26 Established 1961 Sports Sunday, July 14, 2019 England faces their day of destiny in World Cup final against New Zealand The challenge for England is to embrace the hype

LONDON: England face New Zealand in the World “I think Sunday’s not a day to shy away from, it’s a Cup final today knowing years of planning come down day to look forward to,” said Morgan, an outrider in to a single day at Lord’s. When England exited the English in becoming an ODI specialist when the 2015 edition with an embarrassing defeat by steely Dubliner realised his Test career had stalled. It is Bangladesh, few were tipping them as potential cham- perhaps appropriate that England are facing New pions in four years’ time. Zealand in a final between two sides who have yet to As England put it: “If you had win the World Cup. offered us the position to play in a final the day after For it was the Black Caps who showed England how we were knocked out of the 2015 World Cup, I would to play the modern one-day game at the 2015 edition in have laughed at you.” One person not laughing was Wellington four years ago. They shot out England for , the former England director of cricket. just 123 and then overhauled that total in a mere 12.2 Drafted into the newly created role, Strauss set overs. “It was as close to rock-bottom as I’ve been”, about an overhaul that saw the former England captain said Morgan. “Certainly as a captain and as a player, appoint Australia’s as coach, and place being beaten off the park like that was humiliating.” greater emphasis on white-ball cricket. England gained a measure of revenge with a 119-run The worth of all that work showed when Morgan’s thrashing of New Zealand in a group-stage match earli- men, now top of the one-day international rankings, er in this World Cup. But that is unlikely to count for thrashed reigning champions Australia by eight much today. All tournament long, the same comment in the semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday. Many of has been made about New Zealand — they boast a the elements that made England the pre-tournament well-balanced attack led by left-arm quick favorites were on show in Birmingham. Pacemen Jofra but are -reliant on captain and Archer and reduced Australia to 14-3, fellow senior batsman for their runs. leg-spinner took wickets in the middle and The polite Kiwis have responded by continuing to the dynamic duo of and — “scrap”, in the phrase of fast bowler , statistically the most successful opening pair in ODI their way to wins as demonstrated by their dramatic history — launched the run chase with a blistering cen- 18-run semi-final victory over India. Boult and Matt tury . Henry reduced one of the world’s most powerful top orders to 5-3, before left-arm spinner , ‘Fearless’ cricket aided by superb , backed them up after BIRMINGHAM: England’s captain Eoin Morgan (R) and England’s celebrate victory at close of play dur- The challenge for England is to embrace the hype Williamson and Taylor had made battling fifties on a ing the 2019 second semi-final between England and Australia at Edgbaston. — AFP surrounding today’s fixture without letting it inhibit tricky pitch. them from playing their brand of “fearless” cricket. By While many members of the home side were not reaching the final, England have guaranteed an interna- even born when England made the last of three losing Melbourne to call on. “I’d be lying if I said we weren’t we know what to expect, the pressures that come with tional match will be shown live on free-to-air television appearances in a World Cup final in 1992, the Black a bit overawed by the change of scenery,” said Taylor it, we’ve been there before. You just have to enjoy it, in Britain for the first time since the iconic 2005 Ashes Caps have the experience of their heavy defeat by co- as he looked back to New Zealand’s first and only it’s the ‘Home of Cricket’, I can’t think of a better place series — a chance to inspire a new generation. hosts Australia in the climax of the 2015 edition in match on Australian soil in that tournament. “I think to play a final.” — AFP

“captaincy and composure” played a Omens point to England v New key part in the victory over India. Roy v Guptill - Opening gambit NZ winning the Zealand: Three Jason Roy set the tone as England tore into the Australian with rel- World Cup: key World ish on Thursday, dominating an opening stand of 124 with in-form partner Jonny Bairstow. Roy, who has been involved in Hansen Cup battles four successive century partnerships with Bairstow, missed three group LONDON: Hosts England face New games due to a hamstring injury. WELLINGTON: Celebrated All Blacks men- Zealand in the World Cup final at Lord’s England have won all three of their tor Steve Hansen believes New Zealand’s loss today, with both nations seeking their matches comfortably since his return to to England in the group stages of the Cricket first win in cricket’s showpiece event. the side and he averages