So it's finally here. After three weeks of heart-stopping, exhilarating cricket, the T20 juggernaut finally reaches Kolkata. This is the match that matters folks. This is the game that will decide whether England repeats their 2010 feat or whether Windies showcase their dancing skills again after 2012. Whatever happens, be rest assured, we are in for a humdinger.
The marquee clash will be a trial by fire for both the finalists. Their ability to play spin on a turning track will come under the scanner, if we have a wicket anything similar to the India-Pakistan game or the New Zealand-Bangladesh game. This might well be one of those low scoring thrillers if the previous matches here are anything to go by.
West Indies start favourites, having played some imposing, ultra aggressive brand of cricket that you normally associate with the ever-smiling Calypso boys. They have beaten all the major test sides pretty convincingly, with their loss to the sprightful Afghans being an aberration. Also the fact that they have beaten the Poms earlier in Mumbai will give them that extra edge.
Windies are expected to play the same side that played in the semis and their spin twins, Samuel Badree and Suleiman Benn are expected to take the centre stage here. Badree, in particular, will be itching to test the openers with his sliders and wrong-uns. He is a leg spinner who hardly bowls leg spin but he is a skiddy customer in the powerplays. The others like Carlos Brathwaite, Andre Russel and especially Dwayne Bravo will bowl a lot of cutters which will come in handy in the Eden wicket. They will be well advised to see Mustafizur Rahman's spell at the Eden few days back when he bagged a fifer against the in-form Kiwis with all his special range of cutters.
The batting looks settled with Chris Gayle due for a big score and England will be hoping that they don't have to bear the brunt of Gayle-storm twice. The important thing here is, the Windies are not completely dependent on Gayle and England will be wary of that. England would not like to make the mistake India made a couple of nights back at Wankhede.
They must have seen how the likes of Johnson Charles, Lendl ‘lucky’ Simmons and Andre Russel decimated the Indians on Thursday. The skills of Dwayne Bravo, the experience of Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin, the brute force of the giant called Carlos Braithwaite and the wonderful finishing ability of their skipper Darren Sammy could spell doom for the English bowlers.
The Windies bat very deep and the Poms will need to keep chipping away at those wickets. The Poms also need to use their spinners smartly against these big boys. The area where Windies could look to improve is their running between the wickets as sometimes they lay too much emphasis on power hitting and miss out on little things like pinching quick singles.
England wears a more traditional look
England, on the other hand, have been the surprise of the tournament. Post the debacle of World Cup 2015, they have shown signs of revival in the limited overs format by playing aggressive cricket, but even they wouldn't have thought they will reach this far after they were annihilated by Chris Gayle in the opening game in Mumbai. But after their freak win against SA, they never looked back.
They have played a fearless brand of cricket which you don’t associate with English sides and they might just have the crowds backing them after the Windies rubbed the hosts the wrong way on Thursday. England have shown tremendous improvement with every passing game and it won’t be unfair to say that they have been the most improved team of this World T20.
England are expected to play the same side which steamrolled the Kiwis in Delhi. English bowling looks more traditional compared to the Windies, with four pacers in David Willey, Liam Plunkett, Ben Stokes and Chris Jordan. Willey has impressed in the powerplays with his swing and his ability to get key early wickets. Willey has also been a handy contributor with the bat. Plunkett and Stokes have done a decent holding job but the bowler the Calypso boys will be wary of is Chris Jordan. He has been very impressive in the death and has been extremely difficult to get away because of his barrage of accurate Malingaesque yorkers.
England also have an offspinner and a leg spinner in Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid respectively. Both have grown in stature as the tournament has progressed, especially Rashid, who has always pegged the opposition back with his skilful bowling. Again with the Kolkata pitch offering turn these two should be more than handy.
The English batting looks solid and settled. They rely heavily on their big three- Joe Root, Jos butler and Jason Roy. England have played white ball cricket with gay abandon ever since Jason Roy and Alex Hales started opening together. Jason Roy was outstanding in the semis against the Kiwis and England will be hoping for an encore from him. Joe Root however is the key as he is their batting mainstay and the rest of the English batting seems to revolve around him.
Often compared with Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson, Root is another modern day great and he would like to show his mettle tonight in what probably is the biggest match of his career. Jos Buttler has been outstanding in this world cup and has amazed everyone with his amazing range of strokes and the ease with which he clears the ground time and again. Also with Stokes and Moeen Ali coming down the order England should look forward to those vital blows at the death.
However one man England would desperately want to get into the groove is their skipper Eoin Morgan. He has been lauded for his captaincy but with the willow he has been a major disappointment in this tournament. Can the skipper step up in the big finals? Can he do what MS Dhoni did in April 2, 2011? We will wait and watch.
It is to be seen whether a grief-stricken Kolkata will be in the mood for a game of cricket. The city has been coping with the tragedy of a major accident and the mood of the people is sombre to say the least. Nevertheless, we expect a game worthy of a final with two deserving finalists. Let’s just hope a terrific game of cricket will bring some joy to the City of Joy.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!
