England's unexpected crunch match
Zimbabwe's thrilling victory over Australia has thrown Group B wide open and England will now be well aware they can't take their first match in the tournament lightly
Andrew McGlashan at Newlands
12-Sep-2007
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The English game has embraced Twenty20 with vigour and now
the national side gets the chance to show if domestic experience can
translate to the international stage. They have brought with them
five specialists, helping to counter the lack of Twenty20 played by
the leading names, but whoever takes the field will be well aware of
the challenge.
Bat play
England managed to put big runs on the board in the one-day series against India and have the fire-power to do the same in Twenty20. Luke Wright, who has earned his call-up after success in the top three for Sussex, is likely to go in high up the order while Kevin Pietersen needs to be given as much time as possible to build his innings. Dimitri Mascarenhas, after his five sixes in five balls against India, could be as low as No. 9 meaning England can go hard throughout their 20 overs.
England managed to put big runs on the board in the one-day series against India and have the fire-power to do the same in Twenty20. Luke Wright, who has earned his call-up after success in the top three for Sussex, is likely to go in high up the order while Kevin Pietersen needs to be given as much time as possible to build his innings. Dimitri Mascarenhas, after his five sixes in five balls against India, could be as low as No. 9 meaning England can go hard throughout their 20 overs.
Zimbabwe's line-up will have gained huge confidence from their
successful run-chase and showed no fear against Australia's quick men.
A similar outlook will serve them well against England and they have
the advantage of having played on the surface and being able to judge
what is a decent total.
Wrecking Ball
Medium-pace swing is Zimbabwe's key weapon and if conditions remain as
helpful as they were against Australia then Gary Brent and Co. can
again prove a handful. Elton Chigumbura's elevation to the new-ball
role was an inspired move, but the experiment with Tatenda Taibu could
be short-lived.
The most impressive part of England's recent one-day displays was the
performance of their new-ball pairing, James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Their consistent efforts produced early in-roads and restricted the
scoring. Quick wickets in Twenty20 cricket put teams onto the back
foot and they are a potent pair. Mascarenhas' nibbling medium-pace
could be hard to score off on a sluggish Newlands pitch, then there is
Andrew Flintoff. If he is fit.
Key your eyes on
Zimbabwe's fielding. It was electric against Australia and was a key part of them winning the match. They dived for everything, held their catches, and Taylor's glovework was also impressive.
Zimbabwe's fielding. It was electric against Australia and was a key part of them winning the match. They dived for everything, held their catches, and Taylor's glovework was also impressive.
Shop talk
"Once we've won again then they can have a full go," said Zimbabwe's coach Robin Brown, whose main concern is ensuring his team are focussed again for the morning. That might be easier said than done. Most of England's focus has been on Flintoff. He batted and bowled in the training session on Tuesday, hitting four sixes in four balls in the process, but a decision won't be taken until just before the game. Paul Collingwood said: "We are going to have to judge him in the morning and see if he pulls up stiff or sore and then take it from there."
"Once we've won again then they can have a full go," said Zimbabwe's coach Robin Brown, whose main concern is ensuring his team are focussed again for the morning. That might be easier said than done. Most of England's focus has been on Flintoff. He batted and bowled in the training session on Tuesday, hitting four sixes in four balls in the process, but a decision won't be taken until just before the game. Paul Collingwood said: "We are going to have to judge him in the morning and see if he pulls up stiff or sore and then take it from there."
Pitching it right
The Newlands surface was sluggish and tough for scoring as expected and much the same is expected for the second match. The forecast is slightly better, although the odd shower can't be ruled out.
The Newlands surface was sluggish and tough for scoring as expected and much the same is expected for the second match. The forecast is slightly better, although the odd shower can't be ruled out.
Teams
England (possible) Matt Prior (wk), Luke Wright, Kevin
Pietersen, Paul Collingwood (capt), Andrew Flintoff, Owais Shah, Chris
Schofield, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, James
Kirtley
Zimbabwe (probable) Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Chamu
Chibhabha, Brendon Taylor (wk), Elton Chigumbura, Stuart Matsikenyeri,
Keith Dabengwa, Prosper Utseya (capt), Gary Brent, Tawanda Mupariwa
Andrew McGlashan is a staff writer on Cricinfo