Tuesday’s match against New Zealand at the Gabba could effectively terminate or reshape England’s tournament. However, a day before the match, England’s training camp exhibited no signs of nerves or rising expectations. On the contrary, some of the batters rarely batted, many of the bowlers scarcely bowled, and everyone seemed to spend a considerable amount of time sitting.
As always on this tour, the session was voluntary, and although all of the players participated, they were free to choose what to work on.
Most notably, Ben Stokes turned up sometime after everyone else. He strolled a few slow circuits around the boundary rope at Allan Border Field, the modest ground just north of Brisbane’s city center where Australia’s national academy is located and where World Cup teams have trained while the Gabba is in use. He was deep in conversation with the team physician before resuming his seat.
Stokes, whose knee condition has been effectively managed rather than cured, is deemed “completely fit.”
Those within the camp, though, claim that there has been an air of apprehensive anxiety since the squad departed Melbourne on Saturday, with the work at hand being as plain as the city’s skies had been hazy.
Paul Collingwood, an assistant coach, remarked, “It’s a Twenty20 World Cup, and this is why we play cricket.” “These guys are discussing it, and when you’re in these types of situations, it’s oftentimes what brings out your greatest performance.
“We have players on our side who can be counted on when the pressure is on and in the biggest games.”
Well, it depends. Nobody can question Stokes’ capacity to grasp a momentous occasion by the scruff of the neck, fling it to the ground, and straddling it like a donkey, but the notion that this team would rise to the occasion seems a bit optimistic. When it mattered most against Ireland, this caliber was nowhere to be found.
Since England arrived in Australia, ostensibly for a Twenty20 series against the hosts, they have played three complete competitive matches, one slightly glorified friendly, and two rain-shortened games. Their players have produced 23 innings of 10 balls or more.
Four of the top six batsmen in terms of strike rate played against Pakistan in a meaningless warm-up match. So much for the exclusive event.
More encouragingly, it was the only game against the Black Caps played at the Gabba.
Collingwood states, “This is why we play the game; it’s cutthroat and you’re on the edge.” The strength of our batting order has always been feared by opposing teams, and we must ensure that our players are in the proper mental state to utilize it.
“In games that must be won, you must err on the aggressive side of the line rather than the conservative side. “I’ve always said that if you want to win the World Cup, you have to be one step ahead of the other teams, and these players have the firepower to do it.”
There is little difference between the teams’ firepower. Finn Allen, New Zealand’s 23-year-old opener, and Jimmy Neesham, their all-rounder, have scored runs faster than any England player with more than two innings under their belt in the past three years of international T20s. In the previous 12 months, England scored 8.79 runs per over in 26 matches, while New Zealand scored 8.76 runs per over.
Despite this, even New Zealanders believe they are at a disadvantage. Lockie Ferguson, a seamer, opines, “England has likely been a frontrunner in this regard for a considerable length of time, and their batting order is long and potent.”
“Our style of cricket may not appear to be as violent as theirs, but we must stick to what we’ve done well and ensure that we deliver our punches in our way.”
If they execute this correctly, it may be a knockout punch.
