England have been producing the goods with the bat in ODIs since a while now. Since the 2015 World Cup, England have changed dynamics of the game. They have stepped up in ODI cricket and have dominated the show at ease to be crowned the number one team in the world.
On Tuesday, the Three Lions produced a masterclass against Afghanistan to score 397/6 in 50 overs. This was the fourth game where England scored above 300-plus total in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019.
England smashed a flurry of records and this is now their best score in World Cup cricket. Just days earlier, they had set the best score after amassing 386 against Bangladesh. In CWC 19, England have the two highest team totals at the moment and the most 300-plus scores too. The best part about this side is that the players understand what’s expected out of them. There is an element of trust.
England bat deep and this has often helped them amass 300-plus scores at ease. Interestingly, this was the 10th time when England scored 300 or more runs in 2019 itself. They lead the show by a distant margin. Not just that, since 2016, England have the most 400-plus totals in ODI cricket (3).
This goes on to show that they have the best batting unit in the world and its absolute madness watching these players bat. It’s effortless hitting and application by these players who know when to do what. They have looked at ease and there is one such batsman in every game, who takes the batting into another level.
England can actually win this World Cup and are the hot favourites.Their batting could hurt opposition teams in the crunch stages. Eoin Morgan must be a happy skipper in knowing that he has a great batting quartet and can count on them to shine on a consistent basis. Here we decode how England’s ability to produce batting heroes is quite remarkable.
England’s free-flowing nature with bat a repeated show
In 2018, England smashed the highest score in ODI cricket ever. They achieved the feat against Australia at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. The side amassed five scores of 320-plus last year, with the lowest being 322/7 against India at Lord’s. In 2019, they have amassed nine scores of 330-plus. That’s a massive improvement in terms of numbers.
Interestingly, seven scores have been above 350. Now this is absolute carnage. To bat at this rate and amassing such brilliant totals make the Three Lions a team so settled in batting. The side has transformed the run in the ongoing World Cup. In front of jam-packed stadiums, England’s batsmen have played so freely and this has become a repeated show.
England like batting first and aren’t afraid of setting scores. They thrive when batting first on almost every occasion.
There is a trust amongst batsmen
The word responsibility is often associated with England’s batsmen. Unlike India and Australia, who often depend largely on the top order, the English team doesn’t have this factor. The side knows that it bats deep and players in the line-up score the runs required from the openers up till number eight.
If the openers do not click, the middle order often sets the tone. If the middle order fails, then batsmen in the lower middle order produce the magic. This is remarkable for Morgan’s side. Having such firepower makes this side one of the best batting units that world has ever seen.
Their openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow dominated the show in 2018 and this year as well the two have been terrific. In the World Cup 2019 as well the two have chipped in. They are a settled duo. Then they have the versatile Joe Root, who is having a dream of a tournament. Root is already the 2nd highest run-scorer so far and has been consistent since a while now.
At number four there is the dangerous Eoin Morgan, who smashed a record-breaking 17 sixes against the Afghans on Tuesday. Morgan batted so freely and smashed a sublime 148. The list goes on. Jos Buttler, who often comes in at number 5 or 6, hits those big scores. He is an impact player, who goes on to score hundreds. Besides Bairstow, all these names have struck tons in the ongoing World Cup already.
Effortless striking makes England batting a dream affair
All of the above mentioned batsmen are clean strikers of the ball. The stylish Joe Root in recent times has brought in a certain sort of aggression as well. He is scoring at a healthy rate and that to monumental knocks. Then there are all-rounders Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes. The former especially is a dangerous customer with the bat and can hit those monstrous blows.
There is the presence of Chris Woakes as well. It’s so strong when you look at this line-up. Everybody can play as per the requirement. 300-plus totals have become a joke for England, who find a way in getting them quite often. It’s a pleasure to watch these players come out and bat.
All these batsmen can strike the ball effortlessly. Against Afghanistan, England hit a world record 25 maximums. They overcame their own record of 24 against West Indies earlier this year. If you look at the most ODI runs in 2019 by batsmen, as many as five England players have already scored 500-plus runs. No other team can claim this feat. This is why this side stands out.
Can England win the World Cup based on batting?
England are the hot favourites to win the 2019 World Cup. More so because of their terrific batting order. If they continue to plunder the runs, then it will be difficult for the others to match them. England’s bowling has already improved and one will back them to defend whatever scores are put.
Having said that, the biggest test will be against India, New Zealand and Australia. All these teams have a solid bowling line-up. If England manage to score heavily against these sides, then they will go into the semis in a confident mood. We feel England have that ability to out bat teams in the ongoing Cricket World Cup. Morgan’s side look like the best team to lift the trophy.
ALSO READ: