England and New Zealand meeting an epic semi final today would bring the memory of Lords final of 2019 ICC ODI world cup. Cool Kane Williamson and soft-spoken Eoin Morgan, two highly respected tacticians would lead Black Caps and English Lions to the nerve wrecking contest. The teams are so much evenly matched that none are clear favorites. The team that holds their nerves at crunch moments would go through. On an evening game toss can be factor considering the dew factor.  Otherwise, there is not much to choose between the teams. 

ODI Champions England and Runners Up New Zealand would battled out yet another knock out match today at Sheikh Zayed Stadium Abu Dhabi. These two inform teams were among the pre-tournament favorites and have justifiably made the grade. Over the past few years New Zealand a country of 5 million people in the down south has made the semi final of four global tournaments. They are the current champions and losing finalist of 2019 ODI world cup. England on the other hand is the current ODI champion. New Zealand qualified from a group finishing second to effervescent Pakistan and elbowing out formidable India. England qualified as the top team on the basis of better net run rate from the group of death having Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. New Zealand lost their first match against Pakistan while England lost the last match of the group against South Africa. 

New Zealand (probable):  Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson (Capt), Devon Conway (WK), Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner,  Adam Milne,  Tim Southee,  Ish Sodhi and  Trent Boult.
England (probable): Jos Buttler (WK), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (Capt), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Billings/David Willey,  Chris Woakes,  Chris Jordan,  Adil Rashid, and  Mark Wood

Over the last 3-4 years New Zealand proved to be the most consistent team in all formats of the game. They went so near to winning the 2019 ODI world cup losing only in one over tie breaker. They won the first ever test Championship beating firm favourites team India. In this world cup they were undone only in their first encounter by prolific Pakistan. Black Caps clinically dispatched favourites India and in their last important match knocked out Afghanistan burying the slimmest possibility of India also making the semi final. The strength of the team is penetrative pace attack of Tim Southee and Trent Boult at the top, more than useful spin attack of Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner. 

The team is perfect blend of young talent and seasoned professionals. Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell give Kiwis flying start. Kane Williams is crafty cool customer. Devon Conway is now the only batsman averaging over 50 in all formats of the game. Glen Philips and James Neesham are quite competent. Black Caps tail is not as efficient as the English tail. If somehow English bowlers can reach beyond 6 top batsmen Black Caps can be restricted. But given the presence of cool like cucumber Williamson plotting the plan and piloting, Black Caps cannot be written off at all so easily.

England also proved very consistent in the recent past. They are the first team that could get back to cricket during COVID 19 creating proper bio security bubble. The excellent cricket structure produced numbers of quality players for all formats. They turned around since 2015 ICC World Cup knock out by Bangladesh at Adelaide. Andrew Straus as Director English Cricket operation made significant changes. The team got hardly affected even without two world class performers Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. This English team bats deep, even Adil Rashid batting at 10 can score quick runs, not to speak about all round abilities of David Willey, Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan. Injury to Jason Roy, the dashing opener may cause some issues. Buttler is in prolific form. The battle would be between black caps new ball attack and English top order. If Southee, Mline (added to the team through injury to Fergusson) and Boult can strike early English batting can panic. This was evident from their last group match against South Africa when Rabada taking hat trick in the last over snatched the match from their grip. Otherwise Buttler, Bairstow, Malan, Moeen,Morgan and Livingstone can create nightmare for any attack. It would be a real test of English batting depth against cool efficiency of Black Caps. Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, David Willey can create cracks in New Zealand batting. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid also have match winning skills.

Both teams have great arsenal in their armoury for the battle of Abu Dhavi. It is anybody’s game today. 

BDST: 1210 HRS, NOV 10, 2021
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