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Three changes England must make to beat India and avoid World Cup disaster


Eoin Morgan’s England face Virat Kohli’s India at the Cricket World Cup on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

What a difference a week makes.

As England prepared to face Sri Lanka at Headingley last Friday, they appeared almost guaranteed to qualify for the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup.

While not at their all-conquering, record-breaking, jaw-dropping best, Eoin Morgan’s side had won four of their first five games to put themselves in an excellent position to progress to the knockout stages of a tournament they have never won.

The prospect of Morgan and co. celebrating a historic World Cup triumph come July 14 appeared to be handed another boost as a weary and struggling Sri Lankan side were bowled out for 232. Surely another routine win and a semi-final place was on the horizon.

England’s World Cup hopes are in the balance (Picture: Getty)

But England, a team which has chased for fun over the past two years, fell 20 runs short in Leeds, before falling even shorter in pursuit of Australia’s 285 at Lord’s, to suffer successive World Cup defeats.

Meanwhile, England’s top-four rivals – Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – all picked up crucial wins to pile the pressure on the faltering hosts. All of a sudden, England face the prospect of crashing out at the group stage of a World Cup they were favourites to win.

For the avoidance of doubt: England’s fate is still in their hands. They can still become champions. Beat India and New Zealand in their two remaining fixtures and they will definitely progress. One victory may even be enough.

But the pressure is becoming almost unbearable and defeat to the unbeaten India on Sunday could leave their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread. That being said, England are more than capable of bouncing back. Here’s how they can do it…

Eoin Morgan’s side have lost back-to-back matches (Picture: Getty)

Top-order changes

Since Jason Roy suffered a hamstring injury, England’s opening partnership has yielded just 45 runs in three innings, with his replacement, James Vince, scoring just 40.

Hampshire’s Vince is a talented and elegant player but has failed to cement his place in England’s one-day or Test teams, passing fifty just four times in 41 innings.

Roy had initially hoped to return against Australia so England may be confident that he can line-up alongside Jonny Bairstow against India. And if he’s fit, he obviously plays.

The Surrey batsman enjoyed a sensational run before his injury – scoring one century and one fifty in three World Cup innings – and his importance to the side has been highlighted in the last three games, two of which have ended in defeat.

Jason Roy could return for the home side (Picture: Getty)

But even if Roy is unable to play against India, England should still consider changes. Former captain Michael Vaughan, for example, believes Vince has run his race and should be dropped.

He told BBC Test Match Special: ‘James Vince, for me, can’t play on Sunday. I don’t see how you can continue to play him at the top, under the pressure of what this World Cup now is.’

The absence of any real alternative to Vince is a problem – Alex Hales was removed from England’s World Cup squad shortly before the tournament began – but one option is to move him down the order.

Joe Root opened against West Indies and scored a century, while Moeen Ali has experience opening for his county. Those are certainly not ideal solutions, however, and England will be desperate for Roy to be passed fit come Sunday morning.

Pick Plunkett

A victim of the remarkable rise of Jofra Archer, Liam Plunkett has played in just three of England’s seven World Cup matches to date.

The 34-year-old showed his worth in each of those fixtures – most notably claiming figures of 2-37 in the opening win over South Africa – and England will surely consider going back to one of their most consistent bowlers this weekend.

An integral member of England’s one-day team since the last World Cup, Plunkett rarely lets Morgan down with his pace and deceptive variations.

Picking Plunkett would probably mean dropping a spinner and it was Moeen who made way in the victory over Bangladesh in Cardiff two weeks ago.

England could bring Liam Plunkett back into the team (Picture: Getty)

Moeen, of course, is another player who England have built their one-day side around since 2015 and claimed his 100th ODI cap in the defeat to Sri Lanka.

But he is by no means immune from the drop and will be frustrated by his World Cup form. While insisting he feels in good touch with the bat, a top-score of 31* from six innings suggests otherwise and he has not taken more than one wicket in an innings yet.

Plunkett could also come in for Adil Rashid, who has also endured a somewhat frustrating spell in England colours over the past month and is nursing a shoulder injury.

Spinners have flourished in both of the games Edgbaston has hosted so far, with a score of 240 almost defended on both occasions, so England may have reservations about playing only one frontline spinner.

But a fresh pitch will be prepared for Sunday’s game and the warm weather England has enjoyed this week may produce a quicker wicket.

And if it doesn’t – and either Moeen or Rashid are sacrificed – then Root can always be called upon to bowl a few overs, having chipped in with two wickets against West Indies.

Adapt and believe

Up until last week, England were the top-ranked side in the world in this format. Without doubt the best one-day team this country has produced, they have not lost a bilateral series for more than two years.

Oppositions have been hammered and records obliterated and this England team will be well-served reminding themselves of that fact at a time when their confidence and resolve appears to have been shaken.

The onus is on Morgan to inspire. This is undoubtedly his team and he knows how to get the most out of this group of players.

As England hero Alec Stewart said this week: ‘Eoin has to remind his players they are still good players, but also analyse what they are not doing well. There might be a few rows or raised voices, but that doesn’t matter because it is about trying to win the World Cup.’

England’s batsmen have struggled in the last two matches (Picture: Getty)

England should and most likely do still believe they can win this World Cup. Whether they are able to adapt quick enough to avoid an early exit is another question altogether, however.

They failed to perform on a slow pitch in the 2017 Champions Trophy semi-final – losing to eventual winners Pakistan – and it was their Achilles heel again in the defeat to Sri Lanka.

At times during this tournament they have seemed determined to score in excess of 350 – a total they have ticked off any number of times since 2015 – when conditions have not permitted for such free and high-scoring.

Two-time winners India, for example, have surpassed 300 just twice in five innings despite their perfect start.

Taking a leaf out of India’s book may well prove wise as England prepare to face Virat Kohli’s side in a monumental World Cup encounter.





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