World Cup 2019 countdown begins for India and England

Ajit Vijaykumar 17:41 02/07/2018
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  • England captain Eoin Morgan and India skipper Virat Kohli.

    The World Cup is less than one year away. For most teams, preparations have started with even Test matches being used as some sort of a testing ground for players who can succeed in English conditions.

    For two of the biggest contenders at the showpiece event next year, the countdown has definitely begun. England are hosting the World Cup in June-July next year and are looking like they have a real shot at it this time. They better, because after the disaster that was the 2015 World Cup Down Under, England have actively shifted their focus to white-ball, and especially ODI cricket, and put aggression at the front and centre of their cricket.

    Some would suggest England have risen to the No1 position in ODIs at the expense of their Test cricket. In the last three years, England won an impressive 43 out of 63 ODIs with just 17 defeats. They just thrashed world champions Australia 4-1 in their backyard and 5-0 in the home ODI series. However in Tests, England have won just 16 out of 42 matches and lost 20 games in the same period, slipping to fifth in the world. But hey, they are the No1 ODI team.

    India have taken a more wholistic approach. Captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri want the Indian team to be competitive against every opponent, in every condition and all formats. The coach routinely talks about every match being a ‘home’ game for both teams since the pitch is same for both teams and there are hardly any unknowns in the modern era.

    The Indians have accumulated a battery of genuine fast bowlers which can match the best in the world when it comes to experience and variety. The batting, at least the top of the order, can take any attack in the world apart while the strict fitness guidelines have meant even proven performers have failed to make the cut if found short of desired standards, leading to a period of sustained excellence from India.

    In the last three years, India have won 38 out of 56 ODIs with 17 defeats. Pretty good, considering they have maintained a stupendous record in Test cricket – 23 wins and four defeats in 34 matches in three years plus the No1 ranking.

    India begin the England leg of their tour in Manchester in the first of three T20s on Tuesday. The result in those three T20s won’t matter that much to either team. the T20, ODI and five-match Test series all have one overarching aim – find the players who can withstand the pressure and deliver against the best.

    India will be without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah at the start of the T20 series while Virat Kohli has hardly had any bat coming into the arduous tour. England will be sweating over the fitness of Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes. That will mean opportunities for those on the fringe to make a lasting impression and even claim a permanent spot in the starting eleven.

    As two of the best teams in the world prepare for battle for the next two and a half months, every move they make from now will be another step towards the World Cup.

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