This was never going to be an easy match. The ICC Cricket World Cup Final featured two teams that didn’t have a World Cup title between them for over four decades in the men’s competition. Following 100 overs, the last few containing as much drama as the previous finals, nothing could separate New Zealand from England. For the first time in the history of the World Cup, a Super Over was needed to determine the outright winner.

The Super Over

Jimmy Neesham was asked to score 16 runs from 6 balls, striking the second legitimate delivery of Jofra Archer into the Mound Stand which made the equation go to 7 terms off four balls. A series of two’s followed before the bumper of Archer took Jimmy off the strike. At the end of a personal trail tournament, Martin Guptill had to score two more runs otherwise England was bound to lift the trophy.

Archer delivered a Yorker, Guptill managed to find deep midwicket, and the throw of Jason Roy managed to find Guptill short. This allowed Joe Buttler to complete the run-out to finally end all the years of hurt and disappointment in an afternoon of agony.

England’s Performance

England only managed to get close to the chase thanks to the partnership between Ben Stokes and Buttler with their phenomenal 110-run stand that lifted the hosts from an awful 86 for 4. Both players walked out again during the super over to score 15 runs which shifted the pressure back to New Zealand once again. The team responded by taking out Neesham, a player that was contemplating retiring from cricket, to face Archer during his 14th ODI. There could only be a single hero.

That being said, there was a handful of heroes on both teams during the final. For the second consecutive time, New Zealand managed to accumulate a score hovering around 240 and managed to defend it with the best of their abilities. However, just when they thought that they claimed victory at Lords, players from Christchurch ripped it away from their hands in a truly unbelievable and extraordinary fashion. Ben Stokes ended the match with 89 runs unbeaten. However, like Guptill, he was also unable to score two runs from the final ball to win the game during regulation time.

New Zealand entered the final already believing that they won the trophy before the game even started. This was probably the biggest mistake in the match as England was ready to give it their all to finally bring the trophy home. There are tons of highlights to look back on during the game, but there’s no denying that Ben Stokes was the critical ingredient for England to win the World Cup finally. It was a truly magnificent performance by both teams, and it will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best cricket matches to date.

The semi-final of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is on the horizon, and the four best cricket teams of the competition have managed to make it through. Those that are Pakistan supporters might disagree with this statement as the team managed to end up on the same points when compared to New Zealand and defeated New Zealand in their head-to-head encounter. However, that’s an entirely different discussion altogether.

The first semi-final of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is going to take place between New Zealand and India, a team that has managed to finish at the top of the table and only lost one singles match during their entire campaign. New Zealand managed to finish fourth in the competition and was incredibly lucky to make it through to the semi-finals of the tournament due to their net run-rate statistics.

The only match that was washed out during the tournament for both New Zealand and India was against each other. These two teams played against each other during a warm-up game before the start of the competition. New Zealand managed to win the warm-up match, but will they have the required skills to defeat them again in the semi-finals?

India will enter the match filled with confidence, while New Zealand will enter the game after suffering three consecutive defeats. The game will take place at the Emirates Old Trafford ground in Manchester.

India’s Line-up

During our evaluation of the upcoming match between these two incredible teams, we attempted to include as many players as possible that will have a significant role to play during the game. MS Dhoni, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, and Arivinda de Silva all enjoyed some of their best cricket moments towards the end of a World Cup. Our picks were also based on conditions for swing bowlers and an excellent batting line-up.

Wicketkeeper – The Indian wicketkeeper, Rishab Pant, is the number 4 batsman for India and has been performing quite well in the tournament. He is available for 8 points which makes him a fantastic pick, allowing you to select more expensive players.

Batsman: We decided to go with Henry Nicholls, Lokesh Rahul, Ross Taylor, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Rohit Sharma for this upcoming game. Rohit Sharma currently impresses with his skills and performance. However, you should avoid picking him as your captain as this will be an obvious move. The Manchester ground is perfect for batting, and this is where India will lead their attack. Most of the batsmen mentioned above are going to make a sizable contribution to the scoreboard.

Match Prediction

India managed to win the last match against New Zealand with ease in New Zealand. This is the game where two spinners from India dominated the game. We believe India will opt-in for a similar approach to receive the same result. India has better bowlers, batsmen, and fielders when compared to New Zealand.

