England v Ireland - ICC World Cup 2011 - preview
No associate team has so far been able to challenge International Cricket Council’s (ICC) stance of axing minnows from the 2015 World Cup.
Although, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Netherlands-c753 and Ireland gave scares to tournament favourites, England and co-hosts Bangladesh respectively in their World Cup openers, they failed to seal the deals in their favour.
Since the 1996 World Cup, each edition of the show piece event has seen at least one upset and the previous World Cup saw three such sensational upsets – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the preliminary round and then trounced Bangladesh
in the Super eight round.
Keeping in mind England’s start of Subcontinent tour, one could have expected the Irish brigade to show some courage against Strauss’s men at Bangalore. But after the Poms chased down http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 mammoth total, which ended in point-sharing - at the same venue,
it becomes quite clear that the Ashes victors are back in form.
They will go into the match high on confidence after matching India’s strong batting line-up. Straus’s side not only chased the astounding total under the lights but also against a side with 40,000 supporters.
England was remarkable with their captain leading from the front. The opening duo of England, featuring Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen would be quite difficult to contain for the Irish attack.
However, bowling and fielding would still be a cause of concern for Strauss. The spearhead pacer, James Anderson, has been quite costly to the side.
However, Stuart Broad’s return to the side, after missing the thriller against India, would boost the English attack. Broad’s return will most likely show a door to Ajmal Shahzad, who has been under much limelight for the deciding six he had struck on the
first ball he faced.
"We haven't played our best cricket yet and we have just tied with India, chasing 338. That has got to be a good sign", said England batsman, Ian Bell.
If the World Twenty20 champions manage to sort out their bowling and fielding woes, they would undoubtedly become a formidable side in the ongoing tournament.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canada-c748 and Netherlands handled the English attack and are sure to take
tips from those games.
"Nothing dramatic has to change, we played well in the warm-up games -- we've just got to be a bit more ruthless with the bat", said Ireland’s captain, William Porterfield.
Ireland would have an edge over England in only one aspect and that is the pressure. The former have nothing to lose while England will lose everything if the match does not end in their favour by a colossal triumph.
Strauss’s side will also be under pressure after experiencing close calls against ICC World Cup 2011 outsiders.
Teams
England (probable XI): 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Kevin Pietersen, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Michael Yardy, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajmal-Shahzad-c42489
Ireland (probable XI): 1 William Porterfield (capt), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/George-Dockrell-c59135, 11 Boyd Rankin
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