WC 2023: England’s Desperate Bid for Survival Against Dominant India in Lucknow

Lucknow, 29th October 2023: In a highly anticipated showdown at Ekana Sports City, Lucknow, India is gearing up to face England in the 29th ODI of the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023. The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.

Defending champions England find themselves in a difficult situation, languishing at the bottom of the points table due to an inferior net run rate, despite being tied on points with Bangladesh. Meanwhile, India holds the second spot, also tied on points with table-toppers South Africa, but with a lesser net run rate. Both India and England have a game in hand to improve their standings.

England’s only victory in this tournament came against Bangladesh, while India remains unbeaten in all their matches so far. The last encounter between these two teams in this tournament took place in 2019, where England emerged as winners with a 31-run victory.

In the recent domestic series, India has shown its dominance over England. All-time head-to-head record shows India with 57 wins, England with 44 wins, and three matches ending in a draw out of 106 ODIs.

Hardik Pandya is still expected to be absent from the Indian squad, leaving room for either Suryakumar Yadav to maintain his position or for India to opt for a bowling alternative. England, on the other hand, is likely to stick with their current squad, as their strong lineup hasn’t produced the expected results in this tournament.

Ekana Sports City boasts a batting-friendly wicket, but spinners always have a say in the game. Ravi Ashwin might find a place in India’s playing eleven, while England is also expected to utilize their spinners. The average first-inning score in ODIs at this venue is 226, with the second-inning average being 213. However, the pitch underwent relaying last year, making it challenging to predict its behaviour.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), there is no chance of rain affecting today’s match. However, the humidity is expected to be around 30%, with a 13% cloud cover, and the temperature ranging between 18 and 31 degrees Celsius.

This match presents an opportunity for England to salvage their dignity in the tournament, while India aims to reclaim the top spot in the points table. Cricket fans around the world are eager to witness this exciting clash between the two cricketing giants.