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He has put his lean run of scores down to being too eager to cash in on flat pitches, and has learnt form his mistake

Daniel Brettig03-Dec-2020Going to the New South Wales north coast enclave of Byron Bay to find yourself is usually the preserve of musicians, or perhaps a few Superannuated early retirees. Joe Burns, though, may be the first Australian opening batsman to take this road by way of preparation for a Test series.Following a decidedly underwhelming Adelaide block of early season Sheffield Shield games in which he tallied scores of 7, 29, 0, 10 and 11 for Queensland, Burns appeared exceedingly vulnerable to losing his place opposite David Warner to the burgeoning talent of Will Pucovski. But now Warner is likely to be sidelined for at least the first Test against India due to a groin strain, Burns’ Byron Bay escape and return to the fundamentals of opening the batting have shored up his mindset for what is likely to be the commission as senior opener.The Adelaide experience was not a happy one for Burns but it was also an informative one. Confident both in himself and the fact the games were being played with a Kookaburra ball rather than the more bowler-friendly Dukes, he now admits he went out searching for runs rather than simply concentrating on occupation of the crease. Pucovski, by contrast, was largely set on survival, and two double centuries flowed as a result.ALSO READ: Will Pucovski – I’ve put in a mountain of work, I’m ready for Test debut
“It’s been a little bit frustrating for me personally. I think back to the back end of last season, the Shield games we played we were playing on green tops with Dukes balls and I felt like it was the best I’ve ever batted in my career,” Burns said ahead of his warm-up match for Australia A against the Indians in Sydney. “I got to Adelaide and was licking my lips, seeing some flat wickets and hoping to make plenty of runs but just found ways to get out.”I was probably just chasing the game a little bit too much after a lay-off during the winter. So the lesson from that is to be a little bit more patient, let the game come and go from there. I feel like my skills are in a good spot, it’s just a decision-making thing and I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing against India.”In a usual season, Burns would have played as many as six Shield games by early December in a range of venues before the Tests began, but the unique nature of 2020-21 was such that he found himself with the chance for what was almost a second pre-season after commencing the summer proper.”The last few weeks I actually got a chance to go away, I was just doing a lot of work by myself,” Burns said. “Fortunately, I was training at some regional clubs and our batting coach from Queensland Adam Hollioake was coming down, we were just training all day. And the key thing I was working on was just patience. It’s just probably when you see a flat wicket and feel like you’re batting well, from the end of last season. you want to get out there and dominate, but as an opening batter sometimes dominating can be batting six, seven or eight hours and getting rewards at the back end of the day.”So I’ve faced thousands of balls and just tried to face each ball like it’s my first one. The real basics of the game – if you do the basics well, you can’t go too far wrong.”Those basics will most probably need to be applied without Warner, although prior to his injury he was one of several key voices around the Australian team to vouch for Burns’ value, and the contributions he had made at the top to blunt the new ball and make life easier for Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith and Travis Head to name three.1:08

Don’t need to break something that’s working – Warner

“Me and Davey, first of all we know our games really well and I think our games complement each other,” Burns said. “When we are batting together I feel like we read the game really well, we know when there’s opportunities to take it to bowling attacks but we also realise when there are key moments and we have to knuckle down. What we’ve always done really well and what we’re proud of doing is winning a lot of key moments for the team”Sometimes it’s the first session of a Test match, sometimes the 20 minutes after a lunch break and identifying when key bowlers are on. At the same time I know when he is getting bogged down by a bowler and there’s opportunity for me to score off them.”Weeks like this, the training in the nets together, the Australia A game batting together, provides an opportunity to form those new relationships, especially with young guys who we haven’t all had a great chance to bat a lot with to get to a point where me and Davey get to the crease and are so confident in each other’s games that we can bounce off each other.”This is not to say Burns cannot function without Warner. On the contrary, one of his best innings arrived on the opening day of a Test match in Canberra against Sri Lanka in early 2019 during the 34-year-old’s Newlands ban, when the fall of three early wickets left Burns to usher Head to his first century.”Dave’s such a world class player it’s always a nice luxury to have him at the other end, but at the same time I’ve always said I try to take as much responsibility myself as possible as well,” Burns said. “The game where Dave got out early, I really wanted to perform in those games, and now that he’s out injured or potentially not playing, it’s a great opportunity to play a senior role.”But it’s a huge role to fill if Dave’s not available, and it’s not only one person, but it’s the responsibility of a few guys to step into that position. We’ll make sure we are prepared for a really tough battle, in particular as opening batters; that first session, that first hour, it’s going to be crucial to the game and crucial to keeping the momentum of their bowling attack out. If we can start well it’s going to go a long way to winning the series.”Burns faced India in his first Test series back in 2014, but was quick to note a key contrast. This time he will be doing the hard work for others to benefit from, where six years ago it was the other way around. “It was a little bit different back then,” he said. “I was batting at No. 6, I think one game we won the toss and batted and I didn’t bat until day two.”

