England without Pietersen for New Zealand match
After relying heavily on Kevin Pietersen’s batting in their opening World Twenty20 Super Eight victories, England will be without their No. 3 batsman for today’s match against New Zealand.
Pietersen, as it was anticipated he would, has headed back to England to attend the birth of his first child.
He’s done so after leaving his teammates in the best possible position to secure a semi-final spot in the Caribbean, with consecutive man-of-the-match performances against Pakistan and South Africa ensuring England is undefeated in the Super Eight thus far.
It means that things would have to go very, very wrong in KP’s absence to relieve him of the need to hop on a plane back to the West Indies to finish the job he started. A win against New Zealand would be the ideal way to get the job done, but even if the Kiwis win this match, England’s semi-final place would be assured if Pakistan defeat South Africa earlier in the day.
So, who holds the key for England against New Zealand as they enter the match with a Pietersen-less batting card? Eoin Morgan shone for his adopted country in their two group-stage matches and will need to produce the same clean shot-making and inventiveness against the Kiwis.
Craig Kieswetter, with a little luck on his side after being dropped early against both Pakistan and South Africa, has been steadily improving in the opening slot throughout the tournament and could be about to break loose in this match.
Pietersen’s absence will likely provide Ravi Bopara with the opportunity to make his debut in this year’s World Twenty20, after he more than capably filled in for KP in the No. 3 spot in England’s winning warm-up match against Bangladesh, where he made a fine 62 from 49 balls.
England’s spin duo of Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy have already proved their value on a quicker, bouncier pitch at Bridgedown, taking five wickets between them against South Africa in their most recent Super Eight match and should adjust nicely to the slower wicket in St Lucia against New Zealand.
The Blackcaps have their own answer to that double act in Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum, a pair that should be equally happy with conditions in St Lucia. Paceman Ian Butler’s 3-19 against South Africa should have done enough to ensure he’ll retain his place in the playing XI ahead of Jacob Oram.
Vettori, the skipper and beating heart of the New Zealand side, also bolsters a batting attack containing Brendan McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor. The opening combination of McCullum and Ryder in particular has the potential to change a game, if they can produce the sort of partnership that has so far eluded them in the Caribbean.
England’s biggest worry against New Zealand, however, is not necessarily any one individual but the way that, as a collective, the Kiwis pull together to time and time again win matches when on paper the opposing side looks to be out of their league - especially at ICC tournaments.
Prediction: England’s form cannot be doubted heading into this match, so even taking into account New Zealand’s ability to out-perform expectations, England should win this one.
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