The 40th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 will see England take on the Netherlands at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Wednesday.
While England have dominated the head-to-head in ODIs, the Dutch have sprung some upsets against them at ICC events before. The Netherlands famously beat England in the opening game of the 2009 World T20 in a major shock.
England’s title defense has unravelled spectacularly as they were the first team eliminated following six losses in seven games. Their confidence is in tatters and they are now playing only for pride and Champions Trophy qualification.
The Netherlands meanwhile have punched above their weight, notching wins over South Africa and Bangladesh. But their semi-final hopes are all but over too. This game is about avoiding the last place for both teams.
With the pressure off, hopefully an entertaining game awaits. The Netherlands will see this as a golden opportunity to record a historic maiden ODI win over England. The demoralized English will want to restore some lost pride.
While the stakes are low, expect England and Netherlands to come hard at each other in this final World Cup tussle. Their T20 World Cup meetings have been thrillers and this could be another close contest.
Bet on England at odds 1.15 at Mostbet>> (Use Mostbet promo code MOSTBANG for an exclusive offer.)
Bet on Netherlands at odds 6.08 at 1xBet>> (Use 1xBet promo code BANGVIP for an exclusive offer.)
England Overview
The Three Lions have failed to roar at the ODI World Cup 2023, with England’s star-studded batting lineup struggling to post competitive totals. Senior pros like wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, all-rounder Ben Stokes and opener Jonny Bairstow have lacked their usual firepower, while the team’s leading run-scorer Joe Root has often found himself stranded.
With the bat falling short, England’s bowlers have been under pressure. Despite the efforts of paceman Chris Woakes and left-armer David Willey, as well as leg-spinner Adil Rashid, the bowling unit has been unable to defend modest totals.
After a heartbreaking five-run loss to Ireland, England’s faint semi-final hopes were extinguished by a 33-run defeat to rivals Australia – their fifth in a row. The reigning champions’ disastrous title defense is over.
But pride and future tournaments are on the line as England wrap up their World Cup. Jos Buttler’s side still have plenty to play for, including qualification for the 2023 Champions Trophy. With an eye to the future, exciting youngsters like batter Harry Brook and seamer Sam Curran may get opportunities to shine.
Netherlands Overview
The Netherlands have impressed at their first World Cup appearance since 1996 with their spirited performances. Wins over tournament favorites South Africa and Bangladesh proved they belong on this stage.
Dutch batting has revolved around the experience of Tom Cooper and Scott Edwards along with the aggression of newcomers Vikramjit Singh and Max O’Dowd. Wicket keeper batter Scott Edward has been a revelation as Netherlands’ leading run-scorer.
In bowling, the clever medium pacers Logan van Beek and Paul van Meekeren have struck regularly with their variations. Spinners Roelof van der Merwe and Timm van der Gugten have been economical.
Fielding is an area needing improvement with catches spilled at crucial moments. But the Dutch can be proud of exceeding expectations and making life tough for bigger teams.
With semi-final qualification out of reach now, Netherlands will be keen to avoid finishing last in their group. Upsetting an England team low on confidence would be the perfect way to sign off their World Cup.
The Netherlands have nothing to lose which makes them dangerous. The likes of Cooper, Edwards and van Beek will want to finish on a high against a struggling England lineup. Don’t rule out another Dutch shock.
England vs. Netherlands Starting XI
Expected Starting XI for England:
- Jos Buttler (c & wk)
- Jonny Bairstow
- Dawid Malan
- Joe Root
- Ben Stokes
- Moeen Ali
- Liam Livingstone
- Chris Woakes
- David Willey
- Adil Rashid
- Mark Wood
Expected Starting XI for England:
- Scott Edwards (c & wk)
- Wesley Barresi
- Max O’Dowd
- Colin Ackermann
- Sybrand Engelbrecht
- Bas de Leede
- Saqib Zulfiqar
- Logan van Beek
- Roelof van der Merwe
- Aryan Dutt
- Paul van Meekeren
England are likely to persist with the misfiring opening pair of Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan. Liam Livingstone should replace Joe Root in the middle-order. David Willey could return to the XI. For the Netherlands, young opener Vikramjit Singh could make way for veteran Saqib Zulfiqar. The spin duo of Roelof van der Merwe and Colin Ackerman may play together.
