England vs Pakistan, 1st ODI: Match Prediction – Weather Report, Pitch Conditions, Playing XIs and Live Streaming Details

Moeen Ali won't be a part of the game owing to a rib injury.

Published - 08 May 2019, 00:03 IST | Updated - 08 May 2019, 00:03 IST

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England and Pakistan are all set to take part in a five-match ODI series, starting at the Kennington Oval in London. These games are going to be extremely crucial for both the teams as the World Cup gets underway in a few weeks time. Previously, the sides locked horns in a one-off T20I at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff and the Three Lions easily came out trumps with seven wickets.

The Brits, captained by Eoin Morgan, are ranked number one in the ODI format and Pakistan will enter the series as underdogs. The Men in Green haven’t won many 50-overs games in the last one and half years. Moreover, after losing the ODI series against Australia 0-5 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sarfaraz Ahmed & Co would want to get back in a positive frame of mind.

Pitch Report

The pitch has produced some 300 plus scores in the past couple of years with exceptions now and then. Thus for this contest, a batting friendly strip can be expected. Pakistan and England have some explosive players in their ranks and a high-scoring affair seems to be on the cards.

Weather Report

The weather forecast for the game isn’t something to cheer about for the players. There are chances of heavy downpour throughout the day. The atmosphere will be gloomy with the temperature between 11 degrees Celsius and 14 degrees Celsius. The sun isn’t likely to make its way out.

Team Combination

England

Jofra Archer, after his impressive show in the T20I, may make his ODI debut. Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow need to give England a good start. Joe Root and captain Morgan strengthen the middle order. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler have the potential of going berserk in the hour of need. Moeen Ali won’t be playing the game due to a rib injury and Adil Rashid is the lone spinner in the lineup.

Probable XI

Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (C), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Jofra Archer/Joe Denly, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood

Pakistan

The left-handed duo of Imam and Fakhar are the openers. The middle-order has the calm and composed Babar Azam and Haris Sohail. Asif Ali and Sarfaraz’s role will also be of prime importance. Imad Wasim and Faheem Ashraf are no mugs with the bat. The team will expect Faheem and Imam to deliver with the ball. The focus, however, will also be on Mohammad Amir, who isn’t a part of the provisional World Cup squad.

Probable XI

Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Sarfaraz Ahmed (C & WK), Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammed Amir, Shaheen Afridi

Probable Top Performers

Jonny Bairstow- England

The Yorkshireman has been one of the reasons why England have turned into a brute force in the ODI format. But he didn’t have the best of series in West Indies and could only manage 101 runs with the top score of 56. However, the 29-year-old found his touch, playing for the SRH in the IPL. The Poms will be hoping for their premier batsman to carry on his good form with the World Cup knocking on the door.

Babar Azam- Pakistan

It can easily be said that Babar is the most reliable batsman in the Pakistan line-up. The 24-year-old has shown his class and flair. Even in the one-off T20I against England, he scored 65 off 42 with five fours and three sixes. It helped the visitors rack up 173, albeit it didn’t turn out to be enough eventually. Babar needs to fire if Pakistan are to challenge England in the series opener.