Bangladesh has managed to destroy South Africa, walked over the West Indies, and looked quite phenomenal even during a defeat. The cricket team still has the opportunity to reach the semi-finals, and they could have had it already if the rain didn’t keep them from finishing their match against Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh vs India in 2019 Cricket World Cup

However, instead of looking back at what could have been, Bangladesh is focusing all their energy on what can be if they managed to claim victory in their remaining two matches. The first match will be against India, a fearsome opponent in many ways but also a team with significant weaknesses, especially in the lower and middle order.

These weaknesses provide Bangladesh with a clear and precise focus, obtain early wickets, and get past Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma if possible. This is much easier said than done, and we haven’t even discussed the superior bowling abilities of India. Still, there’s never been a better time to face India that right now. The team’s vulnerabilities are as clear as daylight when you take a look back at their last three matches. This is a team that is no longer unbeatable, and they are participating in their second match in only three days. On the other hand, most of the batsmen in the Bangladesh cricket team have been incredible in terms of performance, they have a star that is enjoying a fantastic World Cup as an allrounder, and the team’s bowling is more potent on slow pitches. The team will also be well rested before they face India, so everything is looking suitable for Bangladesh.

However, India is considered experts when it comes to shrugging off a few setbacks and providing professional and calm displays against a cricket team that they are expected to destroy. Bangladesh is well aware of this fact too as they’ve managed to push India quite hard in the last three matches. However, whether in Bengaluru, Birmingham, or even Melbourne, India have always found a way to defeat Bangladesh. Will the 2019 Cricket World Cup be the same?

Conditions and Pitch

The same strip in Edgbaston that played host to the India-England match will be utilised once more for this upcoming game. If the pitch is similar to the India-England match, it should be slow and flat as the game progresses, allowing the team that bats first to benefit greatly. The pitch position on the square means that one square boundary is much shorter when compared to the other. Kohli wasn’t pleased about this as the team was unable to match the know-how of England during the match.

However, now that the team is well aware of this fact, they will be much better prepared for the task that lies ahead. Loads of other conditions play a role in this match, but it will all boil down to the better team on the day. It will be a phenomenal match to watch, regardless.

England will play against Australia later this week at Lord’s for the first international match between the two cricket teams since the pair from Australia returned to the game after their suspension from cricket due to the ball-tampering scandal that occurred in March 2018.

Even though Morgan did not call on fans to show their disapproval for the Australian pair’s action, he did use the opportunity to discourage boos that have welcomed them on several cricket grounds. By contrast, Virat Kohli has gestured that spectators should stop applauding and jeering Smith during the World Cup match between India and Australia.

Morgan stated that fans pay a great deal of money to see the matches live and therefore, they are welcome to react and do as they see fit. No one can anticipate their reactions to individual players. Just because two players received punishment for their actions, served their time, and returned to the game, doesn’t mean that they will be accepted back immediately. Patience is needed as this will take a great deal of time.

The Smith and Warner Scandal

Smith and Warner were suspended for 12 months by Cricket Australia after the incident occurred during the Newlands Test in 2018. The two cricket players received several boos from the crowd in various sections when Australia played against England in the warm-up match for the World Cup in Southampton during May. Fortunately, Smith was not too bothered by this who managed to make a century in the game.

The crowd at Lord’s is a bit more polite, and booing rarely occurs at this cricket ground. However, the World Cup tends to appeal to a completely different crowd than usual matches that are played here. Stewards will be briefed on the situation to assist in differentiating between banter and abuse.

The Australian cricket captain, Aaron Finch, stated that it would not make any difference to his team and their overall performance. It might even provide an extra layer of motivation for his team to win. He stated that as a cricket player, you rarely hear what people have to say about you. You might listen to noises at certain times, but nothing specific. Whether the entire stadium boos or only a handful of players, it doesn’t matter when Smith or Warner step out to bat.

The comments made by Morgan follow a similar pattern as those made by Jonny Bairstow. Jonny experienced a few exciting events during the Ashes Tour when he made references to Darren Lehmann, the coach for the Australian team, calling on fans to give it to Stuart Broad the entire summer in hopes that he would cry and go home ahead of the 2013/14 Ashes Tour.

Cricket is a prevalent sport across the globe. The competition is accessible in several countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Pakistan, India, and many others. Due to its immense popularity, there have been several stadiums constructed around the world to ensure cricket games can be hosted for teams and spectators alike. Some of them form part of sports history because they’ve hosted some of the best cricket matches ever played. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the oldest cricket stadiums in the world.

