🏏ICC Men's T20I WC 2022: Super 12 - Group 1 - ENG vs IRE - 26/10/22🏏

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Super 12 - Group 1

England vs Ireland on 26/10/2022 at 9:30 AM IST at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

England firm favourites for Ireland clash despite misfiring top four

Dockrell, who played against Sri Lanka despite having Covid, continues to train in isolation from the broader group

With New Zealand stunning Australia in the first game of Super 12 to throw the pre-tournament predictions in the bin, momentum and confidence could play a key role for sides trying to finish in the top two in the group. The schedule has been kind for England in that regard as they are now set to take on Ireland in their second game after defeating Afghanistan in the first. Not that Afghanistan and Ireland are pushovers but one would back England to defeat these two sides in these conditions with their experience.

If they do manage to topple Ireland now on Wednesday (October 26) as anticipated, they will take on Australia and New Zealand next with a lot of confidence behind them as opposed to the hosts who will be desperate to win every game from now on in order to qualify for the semifinals. England's pace attack looked very impressive in the first game as they made light work of the Afghanistan batting lineup. And they will fancy their chances against a batting lineup that was just rattled by Sri Lanka. Paul Stirling has looked in good touch in the last two games but Andrew Balbirnie needs runs.

We are yet to witness a collective effort from that Irish batting lineup in this tournament and against the likes of Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and an in-form Sam Curran, it's only going to get difficult especially if the MCG offers the same amount of pace and bounce we witnessed on Sunday in the India-Pakistan clash. There will also be a lot of focus on Ben Stokes and he would dearly like some runs before the next two big games. Stokes' promotion to No.4 hasn't yielded desired results so far but the sample size is still small. If he does find his mojo, England are going to look extremely dangerous going ahead.

Pitch Report:

The Melbourne Cricket Ground-MCG pitch is considered to be one of the most competitive surfaces in the world. Everyone gets to play their roles at some point of time in the match. While pacers get assistance early in the innings, batters can play their strokes freely in the latter half. Meanwhile, spinners can make use of bigger boundaries.

Weather Forecast:

According to weather.com, the temperature will be between 14-20 degrees Celsius on match day -the 26th of October, Wednesday. The chances of rain will be between 80-90%. Humidity will be between 83-91%. Winds will be from the West/ South West direction and variable (9-15 km/h).

Team Watch

England

Tactics & Matchups: Ben Stokes was handed the new ball against Afghanistan. England might want to stick with that tactic after watching the pacers swing the new ball on Sunday. Stokes is at his best with the ball when it's swinging.

Probable XI: Jos Buttler (C & wk), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood Ireland

Ireland:

Injured/Unavailable: George Dockrell was down with COVID-19 but still made it to the XI against Sri Lanka. The management may have to take a call on him again.

Probable XI: Paul Stirling, Andrew Balbirnie (C), Lorcan Tucker (wk), Harry Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Simi Singh, Barry McCarthy, Joshua Little

Did you know?

- In his 38-game career so far in T20Is, Ben Stokes is yet to score a half-century and averages 2.2 overs per game with the ball.

- 2022 has been Adil Rashid's worst year in terms of average, strike rate and economy rate in T20Is barring his first year (2009).

- Over the years, Paul Stirling has featured regularly in English cricket for Middlesex. In the T20 Blast since 2018, Stirling has the sixth highest strike rate (155.28) among those players with 1000+ runs.

Quotes:

"Watching the game here between India and Pakistan, there was certainly some quality bowlers on show but they certainly got some assistance... it's about seeing what's in front of us on that day. If the ball is swinging, can we use that to our advantage? If it's not, can we recognise that quickly and change plans if we have to?"

Jos Buttler on going with the flow.

"It's making sure that we understand the situation, the conditions, the opposition, use that as a competitive advantage that we know that they know that we know that they know."

Heinrich Malan, the Ireland coach, on using memories of Bengaluru 2011, or not.

Stats and trivia

England have hit a six once every 17 balls in T20Is since 2021, a record bettered only by India. Will this approach work against the big boundaries of the 'G?

Stirling averages just 24.64 from 17 innings at a strike rate of 120.62 in all World Cups.

Ireland are yet to win a match batting first in T20 World Cup history. They have lost six in seven games with one no result.

Thank you, Raji for the thread as well as for tagging me. 🤗

I hope it should be an interesting match. ⭐️

England will look to extend their winning streak in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 when they take on Ireland in the 20th Match of the tournament today.

England had a terrific start to their tournament campaign as they registered a comprehensive five wickets victory over Afghanistan in their first match.

Their bowlers did a tremendous job by restricting the opposition to 112, with Sam Curran starring with the ball, having picked up a sensational five-wicket haul.

For Ireland, facing a formidable unit like England would be a tough deal and they need to furnish their best game to stand a chance against the Three Lions.

As for their head-to-head record, the two teams will face each other for just the second time in T20Is. The match was called off due to rain when the two sides met last time in this format.