San Diego Wave announce shock departure of manager Casey Stoney after tough start to the NWSL season.

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• SD Wave sack Casey Stoney
• NWSL side won 2023 Shield
• Have had tough start to 2024 campaign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After finding themselves winless in their last seven matches, the San Diego Wave announced Monday afternoon that they are parting ways with English manager Casey Stoney. Paul Buckle is set to serve as interim head coach.

  The longest-tenured coach in the league, Stoney was the Wave's founding manager in 2021, and even recently signed a contract extension with the NWSL side in January after being linked as a potential replacement for Emma Hayes at Chelsea.

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  The Wave won the 2023 NWSL Shield, finishing the campaign as regular season champions. They followed it up with a 2024 Challenge Cup victory over reigning NWSL Cup champions Gotham FC.

  However, the 2024 regular season has not gone to plan for the Wave. They actively sit ninth in the league standings, outside the playoff picture, with just three victories.

  The Wave are winless in their last seven, and a recent 0-0 draw with the Houston Dash was the final straw.

• WHAT JILL ELLIS SAID

  “We are immensely grateful to Casey for her commitment to our club and the positive impact she has had both on and off the pitch.” said San Diego Wave FC President Jill Ellis. “Over the past seasons, Casey has guided us to significant milestones, and her contributions have been instrumental in laying a strong foundation on which to build. The decision to part ways was very hard and not made in haste, but given the ambition of this club, and where we are in our season, we felt a change was necessary at this time.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR THE WAVE?

  San Diego take on the Chicago Red Stars Friday evening in NWSL action. They'll be searching for their first win since May 8.

A former Andorra player expressed his joy at the fact ex-England ace Wayne Rooney still has his shirt after swapping jerseys in an international game.

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• Rooney swaps England shirt with Andorra player
• Admits he still keeps onto such jerseys
• Said Andorra player pipes up on social media

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  In September 2008, Andorra hosted England in a 2010 World Cup qualifier, with the Three Lions winning 2-0 thanks to a Joe Cole brace. Rooney played in that game, as did Andorra defender Ildefons Lima and at the full-time whistle, the pair swapped shirts following the centre-back's request. Just under 16 years on, Rooney has revealed he still has that shirt at home – something Lima was overjoyed at.

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• WHAT ROONEY AND LIMA SAID

  Rooney told : "I always respected any player who asked for my shirt. Even to the point where we are playing Andorra and I remember one of the players came up and asked for my shirt and we swapped shirts. I've seen players where they just throw it into the kit and aren't interested. Whereas I'd always show respect to him, take it home, and keep the shirt."

  He then confirmed an Andorra shirt is still somewhere in his house, prompting Lima to tweet: "Great news, @WayneRooney Still owns my shirt #andorra #rooney #matchwornshirt #respect."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In a series of amusing tweets, the former Rayo Vallecano man, 44, then showed he also has Rooney's England shirt from that day in his hefty football jersey collection. Incidentally, both tweets went viral on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.

• WHAT NEXT?

  For Rooney, the 38-year-old – who was sacked by Birmingham City earlier this year – will be acting as a pundit for the BBC during this summer's European Championship, before he prepares for life as Plymouth Argyle's new manager.

