ODI series finale could be pre-curtain raiser to possible England v India World Cup semi-final

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  • Plenty at stake: Skippers Virat Kohli and Eoin Morgan collide in the middle at Lord's.

    Tuesday’s third and final one-day international carries more than just the weight of a series decider.

    Regardless of the outcome to the 50-over finale at Headingley (15:30 start time), England are guaranteed to retain their No.1 ODI ranking while India, who sit just behind the Three Lions, can salvage momentum and bragging rights on English soil less than a year before the 2019 ICC World Cup gets underway in England and Wales.

    At this juncture, these two teams have to be viewed as the out-and-out favourites to claim the title. England’s rejuvenation in a format, which was for so long their Achilles heel, has been well-documented.

    A series-clinching win would be most welcome for Eoin Morgan’s side here after losing out in the T20 contests, but it is hard not to look ahead to next year’s showpiece and their pursuit of a maiden title, even with plenty of cricket to come between now and then.

    In Leeds, Indian support once again is set to gazump that of English followers in what could mimic a potential World Cup semi-final clash, and indeed atmosphere, between the two sides next summer.

    England will actually be keen to avoid that, given home advantage would count for very little.

    It is a distinct possibility they will meet in the last four, depending on the placing of the four teams who advance from the 10-team group format in 2019. Old Trafford, in Manchester and Edgbaston, in Birmingham, could be the venue for an England v India showdown – and expect the crowd to be a sea of blue, favouring the subcontinent giants.

    England will get another dose of India’s feverish support at Headingley and need to get to grips with how to handle that best and silence the majority.

    One way to do that is with their batting, which appears as formidable as ever and should still be going great guns for a while yet. Jos Buttler can put this side on the front-foot and steer a game in his team’s favour, where as Joe Root can solidify an innings.

    Their bowling, however, still lacks bite, pace and an element of variety despite having experienced campaigners such as Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid in the mix. It is definitely an area in which India will look to attack and ram home an advantage.

    India should look at the ODI finale as an opportunity and a blessing that they have been able to become so accustomed to English conditions so close to the World Cup – a trophy in which they have won twice previously.

    Yes, a UK heatwave has left pitches uncharacteristically dry and slow, aiding Indian’s spin class and will probably not be the same next year, nevertheless, India’s selection panel must be comforted by the fact they are starting to find answers to searching questions over the make-up of their best XI.

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