Trans-Tasman tri-series 2018, NZ vs ENG, 4th T20I Preview: England seek improvement in must-win encounter

New Zealand too will be itching to put their recent struggles behind.

Published - 12 Feb 2018, 13:05 IST | Updated - 12 Feb 2018, 13:05 IST

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The ongoing T20I tri-series shifts to the other side of the Tasman sea as England and New Zealand will lock horns in Wellington on Tuesday. Both the teams have lost to Australia down under and are now fighting for the only spot in the finals. England’s problems have compounded after twin losses against their arch-rivals and need to play well to stay alive in the tournament. However, New Zealand is a brute force at home and will make sure they keep their strong record intact.

The Kiwis would be wounded after losing to Pakistan recently in the three-match series and need a quick fix to their fortunes in the format. They were steamrolled by the Aussies when they travelled to Sydney all the way only to play a solitary game. The hosts will surely come hard at the struggling England side and look to knock them out of the series. But they need to play to their potential as the opposition will also look to trump them with their tactics.

England lost back to back games to Australia after comfortably beating them in the ODI series which preceded. They are missing the likes of Joe Root and Moeen Ali who did extremely well in that series. But the current lot has done well previously and the team management would be backing them to come good once again. The fearless approach sometimes can back to haunt the team which exactly has happened to them but it is unlikely they will alter their plans going into the must-win encounter.

The Westpac Stadium in Wellington is generally known to dish out some high-scoring surfaces for T20 Internationals. Also, it has been a chasing friendly ground with teams batting second have won 7 times out of the 8 matches played. Both the teams would want to field first after winning the toss.

Playing Combinations

New Zealand

The selectors, after the seven-wicket drubbing at the hands of Australia, decided to inject some power into the middle order and included Mark Chapman and Tim Seifert. Both will play in the XI replacing Tom Bruce and Tom Blundell. The remainder of the side is likely to be same with the skipper Kane Williamson under the scanner due to his poor returns in the format. Even the bowling attack comprising the likes of Tim Southee and Trent Boult need to perform well. Both have struggled on flat decks recently.

Probable XI: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Mark Chapman, Ross Taylor, Tim Seifert(w), Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult

England

The skipper Eoin Morgan was badly missed on a slow MCG track and he is set to return from injury in a must-win game. James Vince is the most likely candidate to make way for him even as Liam Plunkett is set to bolster the faltering bowling line-up. He is also expected to be fit after suffering from a hamstring injury during the ODI series. Liam Dawson will have to sit out after an ordinary outing in the last game.

They have to perform as a unit and hunt in packs against the well-equipped Kiwi side at home. Also, it is their last chance to stay alive in the series and gain some confidence ahead of the ODI tussle between the two teams.

Probable XI: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Billings, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Chris Jordan, Mark Wood

Head to Head

Matches – 14 England – 9 New Zealand – 4 N/R – 1

Focus will be on

Colin Munro (New Zealand)

Colin Munro has been surprisingly out of touch in the shortest format in the last couple of games. New Zealand is used to some quick-fire starts from him in the powerplay. But after an unbeaten 49 in the first T20I against Pakistan, he hasn’t crossed the double-figure mark with the bat. Much will once again depend on him and even he will be knowing the fact that the team will look up to him to win the game. Munro breezy innings will be enough to knock England out of the tournament on Tuesday.

Jason Roy (England)

Jason Roy has endured a string of low scores after a heroic knock of 179 against Australia in the first ODI of the five-match series. It seems like a distant memory now and needs to perform in a better way at the top for the middle order to pounce on the platform set by him along with Alex Hales. The struggles of the opening duo has been the reason England not being able to post huge totals on the board while batting first. Roy has to buck up in order to keep England alive in the tournament.