Ahmedabad is also scheduled to host the five-match T20I series

Nagraj Gollapudi10-Dec-2020Chennai and Ahmedabad will play hosts for India’s upcoming four-Test series against England. The first two Tests will be played in Chennai (February 5-9 and February 13-17), with the newly refurbished Motera stadium hosting the next two matches, including the day-night Test from February 24.Ahmedabad will also host the five-match T20I series between March 12 and 20, right after the Test leg of the tour. It is currently unclear whether the matches will be played behind closed doors, or with fans allowed in.England will land in Chennai on January 27, a day after finishing their Test tour of Sri Lanka, which is scheduled to be played behind closed doors in Galle.ESPNcricinfo understands that along with Ahmedabad and Chennai, the BCCI had discussed Mohali as a potential venue for the Test series, which will be the last assignment for both India and England in the inaugural cycle of the World Test Championship. Ultimately Chennai got preference over Mohali because of its proximity to Sri Lanka (roughly an hour-long flight from Colombo), as well as the surface at Chepauk which is thought to be better suited to the Indian bowling attack.Ahmedabad, meanwhile, was chosen mainly because it has not hosted an international match for nearly six years and also happens to be the home base for Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary.The last international match played at Motera was the second match of the ODI series against Sri Lanka, in November 2014. The last domestic match was an IPL game in 2015 which Royal Challengers Bangalore won against hosts Rajasthan Royals.The refurbished stadium at Motera, inaugurated in February by outgoing USA president Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, can accommodate 110,000 spectators, making it the biggest-capacity cricket ground in the world.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The newly laid ground has 11 pitches. It is understood the Gujarat Cricket Association will organise at least one unofficial match contested between Gujarat’s domestic players ahead of the Test series.In a media release issued on Thursdsay to announce the itinerary, the BCCI said they had “restricted” the England tour to just three venues as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.No word on fans at the gamesThe BCCI did not make any reference to whether fans would be allowed at the stadium in its release. But administrators are optimistic that crowds could come based on directions from the Indian government. Despite resuming normal life after two long national lockdowns India continues to be enveloped by the pandemic. The number of cases, according to the the US-based John Hopkins University of Medicine, are creeping to the 10-million mark (historical), which puts India only behind the US. At the moment, India has recorded over 141,000 deaths.However, the emergence of vaccines globally has provided a ray of hope. The Indian government has set up an expert panel to authorize clinical trials conducted by three firms which are in advanced stages of creating a Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in the country.With or without crowds, the England tour is the first international cricket that will be played in India since March, when South Africa had to abort their limited-overs tour midway and return home due to the pandemic.”The BCCI prioritises the health and safety of both teams and will leave no stone unturned to make sure that the tour is held adhering to all safety protocols agreed by the BCCI and ECB medical teams,” Shah said.Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive officer, said he was satisfied with the BCCI’s planning to create a biosecure environment for the marquee series.”International cricket between India and England is a highlight of the cricketing calendar and always attracts significant levels of interest from fans around the world,” Harrison said.”We have been delighted with the planning that has been undertaken by the BCCI to ensure the three venues in Chennai, Ahmedabad and Pune will be ready to host international cricket in a bio-secure environment and look forward to working closely with them over the coming weeks to finalise those plans.”

In a memorial service limited to just 10 attendees by Victoria’s ongoing coronavirus lockdown, Jones was remembered by those closest to him

Daniel Brettig07-Oct-2020Dean Jones was privately farewelled by his family with a lap of honour of an empty MCG on Saturday, as the ground’s public address system played tunes by Elton John and INXS, musicians the former Australian batsman had counted among his many friends.In a memorial service limited to just 10 attendees by Victoria’s ongoing coronavirus lockdown, Jones was remembered by those closest to him, before his coffin was conveyed around the venue where he played six of his 52 Test matches and countless state and club fixtures: Jones moved from his father Barney’s club Carlton to the Melbourne Cricket Club in the 1980s.While a public memorial service is planned for a time when more mourners will be permitted to attend, Jane Jones said that the family had been extremely moved by the way her husband’s life and cricket had been remembered and revered by so many.”We have been deeply moved by the outpouring of love for Dean over the last week and can’t thank everyone enough for their support and for sharing their memories with us,” she said. “It has been an awful time to navigate as a family, but I could not have thought of a more fitting place to say goodbye to my husband than under the lights of his beloved MCG.”What better way to honour him than with the music of his friends Elton John and INXS echoing throughout the empty stadium. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the Melbourne Cricket Club and the MCG for their willingness to create our personal tribute to Dean and for Cricket Australia’s support.”We would also like to extend a big thank you to the Department of Foreign Affairs for ensuring Dean was returned home to us as quickly as possible. We will forever miss Dean’s energy, his zest for life, passion for cricket and his love for us as a family.”