an impressive World Cup will be to their advantage in todays Eoin Morgan’s England humbled holders 71 at the tournament. final. The coaching maestro, who is bidding for Australia to reach their first final since New Zealand’s has a third rugby World Cup success with the All 1992 while the Black Caps finished as struggled badly in England and Wales, Blacks this year, said when teams play each runners-up in 2015. AFP Sport looks at eking out just 167 runs in nine innings, a other twice in a tournament it is a psychologi- three key battles in the match: sharp contrast from 2015, when he fin- cal disadvantage to win the first match. ished as the top runscorer in the tourna- “The advantage is held by the team that Morgan v Williamson - ment, hitting an unbeaten 237 against loses because I think mentally it’s very hard Eyeing history the West Indies. He has proved his not to subconsciously think, ‘well, we’ve beat- LONDON: New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson (C) speaks with his players as they take Eoin Morgan and Kane Williamson prowess in the field, hitting the stumps en these guys before’, so you soften yourself part in a training session at Lord’s Cricket Ground. — AFP both have the chance to become nation- with a direct throw to India’s MS a little bit, subconsciously, it’s not a deliberate al heroes by leading their teams to Dhoni in the semi-final but New Zealand thing,” he told Radio Sport yesterday. World Cup glory for the first time. desperately need his runs at the top of World Cup final in Auckland, added that Kholi when the Black Caps beat them in the England beat New Zealand by 119 runs to England have enjoyed a dramatic revival the order on Sunday. make the semi-finals and then downed hometown pressure was also a factor which cricket semi-final. “He made a pertinent point in fortunes since their limp first-round Australia by eight wickets to make the final. could count against England in cricket’s that ‘we’ve played outstanding cricket in this exit in 2015 with Morgan at the helm, showpiece at the famous Lords ground. tournament, apart from 45 minutes, and that’s Henry v Woakes - First blood New Zealand, who only scraped into the infusing his side with a fearless destroyed India’s illustri- “If you’re not used to that kind of pressure the reason why we’re not going’,” to the final. semis on a superior run rate than Pakistan, approach. The 32-year-old batsman, ous top order in a ferocious opening it can overwhelm you. So probably, advan- “If you’re in a knock-out tournament, as then beat tournament favorites India by 18 who scored an unbeaten 45 in the hosts’ spell of on Wednesday and tage to New Zealand, because no one is (the All Blacks) found out in 2007, if you runs to reach the final “England played humbling of Australia on Thursday, has a repeat performance would set New expecting them to win in England ... it takes don’t get it right in the 80 minutes, for us, and Australia (in the group stages) and Australia urged his side to seize their moment. Zealand on the way to their first World all the pressure off you. Are they capable of the 45 minutes, for the Indians, then you go thumped them. So, you start getting a little bit “I think Sunday’s not a day to shy Cup triumph. His figures of 3-37 includ- winning it? I think they are.” Hansen was also home.” His advice for both sides facing the ahead of yourself and start thinking about away from, it’s a day to look forward to,” ed the key of and, an assistant coach of the All Blacks when they pressure of a final was not to focus on what stuff you shouldn’t,” Hansen said. he said. Williamson, whose team lost sharing the new ball with senior partner started as red-hot favorites in the 2007 will happen if they lose but to think about In the 2015 World Cup, New Zealand beat heavily to England in the group stage, Trent Boult, the paceman has now World Cup only to be bundled out in the what will happen if they win. “Immediately, if Australia in the pool stages then lost to their tried to keep his players calm after New claimed 13 wickets in eight games. quarter-finals. you say that to yourself, there’s a different trans-Tasman neighbors in the final. Hansen, Zealand’s stunning victory over India in Chris Woakes was England’s star per- He said the lesson from that shock loss feeling. Your eyes light up, there’s a smile on an assistant coach when the All Blacks strug- the first semi-final on Wednesday. former at Edgbaston as he dismantled was the same as it was for India captain Virat your face.” — AFP gled to an 8-7 win over France in the 2011 “Anybody can beat anybody,” he said. the Australia top-order including taking “It’s important that feet are on the the big wicket of to return ground and we look forward to that figures of 3-20. He has combined with Morgan hails McCullum challenge.” With two centuries and two to give the England pace fifties in his eight innings, Williamson has attack a sharper edge, with the new-ball led