'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Group A got under way yesterday with the much-anticipated clash of England and Australia and though it was not the keenly contested match we expected it to be, the match threw some noteworthy performances. England came out victorious and now have a healthy position in the group and the same head-start will be on offer when New Zealand take on Sri Lanka at Cardiff. Both the teams have spent some time in England and are now getting used to the conditions. Whereas Sri Lanka played a well-contested warm-up game against India, New Zealand have had the better preparation with a competitive series win against England.
New Zealand come into the Champions Trophy on a high after beating England 2-1 in the recently concluded ODI series
The warm-up game at Cardiff threw up a pitch that supported both batting and bowling as we saw India pile up a total of more than 300 runs whereas Australia slumped to a humiliating 243 run defeat. The weather conditions thus will be critical for the course of the play and also for the decision at the toss.
New Zealand boast of a good mix of youth and experience in their squad. The likes of Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill will constitute an experienced batting line-up that will be familiar with the conditions. Kane Williamson and Mitchell McClenaghan look exciting young talents and will provide New Zealand with skill and youthful energy. Sri Lanka’s squad boasts of some extremely experienced campaigners who have excelled at the big stage. Sri Lanka have had the knack of producing the goods in prestigious ICC events and they will like to continue that good work.
Here is a list of 5 reasons why I think New Zealand will come out on top in this battle:
1. Batting form
The English bowling attack is one of the best in the tournament, boasting of a diverse pace attack and quality spin, and New Zealand’s handling of that threat in the recently concluded series augurs well for them in this tournament. Martin Guptill was the leading man with two centuries but he was not a lone fighter as Ross Taylor contributed half-centuries in each of the three matches. Kane Williamson looks a promising batsman coming at one-down in the batting order. Luke Ronchi will look to take advantage of the hard new ball and the power-play overs and Brendon McCullum’s threat in the lower-middle order is well known. This batting line-up looks even stronger if you consider Sri Lanka’s weak pace attack that boasts of very little pace with the exception of Lasith Malinga.
2. Quality bowling attack
Mitchell McClenaghan
New Zealand’s bowling attack in this tournament is one of the most understated and potent one. They have a right arm swing bowler in Kyle Mills, a promising left arm pacer in McClenaghan and an experienced campaigner in Tim Southee. Doug Bracewell is another option that New Zealand might go to if conditions demand 4 fast bowlers. However, with Nathan McCullum and Kane Williamson sharing the ball in the middle overs, the Kiwis, quite uncharacteristically so, will rely on the strength of spin in the competition this time. The duo picked up 7 wickets in three matches for the Kiwis and put shackles on the run rate. However, with Sri Lankan batsman learned in the art of playing spin, the Kiwi bowlers will have to be on their toes.
3. Fielding
As we saw in the opening game of the Champions Trophy, a world of a difference can be made through fielding and especially so in close contests. New Zealand seem to possess an edge over Sri Lanka in this department with the likes of Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson being agile and energetic in the field. On the other hand, Sri Lanka have some old and slow legs on the park. This might hurt them in England given bigger boundaries and more opportunities for 2s and 3s.
4. The absence of quality spin
Sachithra Senanayake
Sri Lanka have traditionally travelled to ICC’s elite competitions with bowling attacks revolving around their top-spinners. Muttiah Muralitharan and then Ajantha Mendis played a wicket-taking role in their respective sides. Sri Lanka come to the Champions Trophy with Rangana Herath who has failed to impress so far and his effectiveness in English conditions is under considerable doubt. Sachithra Senanayake will compete with him for a spot in the XI; the off-spinner, in spite of looking promising, is inexperienced and might not derive the same purchase on wickets that don’t deteriorate.
5. Leadership
Sri Lanka have made a courageous decision to appoint Angelo Mathews as their captain in light of the future. This decision means that he is captaining a number of former captains and that is never easy. The players don’t know who too look up to for directions in the field and there is always a problem of too many voices under pressure situations. On the other hand, the Kiwis who could have been susceptible to a similar problem have a more authoritative and commanding figure in Brendon McCullum. Their tactical abilities will also be tested today.