Stefan Ortega revealed that Pep Guardiola has changed his understanding of football after signing a contract extension with Manchester City.

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• Ortega committed his future to City
• Played crucial role during Ederson's absence
• Lavished praise on Guardiola for tactical input

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ortega, who joined City in the summer of 2022 from Arminia Bielefeld on a free transfer, has quickly become an integral part of the squad. His performances have been crucial, particularly in the last season where he made 20 appearances across all competitions in the absence of No.1 choice Ederson. He was rewarded for his performances with a new contract that sees him tied to the club until 2026 and was announced on Saturday.

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  One of his standout moments came with a critical one-on-one save against Tottenham's Son Heung-min in the penultimate Premier League game, a stop that played a significant role in City's unprecedented fourth consecutive league title. Moreover, he played in the FA Cup from the initial rounds and helped City reach the finals of the cup tournament for a second successive season before losing out to Manchester United in the final.

• WHAT ORTEGA SAID

  Reflecting on his growth, the 31-year-old attributed much of his development to Guardiola’s influence, telling the club's website: “Sometimes it’s really hard because he tries to be perfect but obviously everyone knows to be perfect is impossible. But it’s enjoyable because if you work under Pep, he opens your view of football in a completely new way, it’s incredible. For example, when I watch football now I watch it so differently to before because you get so many inputs off Pep. He’s incredible. He’s a top guy and it’s just a privilege to be a part of his team.”

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ortega also expressed deep appreciation for goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor, who has been instrumental in his development since his arrival at City.

  “Xabier is incredible,” Ortega stated. “It’s what he sees in you and he is a guy who doesn’t try to change you as a person and as a keeper, he is just there. For example, he’ll say: ‘You do this in this way, try it in the other way, if you don’t like it do it your way but just try it’. And you know there’s no pressure to change just for him, he’s just there for you and tries to bring out the best of you.”

The European Super League received a massive boost from a Spanish court as it was ruled that UEFA and FIFA indulged in anti-competitive behaviour.

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• ESL gets relief from Madrid court
• Judgement not to be read as an endorsement to ESL
• UEFA releases statement

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The decision, handed down by Madrid's commercial court, follows almost the same trajectory as the judgement given by the European Court of Justice in December. As reports, A22 Sports Management, the company behind the ESL, had filed the case against UEFA, FIFA, Spain's La Liga, and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), arguing that the bans imposed by the governing bodies were unjustified and hindered free competition.

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  UEFA were quick to clarify that the ruling does not equate to an endorsement of the ESL or any similar proposals and emphasised that the judgement has not approved or given the green light to projects like the Super League – a sentiment echoed by La Liga. However, Bernd Reichart, CEO of A22 Sports Management, interpreted the ruling as a pivotal moment for European club football. He declared that "the era of the monopoly is now definitively over", hailing the judgement as a crucial step towards a more "competitive and sustainable club football landscape in Europe".

• WHAT DID UEFA SAY

  UEFA released a statement that read: "UEFA takes note of today’s judgment from the Madrid Commercial Court. In particular, UEFA is pleased to note that the judge confirmed the validity of a pre-authorisation system being in place for third-party competitions to be approved under UEFA’s authorisation rules and recognised the undoubted benefits of such rules for the football sporting system. The court also confirmed that the current version of UEFA’s authorisation rules (as adopted in June 2022) is not affected by today’s ruling.

