England vs Ireland, Ireland Tour of England 2020, Today Match Prediction 30 Jul 2020

eng vs ire Match Prediction & Analysis

After the historic Test series between England and West Indies is time for ODI cricket to resume in this 1st ODI between England and neighbours Ireland.  The Irish side doesn’t have the best of records against England and have defeated them only once in the nine games that the two sides have played. England, on the other hand, haven’t lost a bilateral ODI series of three or more games in the last 4 years and playing in their home conditions would start with a great amount of confidence.

International Cricket Council has added context to this series with the announcement of the 2020–22 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. This will decide qualifications for the 2023 World Cup and this will improve the importance of this series for both the sides. Ireland has some exciting players in their squad and it would be interesting to see the way they approach this game. A win here for the Irish set the series well for rest of the games.

TEAMS PREVIEW

England Preview

Eoin Morgan would be happy to be back captaining the side after a long break due to the pandemic. He has led his side well in the last two year winning the World Cup. As a new season begins the skipper would want to set the tone with a good start in this series. He would want his team to play their natural game and not be complacent against a lower-ranked side.

Though the side has rested some of its key players they still have one of the strongest batting line-ups. Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow are one of the best opening pairs in world cricket and shall look to provide a good start to the side. In the middle order James Vince, Morgan and Joe Denly would be looking to build partnerships. The side bats deep with Moeen Ali, Tom Banton and Tom Curran in the line-up.

The bowling attack is relatively new and it would be a great opportunity for Saqib Mahmood and Reece Topley to make their presence felt. The side would expect a good start with the new ball from them in the game. Tom Curran, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid complete a good bowling line-up for the side.

England Predicted Playing XI:

Eoin Morgan (c), Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Denly, James Vince, Tom Banton, Tom Curran, Moeen Ali, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley

England Actual Playing XI:

Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Saqib Mahmood, Jason Roy, AU Rashid, Moeen Ali, Eoin Morgan, Tom Curran, James Vince, Tom Banton, David Jonathan Willey

Ireland Preview

Andrew Balbirnie would be aware of the challenge his side has at hand going into the first ODI against the world champions. They don’t have a great record against their opponents and now would have the additional pressure to perform given the context of the series in terms of 20203 World Cup qualifications. Nonetheless, Balbirnie will want his side to focus on the basics and compete hard on the field.

The side will expect a good start from Paul Stirling and Gareth Delany and the former will be expected to play a lead role and put his experience to good use. They have good experience in the middle order with Balbirnie, William Porterfield and Harry Tector. These players will focus on building partnerships in the middle. Kevin O’Brien and Lorcan Tucker with the hitting abilities will look to make good use of the power play towards the end.

It is the Irish bowling attack that will be put through a serious test by the hard-hitting English batsmen. The side would expect Mark Adair and Joshua Little to strike early with the new ball and apply pressure on the batsmen. Boyd Rankin knows these conditions well and along with O’Brien and Simi Singh will focus on containing English batsmen in the middle overs.
 

Ireland Predicted Playing XI:

Andrew Balbirnie (c), Paul Stirling, Gareth Delany, William Porterfield, Harry Tector, Kevin O’Brien, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Simi Singh, Mark Adair, Boyd Rankin, Joshua Little

Ireland Actual Playing XI:

Andy McBrine, Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Kevin O'Brien, Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie, Simi Singh, CA Young, Curtis Campher, Barry McCarthy, Gareth Delany

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It would be clear skies at Southampton on July 30 and we would have a good game of cricket on our hands. The track here has normally been good to bat on with the ball coming into the bat nicely. The average first innings score here is 248 runs which is among the best in England. Bowlers have to be on the money to do well here and the side that bats first in this game would be expecting a score in tune of 320 runs.

Venue Details

The Rose Bowl, Southampton is one of the best batting wickets and allows batsmen to free their arms. The large size of the ground allows for lots of twos and threes. Fast bowlers do get their assistance when the ball is hard and new. Spinners have had a good record at this venue as the ball tends to grip and turn especially in the second innings.

Toss: To Bat

In the last five games played at this venue the side batting first has won on four occasions. It has been a good track to bat on with lots of runs being scored here. Batting first the side can put up a big total and apply pressure on the opponents and hence we expect the side winning the toss to bat first without any hesitation.