Veterans Wesley Barresi and Scott Edwards will want to sign off on a high against a struggling England bowling unit. For England, Adil Rashid needs to step up on the slow Pune surface. Both teams seem evenly matched on paper. But the Dutch will fancy their chances against an England side short on confidence and momentum.
See the confirmed starting lineups below an hour before the match starts.
England vs. Netherlands Head-to-Head
England have dominated the Netherlands in ODI cricket, boasting a perfect 6-0 record in their previous meetings. The two teams have clashed six times in ODIs since their first meeting in 2009.
England’s dominance includes three World Cup victories over the Dutch – by six wickets in 2009, by 45 runs in 2011 and by six wickets again in 2019.
However, Netherlands do have a knack of upsetting England at ICC events. At the 2009 World T20, the Netherlands famously beat England by four wickets in the tournament opener. They also defeated England in the 2014 World T20.
So while England have historically overpowered the Netherlands in 50-over cricket, the Dutch are capable of springing surprises on their day.
With England down in the dumps currently at the World Cup, the Netherlands will fancy their chances of causing another upset. But England usually lift themselves against lower-ranked sides, making predictions difficult.
Weather & Pitch Report
The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune will provide the backdrop for this England vs Netherlands clash. The weather forecast predicts ideal conditions for cricket.
Skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures hovering around the 28-30 degrees Celcius mark. Humidity levels will be moderate around 55% with minimal chances of rain interruption.
The pitch in Pune is usually an excellent one for batting with true bounce and even pace allowing strokeplay. Teams often post 300+ totals here with the short square boundaries.
In the three games at the venue in this World Cup so far, the average first innings score is a mammoth 300. All matches have seen 250+ totals batted first with teams comfortably chasing down 250+ targets thrice.
Dew could play a factor in the evening, making it easier for strokes to come off the bat. Considering the batting friendly nature of the surface, another high scoring match appears likely.
The Netherlands will hope to post around 280 batting first to challenge England. For England, their powerful batting lineup will look to exploit the true pitch and short boundaries to rack up a huge total if they bat first.
With sunny skies forecast, fans can expect an entertaining run feast akin to previous high-scoring Pune matches.
England vs. Netherlands Prediction
This is a difficult contest to predict given England’s topsy-turvy form and the Dutch penchant for upsets. But England will enter as favorites owing to their vast experience and superior firepower.
The Netherlands batting has shown glimpses of promise but lacks the sheer power England possess. The likes of Buttler, Livingstone and Stokes are match-winners capable of taking down any attack when on song.
England will hope their struggling top-order consisting of Jason Roy, Buttler and Malan fires against the Dutch. Their bowling led by Rashid, Wood and Woakes has the skills but needs consistency.
For Netherlands, their batting depth appears a concern against top attacks. Veterans Cooper and Edwards will need substantial contributions. Their bowling quartet of van Beek, van Meekeren, van der Merwe and de Leede must strike early.
However, if the Dutch can hold their nerve and post a competitive 250-270 batting first, they have the bowling to seriously challenge England. Overall, England remain favorites but writing off the spirited Dutch would be foolish. Expect another tantalizingly close contest between the teams.
England vs. Netherlands Betting Tips
With the batting-friendly Pune track, consider betting on over 300+ match total runs. A safer bet is 275+ first innings runs. Dawid Malan and Liam Livingstone are top batting picks from England based on their World Cup form. Tom Cooper is a solid Dutch pick.
Adil Rashid and Mark Wood are prime options for top England wicket-taker. Logan van Beek is a good Dutch bowler pick. Given the small boundaries, consider betting on England to hit the most sixes if they bat first.
Based on the venue trends, betting on the chasing team irrespective of who bats first is recommended. England’s batting power means 290+ is a good bet for their first innings total if they bat first. The Netherlands’ upset win over South Africa makes them tempting at higher odds against England too.
Betting on England’s struggling openers Jason Roy or Jos Buttler to be dismissed cheaply could pay off. For milestones, betting on Liam Livingstone or Dawid Malan to score 50+ runs has good value.
With England clear favorites, the safer betting options lie with backing them. But the Netherlands’ underdog odds and giant-killing ability make them appeal too.
Bet on Dawid Malan as top batter at Parimatch at odds 4.75>>
If you want to check out our other Cricket World Cup match predictions, you can find them on our site. In the meantime, you can check out how to bet on the Cricket World Cup.
