Gory past might haunt England against Afghanistan

Zardan is much more than a Shoaib look-alike

Venue:R Premadasa stadium, Colombo

Time: 1930 local (1400 GMT)

By now, England must know that their opponents, against whom they are opening their campaign, cannot be taken lightly.

Afghanistan’s spirited performance against India brought them applause from all around the cricket world. A 23 run victory may mean quite a gap in a T20 match, yet those who have been witness would know how dangerously close the minnows came to cause the first upset of the tournament. Had it not been for Virat Kohli’s half-century, Nabi and co, with their collective brilliance, were quite capable of running over the former champions.

They being an unknown force, and having come here without the baggage of expectations, benefited them a lot. Kohli confirmed that he knows this well, when in a post-match chat he informed, “It’s always tough to play against a team with nothing to lose. They were in a situation where they could try a lot of things, we had to be more careful.”

Aggressive with bat, disciplined with the ball, the only thing Afghans need to worry about is their fielding which certainly wasn’t up to international standard. They spilled four catches in the field—which included Raina, who made the second highest with 38 runs, being dropped twice, and Kohli ridiculously gifted a life and a six by Samiullah Shenwari at the boundary line.

On the other hand, the defending champions England are aware of the wrath of the strangers. It has happened many times to them. Luckily, they have survived them all. Starting with the ’92 World Cup, when South Africa’s dreams were cut short by a farce law which asked them to make 22 runs of a ball to progress, to last year when after another rain-marred match, they edged past the Irish team solely on run-rate.

However, this is a golden period in English cricket. Stuart Broad, Eoin Morgan, Steven Finn, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann are all proven international performers, and in Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales, Jos Butler and Jade Dernbach they can see a whole new generation coming up.

Recently being upstaged from the Test crown by South Africa, England still very much have that kingly air to their conduct. ”We have to accept there might be a few nicks that fly past the wicketkeeper, and a few smashes over extra-cover and ‘cow’,” said England’s T20 captain Stuart Broad, who also ensured that they won’t panic much.

ECB officials and England players have smartly been avoiding the question around Kevin Pietersen’s exile. Yet the fact remains that KP was definitely one of their heroes in the last edition of the tournament, and this time in the sub-continent, he is only likely to be missed more.

Spin has been a worry for England. We have seen them pull their hair trying to figure out Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, not so long ago; and it goes without saying that Pietersen was England’s best player against spin bowling.

Although Afghanistan has no bowler near Ajmal’s class, England need to tread carefully against the likes of Mohammad Nabi.

Samit Patel isn’t really much of a threat as a bowler, Danny Briggs will find it hard to fit in, and apart from Graeme Swann, England doesn’t possess any quality tweaker at their disposal. Afghan coach Kabir Khan said they will work on this very weakness. “They [England] are ‘conditional’ bowlers, they bowl very well in England but they struggle outside and they have obviously struggled in Asia. We are going to exploit that,” said the former Pakistan pacer.

Head-to-Head

The two teams haven’t played each other yet.

England comes into this with four victories in their last five completed games, while Afghanistan has lost three and won two in equal number of past matches.

Possible change

20-year-old attacking opener Javed Ahmadi is likely to play. If this happens, Afghan captain Nawroz Mongol who impressed with the bat in the last match will push himself down to number three.

Ahmadi has been touted by his coach as the “future” of Afghan cricket.

Players to watch for

Afghanistan

Javed Ahmadi: The aggressive right-hander was the third highest run-getter in the recently concluded U19 world cup and also holds the record for the highest individual score in that tournament. His unbeaten 134 off 111 balls against Scotland had 17 fours and four sixes.

Ahmadi will add to the batting strength and will probably add those runs that were missing against India. Being an attacking player, Ahmadi will form a potent combination with Mohammad Shahzad at the top of the order. With Mongol to follow, it should be a batting order worth taking notice.

Shapoor Zardan: With Shoaib-like mane, Shoaib-like grin and Shoaib-like celebration, Zardan was to automatically attract eyeballs. But the pacer is more than mere antics. He showed it in the last match where he accounted for both the Indian openers.

Fiery when he starts out, the left-armer clocked 150kph against India and is likely to be as violent against England.

Mohammad Nabi: The all-rounder is more than what we saw in the last match. His late exploits with the bat ran panic waves down Indian hearts, but his bowling wasn’t really up to the mark to which we have been told he can reach.

In the run up to the last edition of the tournament, he had 13 wickets at an average of just above 10. Although he could not reflect such heroism in the tournament itself two years ago, the Indians will tell you he is a really dangerous man.

England

Stuart Broad has a gory past to forget

Jade Dernbach: Fresh from an excellent outing, the player with Hollywood hero looks is here to win hearts. Although for his being eye-candy alone one would wish him to stay longer in the international scene, Dernbach fortunately is much more than that.

He has played in 12 T20s for England so far, averaging 19.71 while picking up 14 wickets.

Jonny Bairstow: The tide was against him when he was called up to replace Kevin Pietersen for the third test against South Africa. Moreover, when he was walking in, he was carrying in his mind the ghosts of Kemar Roach’s short-balls. But Bairstow saw off all the challenges from Steyn, Morkel and company to make a well-compiled 95.

But those who know this 22-year-old lad say this wasn’t ever a worry. He had made his ODI debut in adverse conditions against India and had helped snatch a memorable victory from the jaws of defeat.

While the Pietersen question still dangles, England will again seek answer from this same replacement.

Stuart Broad: With nightmares of six sixes long-forgotten, Broad is a changed man. With hair much shorter and a much cooler head on his shoulders, England’s captain for the shortest version of the game is equally capable with the bat and ball.

Broad averages 26.74 with the bat and just over 31 with the ball in Test cricket and has 41 wickets from his 38 T20 outings. Yet it is unfortunate that we will still remember Broad as England’s face of despair in WorldT20: in 2007, when Yuvraj Singh smashed him for six consecutive sixes, and three years ago when he missed two run-out chances in the penultimate over against Netherlands to hand them an unexpected victory.

Weaknesses

England’s issues against spin bowling.

Afghanistan’s below par fielding.

Strength

This current lot are the best in English cricket in many years.

Afghanistan will benefit from being unknown. Last edition’s defeat against Netherlands might haunt England.

Prediction

England should win this match, although Afghans won’t give up without a fight.