England and Australia Face Uphill Battle in World Cup

In the ongoing World Cup, two pre-tournament favorites, England and Australia, face challenges in their quest to reach the semifinals. 

Meanwhile, India, New Zealand, and South Africa are on the right track to securing their semis spots.

England’s Struggles:

England is in a precarious position after their unexpected loss to Afghanistan in New Delhi. They can’t afford another slip-up. 

Their remaining matches include clashes with South Africa, India, Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. 

To make it to the semis, England must win at least five of these six matches and also work on improving their net run rate.

One of England’s primary challenges is their batting performance. Despite having a lineup of power hitters, they are struggling on pitches with grip. 

To bounce back, Joe Root’s consistent performance will be crucial, especially against the quality spinners of India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. 

It will greatly enhance England’s chances if Root can lay a strong foundation for aggressive players like Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, and Jos Buttler.

Australia’s Recovery:

Australia, another tournament favorite, faced a rough start with losses to India and Afghanistan. 

However, they secured their first win with a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka. Despite this victory, the five-time champions are still uncomfortable on the slow playing surfaces.

In their win against Sri Lanka, leg-spinner Adam Zampa regained form, taking four wickets to restrict the Lankans to 209. Australia’s batsmen showed intent in chasing down the target with 88 balls to spare.

Though Australia has to face Pakistan, Afghanistan, England, and New Zealand in their upcoming games, they also have matches against Bangladesh and the Netherlands, which are expected to win. 

While their recent victory is positive, they have a long road ahead to secure a spot in the semis.

Conclusion:

With the World Cup underway, England and Australia, despite being favorites, are struggling to secure their positions in the semifinals. 

Both teams face tough challenges in the remaining matches, and they must regroup and perform at their best to stay in the competition. 

Meanwhile, other teams like India, New Zealand, and South Africa are approaching the coveted semis.

Get all the latest update on UAE Times Now