🏏ICC Men's T20I WC 2022: Super 12 - Group 1 - ENG vs IRE - 26/10/22🏏 - Page 2

• Average 1st Innings scores: 140
• Average 2nd Innings scores: 129

• Highest total recorded: 184/4 (20 Ov) by AUSW vs INDW
• Lowest total recorded: 74/10 (17.3 Ov) by IND vs AUS
• Highest score chased: 172/5 (20 Ov) by SL vs AUS
• Lowest score defended: 127/10 (18.4 Ov) by AUS vs PAK

What to expect: The game could get disrupted by showers but nothing alarming as of yet that suggests a washout. The surface for the India-Pakistan encounter was spicy. If these two teams get presented with something similar, it could well turn out to be a one-sided affair.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Action's back at the MCG after the massive India-Pakistan game. It's one of the tournament favourites, England, facing Ireland. It's a cloudy afternoon at Melbourne and the playing conditions haven't been as batting-friendly as was expected. That can balance things out a bit with England's top-four not firing, but as Valkerie Baynes says in the preview, it won't stop England from starting favourites.

What they said:

"I think we all know it's not only him in this tournament that bowls at a rapid pace. There's quite a few guys that can bowl nice and quickly, and we haven't necessarily faced that or we don't necessarily prepare for that on a day-to-day basis, but that's the challenge that's in front of us, and again, as an international side we need to adapt. We need to be ahead of the game in terms of what's coming towards us, and hopefully we can through our preparation and planning make sure we go out there and execute." - Ireland coach Heinrich Malan on his side preparing to face Mark Wood

They may be neighboring countries but they do have a pretty intense cricketing rivalry. England may be far superior in this rivalry, but the Irish would be keen to upset the apple cart at such a grand tournament. It may be difficult though, as England seem the most well rounded and balanced side in this year’s tournament. They have the big hitting prowess that will send shudders down anyone’s spine, and have a pace attack to kill for. Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran have all got amongst the wickets already, and would be looking to add to that tally against a slightly tentative Irish batting line-up.

Ireland totally steamrolled West Indies in the qualifiers last week, and it isn’t beyond them to claim another big scalp in the competition. Their batting hasn’t collectively clicked thus far, as we are yet to see the best of skipper Andy Balbirnie and Harry Tector, leaving it to the veteran Paul Stirling to do most of the scoring. They will also have to take a decision on George Dockrell, who was picked to play despite testing positive for COVID-19.