Their ODI World Cup defense a few months ago was downright shambolic but the same can not be anticipated to happen this time too. Jos Butler’s side in T20Is is not a fluke. The players know what they have to do and when they have to do it. But this defense will not come without its challenges. The most significant aspect of this is its psychological side. After winning the trophy at the G, England lost 3 back-to-nack bilaterals. No offense to anyone, but these tours involved playing teams like Bangladesh and West Indies. It was only against Pakistan, just a few days before the World Cup and in their backyard, that the Butler-led men could register a series win next to their name. All this points (And right so) towards the fact that England might be underprepared to retain the trophy.
Scotland get to start their World Cup 2024 dream against their neighbors, who also happen to be defending the title. They started their last World Cup journey with a win over the two-time champions West Indies. Though at that point the Windies were far from the beast they were at their trademark best, that takes nothing from the Scottish who clinched the one-sided game by 42 runs. The universe, since then, has not been particularly kind to them, as they lost whatever remaining World Cup games they had left. This year they are in the same group as Australia, England, and Namibia, something that would by no means help their Super 8s chances.
Team Overview:
Jofra Archer’s return is all England ever needed to up their chances significantly. England’s bowling hurt them big time in the World Cup 2023, but with Archer back, Mark Wood and Reece Topley present, and Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid watching over the spin department, one could debate that they have a more than decent bowling lineup, which should be able to defend low-scores which is a must in Caribbean conditions. Their batting line is pretty well-rounded too with the top order enjoying a patch as purple as it gets. The only thing that the English side needs to do is hope their bowling assets make it through the tournament without succumbing to injuries.
Hitters and pacers remain the highlight of the Scottish Squad. Oli Hairs, George Munsey, and Michael Leask have some exciting slogging skills in their arsenal. But slogging is not all they do. Brandon McMullen is a generational talent in the squad who would grab many eyeballs this edition if continues his spectacular form. But what the World needs to be wary of the most about this European team is their pacers. Bradley Currie, Chris Sole, and Brad Wheal make up one of the deadliest bowling packs in this World Cup. Should they hit the right tones on the required day, even an opponent as ginormous as England could go into a tailspin.
Head-to-Head Matches:
You can drive from England to Scotland and back in a single day, that’s how close on the map both neighbors are. Despite that, they have never faced each other in a T20I match. This would be the first time they clash in an international T20 game.
Weather and Pitch Report:
There is a 55% chance of rain interrupting the game in Barbados and even if does not, the weather will remain gloomy and grey. Kensington Oval is known for its love affair with seamers during the start of the game and the weather would exacerbate that even more. Plus the pitch also provides a generous bounce which is enough to make life difficult for the batters. A low-scoring game can be expected as was the case in the game between Namibia and Oman the other day.
Prediction:
It will likely be England’s day at the Kensington Oval on Tuesday. Though Scotland has plenty to cash on (including England’s PTSD of losing to European nations), it will take a miraculous amount of effort to actually win the title defenders who have almost everything under control.
Where to Watch:
You can watch the games on the following platforms as per your region:
- India – Star Sports
- Pakistan – PTV Sports, Ten Sports, Myco (Live streaming) and Tamasha app (Live streaming)
- USA and Canada – Willow TV
- England – Sky Sports Network
- Caribbean – ESPN Caribbean
- New Zealand & Australia – Sky Sports NZ, Prime Video
- Other regions – SuperSport, Sirasa, CricLife, STARZPLAY
