England v Afghanistan: World Cup betting preview, TV channel, team news and tips

TV: Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 10.30am Tuesday

Old Trafford, Manchester

The British Empire’s 19th-century duel with Russia over control of Afghanistan was known as ‘The Great Game’ but that tag may not apply to the Afghan cricket team’s World Cup clash with England.

Bookmakers expect a one-sided contest at Old Trafford, where trophy favourites England are 1-20 for victory over the 12-1 underdogs.

England are missing injured opener Jason Roy while Jos Buttler will captain the side if Eoin Morgan isn’t passed fit but the depleted hosts should outclass Afghanistan, who have disappointed at this tournament.

They fluffed a great chance of victory against Sri Lanka, when chasing 187 from 41 overs, and slipped from 69-2 to 77-7 during Saturday’s nine-wicket defeat to South Africa.

Best bets
Roy smashed 89 not out from just 46 balls in England’s warm-up stroll past the Afghans at The Oval but his absence means opener Jonny Bairstow appeals at 3-1 to be top England runscorer.

Bairstow cracked 39 off 22 in that warm-up win before starting the tournament proper with a golden duck against South Africa.

The Yorkshireman, who averages 50 since being promoted to open the batting in England’s ODI team, has warmed to his task since then, scoring 32 against Pakistan, 51 against Bangladesh and 45 against the West Indies.

Lower-order batsmen haven’t had much of a chance to impress in World Cup matches against Afghanistan. Openers David Warner, Kusal Perera and Quinton de Kock all top-scored against them, as did New Zealand number three Kane Williamson, who faced the second ball of the innings after a first-ball duck for Martin Guptill.

Bairstow, who is likely to open with Hampshire’s James Vince, scored his maiden ODI century at Old Trafford – an unbeaten 100 against the West Indies in 2017 – and is primed for more success in Manchester.

Afghanistan might have posed more of a threat on dry pitches as their best bowlers are spinners Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeed Ur Rahman.

However, their batting has been poor throughout this tournament, with all-out scores of 207, 152, 172 and 125 in defeats to Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and South Africa.

They made 160 in the warm-up game against England, having been 92-8, after a high-class display from Jofra Archer, who took three wickets in 5.4 overs.

Archer is England’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament after three-wicket hauls in the victories over South Africa, Bangladesh and the West Indies.

Coral and Ladbrokes offer 4-7 that Archer picks up two or more wickets, which may well interest big-hitting punters, but the 11-4 available about him being top England wicket-taker is a tempting price too.

Afghanistan’s batsmen won’t have faced many bowlers as quick and hostile as Archer and they struggled against New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson (4-37) and Australia’s Pat Cummins (3-40).

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Team news
England
Jason Roy (hamstring) is out of the games against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and Eoin Morgan (back spasms) may not be risked. James Vince is set to open with Moeen Ali also returning.

Afghanistan
Najibullah Zadran, a surprise omission against South Africa, should be recalled to the Afghan middle-order.

Venue
India’s batsmen racked up 336-5 against Pakistan in Old Trafford’s first game of the World Cup but the last couple of England ODIs there have been low-scoring.

England bowled out Australia for 205 last year, with Moeen taking 4-46, but they still needed a stunning Jos Buttler ton to win by one wicket while the Windies made 204-9 in 42 overs in their 2017 defeat.

Weather
Cloudy and overcast for most of the day, with showers forecast around 6pm, 18C.

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