The State of Play
England’s slow trudge towards World Cup elimination was finally confirmed by their defeat to Australia on Saturday. What happens now will be interesting with even their more experienced players voicing their opinion that it should prompt change. The likes of Moeen Ali, Mark Wood, Dawid Malan and Chris Woakes may all be jettisoned while David Willey has taken the decision out of the selectors’ hands by announcing his international retirement at the end of the tournament.
In the short-term, England still have plenty to play for in India with the top-eight teams qualifying automatically for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
That’s also the target for the Netherlands who have arguably overachieved at the World Cup having won two of their seven games. A win over the defending champions would crown a wonderful few weeks and help cement their place on the world stage.
Team News
England’s main decision centres around Ben Stokes. The Test captain has already announced he will undergo knee surgery at the end of the World Cup but there have been calls to bring that forward so he is fit for the tour of India in January.
Harry Brook is likely to come into the team but it remains to be seen if the England re-boot starts now or after the tournament.
The Netherlands were disappointing last time out in losing comprehensively to Afghanistan but it’s unlikely they will make too many changes from a side that had impressed previously.
Expected Line-ups
England: Bairstow, Malan, Root, Brook, Buttler (c, wk), Curran, Livingstone, Woakes, Willey, Rashid, Atkinson
Netherlands: Barresi, O’Dowd, Ackermann, Engelbrecht, Edwards (c, wk), De Leede, Zulfiqar, Van Beek, Van der Merwe, Dutt, Van Meekeren
What They Said
England all-rounder Moeen Ali
“We’ve got to turn up properly as players. They are two massive games coming up. I know how important the Champions Trophy is in terms of experience at a world event because then for the World Cup, you get that experience – especially with, potentially, younger players coming in. It’s very important we make sure we qualify.”
Netherlands coach Ryan Cook, speaking to PA
“For us it’s a privilege to be playing for a spot in the Champions Trophy, for them [England] it’s an expectation to finish at least in the top eight.
“It’s a massive opportunity, 100 per cent. It’s in the back of our heads that if we do manage to win this game it would help enormously to qualify and that would be huge for Dutch cricket.
“Of course England are a dangerous side, they have such quality in the batting and bowling departments, but two wins in this campaign is pretty good for us and we feel as a group there is more out there for us.”
Prediction
England have to play well at some point, don’t they?
And with Champions Trophy qualification up for grabs, Jos Buttler and Co shouldn’t be short of motivation. Expect an England win, although it will do little to silence the critics.
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