ICC World Cup 2019: ENG vs NZ Three player battles you cannot afford to miss

Plenty of batting firepower, pacy bowling artillery and skilful spinners. England and New Zealand have plenty of things in common and that’s what makes the face off between the two highly exciting.

Both teams will be itching to secure the semi-final berth in the ICC World Cup 2019 and a win here will serve the purpose. But both teams are evenly poised and the fate of the game could be decided by these three player battles.

#3. Ross Taylor versus Adil Rashid:

The New Zealand number four brings stability during the middle overs with his solid batting. But against England he faces the challenge of Adil Rashid who has been crafty and effective with his leg spin bowling.

So far, Taylor has enjoyed fair amount of success against Rashid but the leg spinner is capable of pulling out effective tricks from his hat.

Key Numbers: Taylor vs Rashid

Total balls bowled: 215

Total runs scored: 173

Batting strike rate: 80.46

Number of times dismissed: 1

#2. Joe Root versus Trent Boult

This is a classic cricketing battle. An elegant technically sound batsman facing the wrath of an accurate and pace left-arm pacer.

Root is in sensational form in the recent times and so is Boult. The Kiwi pacer has dismissed Root twice in the past and New Zealand will be expecting Boult to continue his good show against Root.

Key Numbers: Root vs Boult

Total balls bowled: 66

Total runs scored: 59

Batting strike rate: 89.39

Number of times dismissed: 2

Also read: Top three Dream11 Captain picks for ENG vs NZ World Cup 2019 game

#1. Kane Williamson versus Ben Stokes:

England’s number one threat against New Zealand is Kane Williamson who is in pristine form in the showpiece tournament. And to tackle him, England have a lion-hearted and canny medium pacer in the form of Ben Stokes.

Stokes has dismissed Williamson thrice in the past hence it will be interesting to see how the New Zealand captain plays against Stokes.

Key Numbers: Williamson versus Stokes

Total balls bowled: 98

Total runs scored: 86

Batting strike rate: 87.75

Number of times dismissed: 3