Big picture: New Zealand eye semi-finals
While Sri Lankan cricket begins another cycle of seething introspection, there is still business to be concluded in Colombo and Pallekele. New Zealand helped turn the home crowd against their own on Wednesday night and will be looking to confirm their own passage to the semi-finals – for the fourth time in the last five T20 World Cups – when they return to Khetterama for take on England, who are already through.Looking on anxiously will be Pakistan, who shared the points with New Zealand when their Super Eight encounter was washed out and must consequently cling to the possibility of England making it three wins from three and then making up the net run rate deficit in victory over Sri Lanka (with the results margin from both games cumulatively needing to be around 70 runs, assuming the team batting first makes 180).England’s campaign so far has turned the phrase “winning ugly” into an art form; the two-wicket triumph over Pakistan that sealed their semi-final spot was so defiantly slapdash it might well end up being nominated for the Turner Prize. The quest for the “perfect game” continues. Certainly, there is no danger of them peaking too early.If there is one unsettling blot on their copybook so far, it is the continuing travails of Jos Buttler. His haunted look after dismissal for a fourth single-innings score in a row against Pakistan told the story of a horror campaign, but there is no sense yet that England are ready to pull the rug on their greatest white-ball batter of all time.
New Zealand are more in need of the win – even if a close-fought loss might do – but, after a dip at the 2024 World Cup when they were edged out in the first group stage by Afghanistan, they look back to their best as a high-functioning tournament side that always makes the best of the resources available to them.
They came into this World Cup with several players battling injury and illness; Michael Bracewell, a key allrounder in subcontinental conditions, was then ruled out without playing a game. But they have won four out of five completed games with Bracewell’s replacement, the unheralded Cole McConchie, one of stars of their come-from-behind win over Sri Lanka – a game in which their five spin-bowling options trumped the four that England are able to call on (assuming the cut to Jacob Bethell’s bowling hand has healed).
No one should be surprised to see them get the job done again. A New Zealand win would put them top of the group, and also end the uncertainty around the semi-final venues, with Mumbai and Kolkata locked in. Pakistan will be hoping desperately it’s not that straightforward.
Form guide
England: WWWWL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
New Zealand: WWLWW
England secured their place in the final four with a nervy win over Pakistan•AFP/Getty Images
In the spotlight: Harry Brook and New Zealand’s middle order
While Buttler’s lack of form remains the main talking point, Harry Brook did everything he could to make sure the headlines were about him against Pakistan. At the prompting of Brendon McCullum, Brook elevated himself to No. 3 in the order – having dropped down to No. 5 before the World Cup – and the immediate results were spectacular. Having only done the job a handful of times before for Yorkshire and Northern Superchargers, and never at international level, he made full use of the opportunity for a fast start during the powerplay and was consequently more settled when it came to navigating middle-overs spin (his T20 weak spot). A maiden T20I hundred, from just 50 balls, suggests he should be locked in at first drop for the foreseeable.Kiwis are all about the collective, with handy performance so far sprinkled around, but one area that might be cause for a smidge of concern is the New Zealand middle order. Partly that is down to the top four being so effective – openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen are their leading run-scorers, closely followed by Glenn Phillips – and partly the abandoned game against Pakistan, which meant they went eight days without playing. Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman have both batted three times and missed the chance for middle time against Sri Lanka, before Mitchell Santner and McConchie produced the vital rescue act. New Zealand have discussed pushing Santner higher, but will likely stick with the incumbents in the expectation they will come good (or not be needed).
Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman failed to fire against Sri Lanka•Associated Press
Team news: Settled sides with plenty of options
England have played the same XI five games in a row and – unless they were to suddenly change their thinking on Buttler, and parachute Ben Duckett in to open – seem likely to stick with that formula. Rehan Ahmed, Josh Tongue and Luke Wood are in the wings, in the event that they wish to test their bench strength.
England: (probable) 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Harry Brook (capt), 4 Jacob Bethell, 5 Tom Banton, 6 Sam Curran, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Liam Dawson, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Adil Rashid.
After adapting on the fly to seal such a comprehensive win over the home side, New Zealand are also expected to keep the same balance, with the two quicks and five spin options at their disposal. Jimmy Neesham could return if conditions demand another seam option.
New Zealand: (probable) 1 Tim Seifert (wk), 2 Finn Allen, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Mark Chapman, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 Cole McConchie, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Lockie Ferguson.
The R Premadasa Stadium in full bloom•ICC/Getty Images
Pitch and conditions: Used pitch, spin key?
The same surface will be in use as for New Zealand’s 61-run win over Sri Lanka – a deck that came in for implicit criticism from Dasun Shanaka for the amount it turned. It also featured one short square boundary – 62 metres compared to 75 metres – that New Zealand exploited to good effect. In six games at the Premadasa in this World Cup, only one has been won by the side chasing (Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka). A settled weather forecast should at least remove the need for any DLS calculations to be made.
Stats and trivia
- England lead the head-to-head record with New Zealand in T20Is, with 16 wins, 10 defeats and a tie (which was won by England on a Super Over).
- At T20 World Cups, England have won four out of seven, including the teams’ last encounter, at Brisbane in 2022.
- Ish Sodhi needs three wickets to overtake Tim Southee as New Zealand’s most-prolific bowler in T20Is.
- Brook’s hundred against Pakistan made him the third Englishman, behind Buttler and Dawid Malan, to have made centuries in all three formats (Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont have also done it for England’s women).
Quotes
“I’ve played with Jos and played a lot against Jos. He’s one of the most dangerous white-ball batters to have played the game. I think when you’re that good and you have a little blip then I guess you feel a little bit more pressure, but he’s hitting it as well as he has in the nets. I’m sure he’s only a couple of good strikes away.”
England bowling coach Tim Southee on Buttler’s form.
“I’ve tried to get him to bat higher, but we do obviously have a strong batting unit and also he’s reluctant to replace anyone, feels pretty comfortable where he is, which is great.”
New Zealand coach Rob Walter on Santner’s spot in the order.
Alan Gardner is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick
