England Cricket: No 'Dead Rubber' for Defending Champions in Final World Cup Clash
Key Highlights :
The defending champions have long since become an afterthought in the wider context of the World Cup, with England's early exit already guaranteed. Having lost six of their seven games, the best they can hope for now is avoiding a first-ever ODI defeat to the Netherlands, the only associate nation competing in India, and keep their prospects of reaching the 2025 Champions Trophy alive.
Assistant coach Carl Hopkinson insists their bottom-of-the-table clash with the Netherlands is no “dead rubber” and the squad are completely up for it. To qualify for the Champions Trophy, England need a top-eight finish, meaning there is no leeway for wallowing in their dreadful form when they take the field in Pune on Wednesday.
Harry Brook is on hand to add ballast to a badly under-performing top six, but could be added in place of all-rounder Liam Livingstone rather than one of the specialist batters. Livingstone adds an extra spin option but has not been able to carry his share of the run-scoring load, with just 60 runs in six innings. Pace bowler Mark Wood, who has been managing a sore knee, could also miss out with Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson snapping at his heels for a chance.
Ben Stokes’ fitness was under observation on the eve of the match, with the Test captain carrying various niggles. Former England quick Steve Harmison suggested the team management should instruct Stokes to leave the camp and go home early in a bid to fast-track his recovery for the new-year Test series in India. However, Hopkinson suggested that idea was not under consideration, saying, “Knowing Ben, he’ll want to try and play the next game in front of him and try and win that for England.”
Ultimately, England need to win and win well to qualify for the Champions Trophy, and they will be hoping to put their poor form behind them and finally show their true potential in their final game. The squad will be motivated to make a statement and prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with, even with their early exit from the World Cup already guaranteed.
