What went right for New Zealand and England?

[barah_admi]

I am not a fan of threads such as "what went wrong for <insert team>".

We should be looking at what the finalists did right.

New Zealand v India should have been an easy enough run chase for the likes of Sharma, Kohli and Dhoni, the superstars of the game and yet they failed, on a pitch which contained no demons and a good but not great bowling line up.

It was not because India had a bad day or a bad 45 minutes as suggested by Captain Kohli. No, it was a result of superior team work...after all this is a team sport. Williamson had to grind, others pitched in and when India came out to chase, they were completely out fielded by one of the best and most consistent fielding sides there has ever been. It was a collective effort.

If we turn our attentions to England, we see the same thing. The batting is absolutely awesome but it is not one man scoring 300 or more time and time again, it is a unit which strikes hard from ball one and knows their own game inside out. It may not always work and Pakistan have shown they can be out batted and Sri Lanka showed England could be out thought but those were blips.

England and New Zealand have played consistently good cricket, not just in this world cup but for the last many years. What did they do right should be the question.

 

[Rad_Doc]

everything

 

[PakLFC]

For England their openers have been on fire. For New Zealand they got a crucial point in the rained off match versus India.

 

[Mamoon]

Nothing went right for England. They are the best in the world and have worked extremely hard over the last 4 year to be where they are today. All the talk of them being mental midgets and incapable of coping with pressure has turned out to be nonsense as expected.

 

[nam]

Luck for both. One or two close calls could have seen one or the other out of the semis.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Nothing went right for England. They are the best in the world and have worked extremely hard over the last 4 year to be where they are today. All the talk of them being mental midgets and incapable of coping with pressure has turned out to be nonsense as expected.

Sunday will reveal all. Don't count your chickens yet.

 

[cricketfan11]

It is difficult to believe India or Australia are not in the final.
But, England's and NZ's performance shows how other teams have improved.

What is really bizarre is that Pakistan can surely do better even with the current talent - for example, the top order's strike rotation/dot ball problem can be alleviated if Sarfraz promotes himself in the batting order. If the bowler's bowl with variety as Shaheen did in the later matches, they will pick wickets. Why this has not been happening is perplexing.

 

[cricketfan11]

Also, Fakhar is being asked to bat with controlled aggression but he can't do this. It is not his natural game. Imam and Babar are able to absorb pressure and see off the new ball. Gives Fakhar ample opportunity to play with freedom but again, it is confusing why this has not been happening.

 

[Markhor]

If England are the most powerful team, New Zealand are the smartest. I always feel they assess conditions and adapt better than most.

Plus they have a captain that time and again leads from the front, and far from shirking responsibility embraces it.

NZ have often been outgunned in previous World Cups by other teams but they keep getting to the semi finals as they're more than the sum of their parts.

 

[azimiqbal]

England deserve to be in the final cause last 2-3 years been one of the best teams,

New Zealand on the other hand have had one amazing performance in the semi final and are lucky to be in the final

But luck has a massive part to play in cricket world cups

As history has shown us the best team does not always win

1987,1992,1996,1999 etc

 

[Mamoon]

Sunday will reveal all. Don't count your chickens yet.

Whatever happens on Sunday, England have owned the doubters and proved that they are no mental midgets.

People who wanted them to falter so that they can call them chokers have been deeply wounded, especially after the way they demolished Australia, the so-called ruthless and elite mentality.

Sunday is the last straw in sight and I am afraid the doubters will be left red-faced yet again.

You don’t have to love or like this English team, but you need to respect the hard work they have put in to turn things around and be where they are today.

 

[gazza619]

Whatever happens on Sunday, England have owned the doubters and proved that they are no mental midgets.

People who wanted them to falter so that they can call them chokers have been deeply wounded, especially after the way they demolished Australia, the so-called ruthless and elite mentality.

Sunday is the last straw in sight and I am afraid the doubters will be left red-faced yet again.

You don’t have to love or like this English team, but you need to respect the hard work they have put in to turn things around and be where they are today.

I think its fair to say there is hard to not like this England team (unless someone has anything personal against them). They have all basis covered. Aggressive batsmen from top to lower order, quality spinners, genuine pacers and good fielders. They play the modern brand and should really be the benchmark for other teams.

 

[sweep_shot]

England believed in their game. They didn't change their game after losses against SL and Australia. Had they tried to modify their game, they would've probably been eliminated.

NZ has a brilliant captain in Williamson. He backed his bowlers to defend 240 and bowlers delivered.

High confidence in own abilities was key for NZ and England.

 

[Hasan123]

England have selected the right players , they have a plan and stick to it. Also their bowling has really turned up in this tournament. PP wrote their bowling off and it's been stronger than their batting!

NZ have been smart. They find a way to stay in games. And always give their all especially in the field. Williamson isn't scared to go for wickets hence you have see Nessham bowling at the end as he has bowled Boult and Henry out .

Both teams deserve to be in the final. May the best team win.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

England changed the face of ODI cricket and it seems all teams are at least 5 years behind them. When Root bats along with Bairstow and Roy, they make him look slow even when he is going at 90+ strike rate. England is like the Aussies of 1999 World Cup. Only need to kick out Rashid and find a decent spinner.

Kiwis well they punched above their weight, fought with every team unleashed their trump card (Ferguson) and it was game over. Batting has solely been dependent on Kane & Rosco, but bowling has been impressive.

Looking forward to an exciting finale

 

[shane]

NZ played well at the beginning but have lost it completely in the last four matches. But they have done what they needed to do. The weather has helped them enormously, which it always does. Whereas teams like SA are cursed when it comes to things like weather, NZ are blessed with it.

As for England, apart from a couple of blips, they have done everything right. The home advantage has obviously helped.

 

[big_gamer007]

England rebuild their strategy after 2015 and for 4 years worked hard and have been the best team. ECB management needs to be credited for having this idea and implementing it and backing it for 4 years.

New Zealand are a sporting nation with minimum population and no love for cricket compared to rugby they still always have à decent team. That's because their kids are athletes from the moment they go to school. The sports culture alongsides Australia's is one of the best in the world if not the best. Their bowling in friendly conditions is always a force to be reckon with and they got that against India and demolished us.

Both teams deserve to win the world cup, can't chose 1 favourite but if I was to ask I would say England's 4 year of hardwork and consistency should be rewarded.

 

[Captain caveman]

Quite simply the RAIN!!
No england game was adversly affected by rain!!
And NZ's 2 most difficult games, both against india were affected by rain!!!

Will rain come to NZ's aid in the final or will england manage to dodge the showers again and claim victory?!!
All wil be revealed shortly!!