England T20/ODI series v New Zealand/Ireland.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bairstow will be disappointed by his golden duck.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Stokes throws it away...

Six overs to go.

[Durhamfootman]

England might not even bat 50 overs

wickets tumbling right, left and centre

They should have battered 400 runs as a minimum, but might not get anywhere near that

hugely disappointing

[Durhamfootman]

didn't bat 50 overs

368 all out

If NZ chase that down, and they might, there will need to be an inquest, because that's a pretty poor return from the position that Malan and Stokes put them in

[Durhamfootman]

England lost their last 5 wickets in consecutive overs

Poor

[Arthur Crabtree]

Five for Trent Boult. Economical for such a big total as well.

[sussexpob]

6 overs in, 3 down, and NZ already needing a miracle....

RRR near 8 an over too, just to make it even harder.

[Durhamfootman]

yes, poor start from NZ

[Arthur Crabtree]

Three for the mighty Woakes.

Won't be long now.

[bigfluffylemon]

What a turnaround from the first match.

Still, England not looking like the world beaters of 4 years ago, and haven't really since Morgs retired. Can't see them being serious contenders for the trophy in Asian conditions.

[sussexpob]

Still, England not looking like the world beaters of 4 years ago, and haven't really since Morgs retired. Can't see them being serious contenders for the trophy in Asian conditions.

I see England a bit like Deontay Wilder the boxer. There are teams around with more ringcraft, but if they smack you flush on the chin, I dont care who you are.... you are hitting the canvas. For that reason you can never write them off. If they can turn a match into a high scoring slogfest, they will beat anyone...

I have India as favourite, but after that I have England up there with anyone else. Australia and Pakistan both have more than one batter in the middle order with a SR in the high 80s, which is restrictive if their bowlers cant keep a lid on it.

England have the capability to hit or chase 350 plus.... only really India are comparable in that regard.

[bigfluffylemon]

That's fair, SP. England can beat anyone on their day, there's always the possibility that if they get into the finals, of stringing together two good performances. But other sides like India, Australia and Pakistan are more consistent.

That said, NZ are also nowhere near the side they were, South Africa have been a mess for a while, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh can be expected to overperform in Asian conditions, so probably any of them could make the semis. Then anything's possible.

Not exactly the most bold of predictions, but I'm going for an India-Australia final.

[sussexpob]

Australia are an intruging case in this tournament. They have maintained good form recently, but in Asia between world cups, they have lost series to SL, PAK and IND... but then they also beat India in India recently, in a series where they bowled out India for nothing a couple of times.

Like Pakistan, I think it depends on the pitches. If Australia are faced with a road, and that numbs the bowling attack, can the batters consistently make 300 plus? They have the capability, but guys like Marnus being there show a weakness in that middle order...

[Arthur Crabtree]

England continuing to rotate in what is really not a heavy summer. Brook, who is not in the WC squad replaces Stokes who is. Roy is nowhere to be seen. Carse who is not in the WC squad replaces Woakes who is.

[Durhamfootman]

That's fair, SP. England can beat anyone on their day, there's always the possibility that if they get into the finals, of stringing together two good performances. But other sides like India, Australia and Pakistan are more consistent.

I'd forgotten that 4 years ago, England lost 3 matches in the groups stages, but when it mattered against India, Australia and in the final they prevailed.

This tournament could go any way, I think. I don't think there are any real favourites. Perhaps that's how it should be