  "Further, the court has not given the green light to, nor has it approved, projects like the Super League. In fact, the judge has asserted that the Super League project has long been abandoned and that she cannot be expected to rule on any abstract projects. In short, the judgment does not give third parties the right to develop competitions without authorisation and does not concern any future project or indeed any modified version of an existing project. In any case, UEFA will take time to study the judgment before deciding whether any further action is necessary."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The ESL saga began in April 2021 when 12 prominent football clubs, including English giants Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, announced their plans to form a breakaway league. The announcement sparked widespread outrage among fans and government officials, leading to the collapse of the plans within just 72 hours. However, the ESL came up with a new format which would involve 64 teams from Europe in a three-tier tournament.

Bangladesh cannot afford anymore slip-ups and the first obstacle in their way is an Afghanistan team still looking for their first win

The Preview by Ankur Dhawan23-Jun-20192:35

Hussey: Wickets in the middle the key for both teams

Big Picture

If you wanted an idea of how much the nature of a pitch influences the cricket played on it, contrast Afghanistan’s last two matches. Against England – not even the best players of spin – their star legspinner Rashid Khan was given a tutorial on what life is like for the less gifted on most days. The spin trio of Rashid, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi collectively conceded a seemingly confidence shattering 224 in 28 overs in that match.Fast forward to Southampton and it must have felt like waking up to a beautiful morning from a terrible nightmare. On the slower, drier pitch there, not entirely different from the Hyderabad surface they play on in the IPL, they were a beast that couldn’t be tamed by one of the strongest batting line-ups in the world. For all the external factors that a disappointing campaign can be attributed to, it is really out in the middle, on unfavourable surfaces that their fate has most often been sealed. But having come within touching distance of tasting victory against India, Afghanistan will be thrilled to remain in Southampton, hoping to cause what would be on current form, an upset against Bangladesh.Ironically, Bangladesh themselves were a conditions-dependent team for the longest time, but despite their lack of experience in the UK, they have shown to have acquired the kind of adaptability you need to not just compete in multi-team tournaments played on varied surfaces but also be legitimate contenders. A washout against Sri Lanka, a team they would have fancied their chances against, has left them in a position where even winning all three remaining games may not be enough to make the top four, but it is the minimum requirement. Each match from here is a virtual knockout, the kind of pressure situation that has made former champions like Pakistan (1992) and Australia (1999). It’s the kind of situation which could transform Bangladesh from a competitive unit to one that is feared by oppositions.

Form guide

Bangladesh LWLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan LLLLL

In the spotlight

Bangladesh’s problem has been taking wickets. They have averaged 49 with the ball, the most for any team in the World Cup so far. A major reason for that has been the impenetrability of offspinner Mehidy Hasan, particularly in the first 30 overs. In that period of the match, when the narrative takes shape, he averages 165, with one wicket in 32 overs. It must be noted that none of these – with the exception of The Oval against New Zealand which was slow – matches could said to have been played on spin-friendly surfaces, like the one he’s likely to have in Southampton. However, he was struck on the side of the head by a ball during a net session on the eve of the match, and though he is understood to be out of danger, his participation in the Afghanistan clash is in doubt.Rashid Khan came back strongly after the hammering at Old Trafford to restrict India’s scoring in the middle in Southampton, before picking MS Dhoni, his only wicket, in the death. However, he has been afflicted with a similar malady as Mehidy, having struggled in his first spell throughout the World Cup. In the 20 overs that have constituted his first spell across five matches, he has gone at over six runs per over, without taking a single wicket. Against proficient players of spin, he will be tested again but on a helpful surface, Afghanistan will want more from their premier spinner.

Team news

A blow to the side of the head has put Mehidy Hasan’s participation in doubt. That would be a big blow to Bangladesh on a spin-friendly surface. Mohammad Saifuddin, Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in the tournament, sat out the last match against Australia due to a back injury he hasn’t fully recovered from. Rubel Hossain, who replaced him, went for 83 in nine wicket-less overs. Bangladesh may be tempted to persist with him for his pace, particularly against Afghanistan, but also because Abu Jayed, the other option, largely relies on moving the new ball, something that hasn’t been on offer in Southampton. Mosaddek Hossain, however, could be back after sufficiently recovering from a left shoulder injury. He might replace Sabbir Rahman or Mehidy, depending on the latter’s availability.Bangladesh (Probable XI): Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mehidy Hasan Miraz/Mosaddek Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur RahmanAfghanistan may persist with the same side after it gave India a run for their money.Afghanistan (Probable XI): Hazratullah Zazai, Gulbadin Naib*, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Aftab Alam, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

Spin has played a significant role in Southampton, although some of the quicks have used the two-paced nature of the pitch to their advantage as well. While chasing is the preferred option in ODIs, this is a venue where runs on the board can be golden. However, the chance of rain could throw all of that out of the window.

Strategy Punt

• Of all teams, Afghanistan have been the most vulnerable against short-of-a-length or short deliveries. They have lost 21 wickets to those lengths, averaging a shade over 15. Someone like Rubel Hossain could exploit that weakness.
• Mohammad Nabi, who took Afghanistan to the brink of a massive upset against India, has been excellent against spin but not so much against pace. Four of his five dismissals in the World Cup have come against pace and his strike also dips from 100 against spin to 62 against pace. It’s a no brainer for Bangladesh to attack him with pace.

Stats and trivia

• Gulbadin Naib needs 43 runs for 1000 runs in ODIs
• Mashrafe Mortaza needs 2 wickets for 100 wickets as a captain in ODIs.
• Shakib Al Hasan needs 35 runs for 1000 runs in World Cups

Quotes

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Chelsea are reportedly set to hold talks talks with Barcelona legend Xavi as they look to replace Mauricio Pochettino.

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• Chelsea to open talks with Xavi
• Identify Barcelona legend as contender to succeed Poch
• Xavi to manage Catalan club for final time on Sunday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  On Friday, the Catalan giants officially announced that they have decided to part ways with head coach Xavi at the end of the current season. Chelsea, on the other hand, announced the departure of Mauricio Pochettino by mutual consent after just one year with the Argentine in charge at Stamford Bridge.

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  The Blues are looking for a suitable candidate to replace Pochettino at the helm and according to journalist , they are set to open talks with Xavi to evaluate the possibility of appointing the former Spain international as their new head coach.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Premier League giants have also included managers like Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank, Kieran McKenna and Enzo Maresca on their shortlist as they look to appoint Pochettino's successor as soon as possible.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR XAVI?

  The 44-year-old will sit in the Barcelona dugout one last time on Sunday as they take on Sevilla in their final game of the season away from home.

Bangladesh are not an opponent to be trifled with, even for a team as aggressive with the bat as England

The Preview by Alan Gardner07-Jun-2019

Big Picture

Possibly not for the first time in this marathon round-robin stage, England have met with a moment. The phrase “Don’t panic!” of course cannot be uttered without giving the underlying impression that panic is precisely what’s in store, though Joe Root’s words in the aftermath of defeat to Pakistan were eminently sensible and (presumably) not delivered in a reedy Clive Dunn warble.There is common acceptance that each of the four semi-finalists will have to overcome a few losses on the way – though Eoin Morgan would surely have preferred England’s first not to have come inside the opening couple of games. The fielding that backed up their efforts with the ball so strongly against South Africa was well below par at Trent Bridge, and in a 14-run defeat was probably the decisive factor, even if England have come to back their batting to overhaul whatever target gets put in their way.Their next opponents, Bangladesh, have shown they are not to be trifled with, and will be cheered on by a partisan following, too – something that seemed to unsettle England in Nottingham. While Cardiff has been a relatively successful venue for England – almost in spite of the silent W in the ECB – it also holds good memories for Bangladesh as the scene of their famous mugging of Australia in 2005, and there is every chance that plush tigers will outnumber lions in the stands.Cardiff was also where England’s Champions Trophy hopes came to grief in 2017, so they have plenty of reasons to stay focused on the job in hand. Centuries for Root and Jos Buttler against Pakistan will encourage England to stick to their batting guns, and given their leaky bowling they may well get another chance to overwrite Ireland’s Bengaluru 2011 heroics for the record World Cup chase. Adil Rashid’s indifferent form, perhaps exacerbated by a long-term shoulder problem, may be causing some anxiety, though.For Bangladesh, defeat to New Zealand was ultimately an agonising affair, but they go into this game with as many points as the hosts and under no great pressure against one of the favourites. The top order has been in relatively good form, although they might need to find more wicket-taking options in the middle overs if they are to contain as aggressive an opponent as England.After their painful meeting in Adelaide four years ago, England will know not to underestimate Mashrafe Mortaza’s side. In fact, in both of the previous World Cups, Bangladesh have knocked over England during the group stage – should they make it three from three, then Morgan might have to start considering panic as the least-bad option.3:56