Lord’s Cricket Ground

Often referred to as Lord’s, the Lord’s cricket ground is undoubtedly the oldest on our list. It’s often called the Home of Cricket and was established by Thomas Lord who was a professional cricket player from England. He managed to construct several cricket grounds from 1787 until 1814. The very first cricket ground was known as the Lord’s Old Ground, and it was situated where the Dorset Square is today in London. His second cricket ground that was used until 1813 was abandoned to construct Regent’s Canal.

Trent Bridge Ground

The second oldest cricket ground in the world is the Trent Bridge Ground which is situated in West Bridgford, England. This cricket ground has been used to enjoy cricket since the early 1830s. During 1899, the very first test match between Australia and England took place on this famous cricket ground. Since then, it managed to host several cricket matches, Test matches, and One Day Internationals. It’s also the home ground for the prestigious Nottingham County Cricket Club and is considered the best place to enjoy watching a cricket match.

The Oval

This is probably one of the most famous cricket ground’s on earth and the third oldest cricket ground in the world. The stadium is located in London, England and is the home ground for the impressive Surrey County Cricket Club. The cricket ground was initially constructed back in 1845 and has managed to host the very first international cricket match again in 1880. Thanks to tradition, each year the final test of the English season is held here, and it plays host to other sporting events, such as rugby and football matches.

The Sydney Cricket Ground

The fourth oldest cricket ground in the world is the SCG, or Sydney Cricket Ground, which is situated in Australia. It was initially constructed in 1848 and is located in New South Wales. You can enjoy all types of cricket on this ground, including One Day Internationals, Twenty20, and Test matches. Apart from cricket, it also plays host to a decent selection of other sporting events, such as rugby, football, and others.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

The fifth oldest cricket ground is also situated in Australia and was initially constructed in 1854. It is also considered the largest cricket stadium in the world. It’s located in Melbourne, Victoria and played host to two cricket world cups along with the Summer Olympic games in 1956. The fifth oldest cricket ground is also situated in Australia and was initially constructed in 1854. It is also considered the largest cricket stadium in the world. It’s located in Melbourne, Victoria and played host to two cricket world cups along with the Summer Olympic games in 1956.

The famous headband has been on ever since he made his arrival in the United Kingdom for the start of the World Cup tour for Afghanistan. However, he only started smearing his cheeks at a later stage. After almost three years of being absent from the international cricket world, Hamid Hassan finally made his way back into the sport he loves during May 2019.

Hamid Hassan at the 2019 World Cup in England

He managed to do his warm-up bowling routine while wearing a wool beanie in an extremely cold Edinburgh over the weekend. A couple of days later he managed to suit up and participate in his first One Day International since July 2016 where he bowled off a considerably shortened run-up that what we are all used to from his golden days when he was regarded as the most feared bowler in the world. This was also a time when he was robbed by financial reward and glory due to a catastrophic accident that took everything away from him.

Even when he participated in the warm-up victory against Pakistan, he seemed nothing like the Hassan we all know and love. And when he managed to take a wicket, Hamid Hassan’s usual celebration was restricted entirely. However, the Stallone-inspired cheek streaks of green, red, and black across his face during a match against England provided a slight hint of the old Hamid Hassan. This indicated that he has one last rodeo up his sleeve before he retires from one-day cricket.

Hamid Hassan will inform everyone until his face turns blue that he will never retire officially. However, why was he selected after all this time? Hamid stated that he has done quite a bit for his country in the past and that he is someone that will never give up. When he is on the ground, he does everything he can for his country and team.

Hamid Hassan’s Career

Apart from Rashid Khan, there’s no one else that has managed to take wickets at a faster rate than Hamid Hassan. Since the start of the country’s ascent from the World Cricket League Division Five during 2008, Hamid Hassan was the country’s most consistent bowler in white-ball cricket. He was primarily a dominant force during 50-over matches where he claimed 58 wickets in only 29 games for the beginning of the 2008 Division Five right through to the maiden ODI less than a year later to cap the World Cup Qualifier in 2009 that took place in South Africa.

He managed to terrorise countries like Tanzania, the Cayman Islands, and Japan along the way from Division 5 to Division 1, swinging the ball both ways between 145 and 150 kph. Most of the players he played against would have been thrilled if they could deliver the ball at 130kph consistently. Hamid Hassan has one more opportunity to rock the world during the 2019 Cricket World Cup, so make sure to watch his performance before he disappears forever.

