark.
But against him stands the equally cunning Kuldeep Yadav, whose rarity value as a left-arm wrist spinner gives him extra power to contort the unwary – as the England Test team found out the hard way in India earlier this year. Buttler’s own record against Kuldeep – 87 runs, 63 deliveries for three dismissals in all T20s, is a sign of the threat he could pose.
Team News
India knew throughout the tournament that a semi-final in Guyana awaited them if they could get their act together in the Super Eight, and after successfully switching to a spin-rich lineup from their group stage based in the United States, it seems ready to do so. exploit the conditions of Providence. Hardik Pandya’s form as a third seamer provides options if needed, and an unchanged XI is surely on the cards.
England, on the other hand, may be tempted to alter the balance that served them well in the Super Eight, in the hope that four seamers are at least one more than the conditions merit. Tom Hartley offers a spare left-arm spin option, but England’s failure to offer him a start in their rain-affected home series against Pakistan means he is unlikely to be risked NOW. It is more likely that there will be a strengthening of their batting, given that six frontline bowlers will be enough. Will Jacks provides an additional spin option, but Ben Duckett’s proven prowess in corner conditions could be a nice addition.
England (probable): 1 Jos Buttler (captain and week), 2 Phil Salt, 3 Will Jacks/Ben Duckett, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Liam Livingstone, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Chris Jordan/Reece Topley.
Location and conditions: will rain rules prevail?
Spin has been an important weapon for Providence in this tournament, with 27 wickets falling in the previous five matches, with a strike rate of 17.1, which is bettered among regular venues only by Arnos Vale at St Vincent.
Unlike the first semi-final in Trinidad, there is no reserve day scheduled for this match, with the ICC citing insufficient travel time ahead of Saturday morning’s final in Barbados. However, with the match scheduled to kick off at 10:30 a.m., there are 250 minutes of overtime remaining, meaning a match of some nature should be possible barring heavy rain all day. A minimum of 10 overs per team will be required to constitute a match.
If, however, the match is called off, India will advance to the final having topped their group in the Super Eight.
Statistics and anecdotes
England lost their only previous completed T20I at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, against the West Indies in the opening match of their T20 World Cup campaign in 2010. Although they recovered to win the title (after a rain-affected escape against Ireland at the same venue), there will be no second chances this time.
Despite that infamous semi-final two years ago, India still have a positive overall record against England in T20Is, with 12 wins and 11 losses in their previous 23 encounters.
With his match-winning 92 against Australia, Rohit Sharma (4165) overtook Virat Kohli (4103) at the top of the points chart in T20Is.
Quotes
“Both teams are going to be throwing punches at each other for about 40 overs. It’s going to be a great contest. I think it’s the contest that everyone wanted to see, and we’re excited about it.” England head coach Matthew Mott
“Wherever we play, whether it is bilateral series or ICC tournaments, the Indian cricket team is always under pressure. That is the fact. Most of the guys are used to it, so it is important to ‘have a little calm in the locker room. Indian captain Rohit Sharma
Andrew Miller is UK editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket