World Cup 2019: Five England players India should watch out for

India marches on undefeated in the World Cup 2019 after they hammered West Indies by 125 runs at Old Trafford, Manchester. The bowling attack of the Men in Blue is looking lethal and has proved to be as one of the best in the tournament so far.

The next challenge for Virat Kohli and co. awaits at Edgbaston, Birmingham in the form of England. The hosts have recently endured a slump with two back to back defeats in the tournament and their match against India becomes a must-win game.

The current English team may have lost their no.1 ranking to India after their recent defeats but they are not to be taken lightly. The England team has got quality players and some great match winners who can change the course of the match.

In the light of India vs England, let’s have a look at five English players who could have a massive impact against India.

#5 Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan is a middle-order batsman for England who usually comes in at no.4 to bat. He is having a good World Cup 2019 so far scoring 274 runs at an average of 45.67 and with an impressive strike rate of 122.32.

Morgan is an important part of the England batting line-up. He is a very versatile batsman who can play the anchor’s role as well as can really up the ante when necessary. His record against India is a decent one, with 546 runs at an average of 36.4.

We have already seen the destruction that the English captain is capable of against Afghanistan. His innings of 148 off 71 balls was a record-breaking one where he hit 17 sixes in the match. He hammered the quality Afghan spinners for huge sixes which is a dangerous sign as India also relies heavily on spin bowling.

#4 Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow doesn’t have a great record against India in ODI cricket, averaging just 31.5 in 10 matches. But his past record shouldn’t matter much considering that he is one of the best openers going around in world cricket at the moment.

Bairstow is an aggressive opening batsman who looks to hammer the opposition right from the first over itself. His career strike rate of 105.36 suggests that he can take away the game from the opposition in the powerplay overs.

Bairstow is having an average World Cup 2019 where he has played a couple of great innings and also got out on without scoring couple of times. He is averaging 35 in the tournament so far with two half-centuries.

India should be wary of Bairstow and not allow him to get set in the middle. We have seen in the IPL 2019 that he plays spin very well even on some turning pitches.

#3 Jos Butler

Jos Butler

Jos Butler is one of the best-limited overs batsmen in the world currently. He is an explosive batsman who can deposit the ball to any part of the ground. After AB de Villiers’ retirement, Jos Butler is the new Mr. 360 in world cricket.

Butler is a middle-order batsman who usually comes in at no.5 or 6. His role in the team is that of a finisher but when he has to come in the crease early on then he has the ability to play long innings.

Butler has an astonishing career strike rate of 120.02 along with an average of 41.24. The wicket-keeper batsman has got the amazing ability to clear the ground easily and with some consistency. Already having recorded a century in the tournament, Butler is looking in good touch.

Butler may not enjoy a good record against India but the threat of the Englishman can’t be taken lightly. India may have good death-over bowlers but his 360-degree play could disturb the rhythm of the bowlers.

#2 Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer is one of the rising stars of world cricket at the moment. Before the World Cup 2019, he was rarely a part of the England squad but now he is their star performer in the tournament.

The main ability of Jofra Archer is speed. He bowls at an average speed of 145 kmph which keeps the batsmen on their toes. Every batsman in the world hates a bowler who constantly bowls at that speed. He makes bowling at 150 kmph look very easy.

Archer has been England’s main man in the bowling department. He is the second leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 16 wickets just behind Mitchell Starc. His economy rate is also just 5.04 which is impressive for a fast bowler.

Before the tournament started Archer has said that Virat Kohli is his dream wicket and the Indian skipper has also publicly acknowledged the quality of the English bowler. So the battle between one of the fastest bowlers in the tournament and one of the best batsman in the world will be a mouthwatering one.

#1 Joe Root

Joe Root

Joe Root is one of the best batsmen in world cricket at the moment. His name always comes across when people discuss the finest cricketers of this generation. In this World Cup 2019, Root has displayed exactly why that is the case.

The England batting line-up is full of stroke players and big hitters and among them, Joe Root brings the stability to the batting line-up. He is a class player who has got all the shots in his arsenal. His ability to rotate strike at will in the middle overs makes him such a consistent player.

Joe Root is having a terrific tournament so far scoring 432 runs at an average of 72. He is 4th in the list of leading run scorers for the tournament with two centuries and three half-centuries in 7 matches so far.

Root’s record against India makes him even more dangerous. His stats in all three formats of the game against the Men in Blue is phenomenal. In 17 ODI matches against India, he has scored 684 runs at an average of 57. His ability to play spin very well makes him a much more dangerous player against India.