by example with his elegant pair claiming a combined 32 wickets influence ahead of final and sharp reading of the game. Batting together in 10 matches. — AFP great said Williamson’s LONDON: England captain Eoin Morgan paid tribute to former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum ahead of his side’s World Cup final against the Black Caps at Lord’s today. Four years ago, a New Zealand side led by McCullum shot out England for just 123 in a World Cup Twenty20 sensation group match and then overhauled that total in a mere 12.2 overs, leaving Morgan feeling as “close to rock bottom as I’ve been”. New Zealand went on to finish runners-up to co-hosts Australia named while England crashed out in the group stage. McCullum has since retired from international duty and now Morgan finds himself leading Afghan cricket captain England against New Zealand in the World Cup final. Morgan has long acknowledged England’s debt to New Zealand for their one-day inter- KABUL: The Afghan Cricket Board I am today, is because of this country national revival and, speaking to reporters at Lord’s on Saturday, he had (ACB) named leg spinner Rashid Khan and this team,” Khan said, according to warm words for McCullum. “We are close mates and he’s taught me a captain across all the major formats the ACB. lot about leadership,” he said. “I think in 2015 the way that New Zealand Friday, despite a disappointing World , who skippered played, they proved to everybody that you can perform at the highest LONDON: England’s captain Eoin Morgan addresses media representatives Cup for the Twenty20 sensation. Asghar Afghanistan for the World Cup, defend- level and get to the top by being yourselves and not trying to be some- during a press conference at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London yesterday, Afghan was also appointed vice-captain, ed his premier spinner after their final body else, or a different team.” ahead of the 2019 Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand. — AFP the ACB said in a statement announcing loss to West Indies, saying “he gives 100 the decision. Khan came into the World percent”. The 20-year-old Rashid, who ‘Last-chance saloon’ tively left England playing knockout cricket before the semi-finals but Cup as cricket’s hottest property after is one in the T20 rankings, set England, like New Zealand, have never won the World Cup, with they got their campaign back on track with impressive group-wins over catching the eye with his leg spinners for the cricket world abuzz when he became the last of their three losing appearances in the final back in 1992. “It India and New Zealand, who they overwhelmed by 119 runs at Durham’s minnows Afghanistan. the fastest bowler to take 100 ODI wick- means a huge amount to me and to everybody in the changing room,” Chester-le-Street headquarters. “I think it has helped us because it’s But the Twenty20 star, who played a ets, in 44 matches. Afghanistan is one of said Morgan when asked about the magnitude of Sunday’s match. “It’s lent itself to actually being more positive and aggressive and a bit leading role for many sides in franchise the fairytale stories of modern sport, the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication, a lot of smarter about how we play and it’s sort of been the last-chance saloon cricket across the globe, claimed only with cricket introduced to the war-torn planning.” since Durham, which has been nice in a way,” explained Morgan. six wickets in nine games as the country by returning refugees who had England played close to the perfect game in defeating reigning New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has been in superb form with Afghans returned home without notch- learnt about the game in camps in neigh- champions Australia in a lopsided semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday. the bat during the tournament, scoring 548 runs at an eye-catching ing up a single win. At a news confer- boring Pakistan. But their second ever Asked if they would need to hit similar heights against a New Zealand average of 91.33. But he was unluckily run out for just 27 against ence announcing his new role, Khan World Cup was chastening, and while team who upset the odds to beat India by 18 runs in their last-four England when bowler deflected a drive on to the stumps at acknowledged the responsibility on his they headed home with more experience clash, Morgan replied: “I think we will — New Zealand were the best the non-striker’s end. Morgan, asked if star batsman Williamson had a shoulders and expressed hopes for the under their belts, there are also major team in the group stage.” weakness, replied to laughter from the assembled media: “His backing team’s future. “We all play as one team questions over their batting strength and Back-to-back group-stage defeats by Sri Lanka and Australia effec- up, I think.” — AFP and play only for the country. Whatever lack of quality seam bowlers. — AFP