Faf du Plessis strongly believes that the South African cricket team can reach the semi-finals of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, even though Dale Steyn, considered the talisman paceman of the group, was ruled out of the cricket tournament.
South Africa confirmed on Tuesday that Dale Steyn, the veteran seam bowler, has suffered a brand-new shoulder injury since he arrived in the United Kingdom which forced the Proteas to replace him with none other than Beuran Hendricks.

South Africa vs India

South Africa is set to clash with India on Wednesday in Southampton with Lungi Ngidi and Dale Steyn missing from the match, while Anrich Nortje was also ruled out of the tournament. The South African cricket team have already lost against both Bangladesh and England since arriving in the United Kingdom and have never lost three opening games in a row. However, this time around they are facing a huge mountain to ensure they can reach the final four if India defeats them on Wednesday. Thankfully, Faf Du Plessis, as the South African cricket captain, remains confident that they can make it through to the semi-finals.

Du Plessis explained that the match between South Africa and India is not an exact make or break situation, stating that the target is six victories and the Proteas still have seven games in hand. The captain also said that it would be fantastic if the achievements can start rolling in against India as there are no easy games in the Cricket World Cup this time around.

South Africa’s Situation

South Africa need to upgrade their skills to achieve success in the World Cup against India, even though India is currently ranked as the second-best team in the world. South Africa has struggled to deliver on the skills that will allow them to be in a good position going forward. South Africa hopes that it will improve with every game they play in the World Cup, especially against a team like India. Dr Mohammed Moosajee, the medical chief for South Africa, confirmed that the injury suffered by Dale Steyn is a new shoulder injury and that he will not be able to play against India this week. Hendricks will only arrive on matchday against India which means he also won’t be able to participate in the match.

The entire South African cricket team are hoping that the injury suffered by Steyn is not the end of his career. His teammates are staying strong for him and hope that the two years of pain and suffering comes to an end and will allow him to play again shortly. The fact that Dale Steyn is not in the team means that the captain is required to draw up a brand-new strategy plan to face the remaining cricket teams in the World Cup. This is not an easy task, but he believes it’s possible to make the necessary changes before it’s too late.

There is a Cricket World Cup at stake in 2019. However, if South Africa is under any additional pressure, it will not be from inside the team. As his squad prepares to make their way to England where they won’t be considered the favourites to win this tournament for once, Faf du Plessis won’t be demanding anything extravagant from his team this time around.

Instead, he believes that sticking to what worked for them in the past and focusing on enjoying the tournament after a summer where they managed to win 11 games from 13 ODI’s and defeating Australia 2-1 away, will offer an exact formula for success.

South Africa’s Chances in the 2019 Cricket World Cup

In previous cricket world cups, South Africa wanted to deliver superhuman performances. They were under the impression that they had to provide something extraordinary and had to, which was not the outcome in the previous two World Cup tournaments. South Africa is not known for playing the best cricket when it comes to the World Cup tournaments because they place too much pressure on themselves, which isn’t necessary.

Seven team members of the squad that are making their way to England this year formed part of the World Cup team in 2015 when New Zealand defeated the side with four wickets in hand during the semi-finals. Dale Steyn, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Hashim Amla, and Faf du Plessis were also part of the team during the 2011 World Cup when they were second best during another nail-biting contest with New Zealand.

Faf du Plessis as Captain

Faf du Plessis is regarded as a thinking captain but can also be considered a feeling captain at the same time. Instead of shying away from the pressures that are coupled with competition on an international level, he urges his team to look at things positively. He also hasn’t been afraid of discussing this with the media in terms of the mental aspect.

He recently informed reporters that the South African cricket team started preparing over two years ago to get their mental preparation in order. This is one area that du Plessis believes the team can improve on when compared to previous World Cup encounters. He is someone that has been to several World Cup tournaments and is well aware of the pressures that come with it. This is one reason why he believes that the South African cricket team of 2019 should play more freely and enjoy themselves as opposed to feeling too much pressure and failing horribly.

Faf du Plessis’s new approach will also get noticed when it comes to selecting the South African squad during the tournament. He believes that the team should be picked according to their performance and experience. The squad decision is going to be made during the two warm-up matches based on form.

From beginning to end, a trace of panic managed to linger over the way the BBL and its cricket clubs handled the dead and brief flirtation of AB de Villiers during the tournament. Considered the most game-changing addition when it comes to Australian cricket, the Big Bash League deserved better than to host a competition that didn’t have any winners.

AD de Villiers Losses Interest in BBL

Whether it was the broadcasters from Fox and Seven News/Sports Corp, the clubs, or even Cricket Australia, the eagerness to finally secure AB de Villiers after he decided to decline participation in the tournament in the previous season looked motivated by belief and worried about the strength the cricket tournament already had.

The management team of De Villiers and the cricket star himself, having received offers by more than half the cricket clubs, stated on Friday that he is no longer interested in participating in the tournament, offering no specific reason other than complaining about the repeated media leaks regarding his interest along with the terms by which it could be secured.

When you look at the length of the cricket tournament, the BBL salary cap constraints, there’s enormous proximity of Australian news on white-ball players that will be away for an ODI tour in India during January. It essentially deprived the cricket tournament of loads of talent which made AB de Villiers a must or bust situation, leaving plenty of unanswered questions in the air.

Money Was Always a Problem

For one, the money that needed to be gathered by the broadcasters, the Cricket Australia marketing funds, and successful cricket clubs. All involved with discussions to sign de Villiers made a huge mockery of the salary payments that are usually available to the players that participate in the tournament, while they raised the issue of whether AD de Villiers would be in the cricket tournament as a billboard or cricketer.

A $350,000 figure for a handful of cricket games made the headline of a 5-year contract worth $1 million inked by Chris Lynn look puny. There was loads of pressure from the global market and elsewhere that forced the broadcasters, clubs, and CA to look over and above the norm. However, there were loads of voices that questioned the integrity of the deal and how successful it would genuinely be to pay one player that much money in broad daylight.

Imagine if you will see a salary cap league like the AFL where broadcasters were initially approached to provide additional money for players to ensure they arrive at a specific club. This was mainly a display of how the BBL spent way too much money to get one elite player to increase the popularity of a cricket tournament that never needed to be expanded in the first place. All the uncertainty and scrambling by the BBL made them look less like a cricket addition and more like a struggling league.

With the surprising return of David Warner and Steven Smith, loads of attention has been given to the batting order of Australia ahead of the Cricket World Cup in England and Wales this year, while the spinning role has also been discussed in great detail. However, how are the quick bowlers doing at the moment in preparation of the World Cup?

Pat Cummings

After receiving the Allan Border Medallist for a player of the year, including tours to UAE and India, Cummings decided to have some downtime before the Brisbane camp. His form has not been dampened after taking a few weeks off. He managed to strike twice during the opening over against New Zealand and finished off with 3 for 36. He can be a star when it comes to the upcoming World Cup.

Mitchell Starc

Starc hasn’t played a match since the Sri Lanka Test where he, unfortunately, suffered a severe injury to his pectoral muscle. He bowled quite well in Brisbane, but it’s unlikely that he will participate in the next three matches. Perhaps the managers will allow him to play at least one game before he makes his way to England. In the last 15 months, he only played in 3 OD I’s due to his injuries. However, adding him to the mix for a quick bowler in the World Cup will be the right choice.

Nathan Coulter-Nile

It’s been an exciting couple of months for this quick bowler. Nathan managed to take ten wickets in only five games against Pakistan and India after he was overlooked entirely for the India series, allowing him to make several comments regarding the lack of communication. During the opening match where Australia faced New Zealand, Nathan showed his worth with three wickets for 34. He is someone that could bring a positive change to the squad if he makes his way to England.

Jason Behrendorff

After enduring loads of accidental injuries, Jason received his opportunity on the big stage where he enjoyed his first ODI match against India in a recent home season. He will likely become an understudy for Mitchell Starc during the World Cup. However, once he is warmed up and ready to go, he can be a dangerous left-arm quick bowler. He managed to collect 3 for 34 on Monday and was the only one of the frontline for Australia to make his way to the IPL where he enjoyed five matches.

Josh Hazlewood

Josh is still busy with recovery after his stress fracture. This, unfortunately, ended his season following the India test series, and he has ruled him out for the upcoming World Cup team. He managed to make his return to the next recently but is still not bowling for the A tours. His best chance to make an appearance in the World Cup is if Australia requires a replacement after the group stages are done and dusted.