Nafees: Bringing in Rubel will play to England’s strength

Form guide

England LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh LWWWW

In the spotlight

After being hailed for his fielding in England’s opener, Jason Roy experienced the flip side in Nottingham – his drop of Mohammad Hafeez the most notable blip in a malfunctioning effort. Pakistan then became the second team in succession to open the bowling with a legspinner based on Roy’s perceived weakness: a theory that will remain intact after his lbw attempting to sweep Shadab Khan’s seventh ball. Man of the Series against Pakistan during England’s build-up, Roy made a momentum-shifting fifty despite the attentions of Imran Tahir at The Oval but could be targeted by Bangladesh’s spinners once again.There is no doubt about the leadership skills of Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh’s most successful ODI captain, but there might be growing scrutiny over his role with the ball. A lack of penetration cost Bangladesh against New Zealand, a match which extended a dry run for Mashrafe – he has gone wicketless in six of his nine matches in 2019, and not bowled his full quota overs on each of those occasions, too. However, he has a decent career record against this England side, and has nine wickets in four ODIs against them since the 2015 World Cup.

Team news

England tend to stick with the same players in defeat, almost as a sign of faith, although there is a chance the ground dimensions in Cardiff will instigate at least one change. With short, straight boundaries to defend, Liam Plunkett could be in line for a recall, possibly at the expense of Rashid, who was fared badly at Trent Bridge after seeing Hafeez dropped in his second over.England: (probable) 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Liam Plunkett, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Mark WoodBangladesh have gone well so far, and while Sabbir Rahman might back his chances after Mosaddek Hossain’s returns of 26 and 11 so far in the lower middle-order, he might just have to wait a bit longer.Bangladesh: (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mohammad Mithun, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mohammad Saifuddin, 9 Mehidy Hasan, 10 Mashrafe Mortaza, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

The Cardiff deck was seamer-friendly in the opening two games, it has also tended to be on the slow side, though the boundaries – the straight ones are especially short – are hard to defend and England piled up 342 for 8 there against Australia last summer. Rain has forced the pitch to be under covers the last couple of days too, so that could have a bearing on the way it plays.

Strategy punts

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

• Another reason England might want to add a pace bowler instead of Rashid in their XI is that Bangladesh’s most consistent middle-order batsman, Mushfiqur Rahim, has been outstanding against spin in recent times.
• Chris Woakes’ form with the new ball has been something of a concern for England and Bangladesh’s openers might look to target him. His economy in 2019 is 7.0 from nine matches so far, and a rate of 6.5 in the Powerplay – where he has taken seven wickets at 38.9 – is by far the worst of his career, year on year.
• Those stats might suggest England should try opening the bowling with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood instead. The importance of getting Tamim Iqbal or Soumya Sarkar early is clear: since the 2017 Champions Trophy, Bangladesh have won 80% of matches in which Tamim has reached 50, and 100% when Soumya does so.

Stats and trivia

• England’s defeat at Trent Bridge was their first while chasing at home since 2015, when they lost to Australia at Lord’s.
• Bangladesh have won both of their previous ODIs in Cardiff, beating New Zealand during the 2017 Champions Trophy and Australia in the 2005 tri-series with England.
• The 224-run partnership between Shakib and Mahmadullah in that New Zealand game remains a Bangladesh record for the fifth-wicket in ODIs.

Quotes

“Bangladesh will open with spin definitely. It’s just another challenge the two guys have been presented with. It’s like anything: when the balls swings, it’s a new challenge, when guys bowl short, it’s a new challenge. Mystery spin is a new challenge. I’m sure they’ll kick on.”
“For us, we have been beating them the last two World Cups. It doesn’t mean that we will make it happen again. Obviously there is the chance, and for that, we have to play at our best.”