Shubhayan Chakraborty at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow
England, the defending World Cup champions, find themselves in a precarious situation, with their tournament aspirations teetering on the brink of collapse. Although the mathematical possibility of a semi-final spot still exists, they face an uphill battle that demands nothing short of a miraculous turnaround in their remaining matches. The arduous journey to salvation begins with a high-voltage encounter against India, the unbeaten hosts, at the BRSABV International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday.
After arriving in Lucknow on Friday, England engaged in a rigorous training session at the stadium on Saturday. They practiced under the blazing sun, and while prominent figures like Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root honed their batting skills, England’s primary focus was quickly evident: spin.
The India-England match is slated to be played on the same pitch where Australia faced South Africa earlier in the tournament. In that game, the Proteas unleashed a powerful batting display, amassing a formidable 311, while Australia’s line-up faltered in response, managing just 177. On the eve of the match, the curators had left a touch of grass on the mixed-soil pitch, but that is expected to be removed on match day. That could pave the way for Ravichandran Ashwin to feature in the Indian XI. In preparation for this possibility, most of England’s batsmen faced spinners during the net session.
Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali executed their leg and off-spin deliveries, while Ben Stokes, who won’t be bowling in this tournament, switched up and sent down some spin to challenge the likes of Bairstow and Root. This spin-bowling session was far from casual, as Stokes and Harry Brook maintained full intensity throughout. Marcus Trescothick, the former England opener who is now assistant coach, emphasised that this preparation would also serve the players well in the Test series against India next year.
“It might turn, it might be slow, but it’s going to be good preparation for some of the guys who come back in January for the Test matches probably,” Trescothick commented during the pre-match press conference.
Leading into the World Cup, the India-England clash was hailed as one of the tournament’s marquee games. However, England’s dismal campaign has somewhat diminished the hype. Nevertheless, the Ekana Stadium is anticipated to be packed for the first time in the tournament.
“Playing against India in a World Cup in their own country is a special part of the game,” said Trescothick. “You know there’ll be a big crowd, there’ll be a wonderful occasion. We’re looking forward to that chance. I think there’s nothing more that we can offer apart from going out and delivering a top-notch performance. And then, hopefully, you come out on top at the end of it. It’s exciting. I think having been where we’ve been and coming now into this game, the buzz of what it will be, you know, building up for the game and then into the game tomorrow will be good. So, really excited for it.”
India and England have a history of producing thrilling encounters at the World Cup. Out of eight previous meetings, India has emerged victorious in three and England in four, with a famous 338-all tie in Bangalore in 2011. While India have one foot in the semi-final, England need to orchestrate a dramatic turnaround in Lucknow to salvage their World Cup campaign.