World Cup 2023, AFG vs ENG: England Opt To Bowl As Afghanistan Search First Victory

New Delhi: England’s journey in the World Cup has seen a remarkable transformation. They started with self-doubt after a significant defeat to New Zealand but bounced back impressively against Bangladesh. Key players like Reece Topley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, and Mark Wood contributed significantly, addressing concerns about their Net Run Rate and reaffirming their status as defending champions.

The underperformance of Australia has eased the competition for a top-four spot, giving England renewed optimism. South Africa, India, and New Zealand have set the early pace.

As for Afghanistan, their T20 reputation hasn’t translated to the 50-over format. They suffered heavy defeats to Bangladesh and India, with a slightly better showing against India but still falling short.

In the upcoming match, England is the clear favourite, carrying momentum from their victory over Bangladesh. In batting-friendly Delhi conditions, England may aim to surpass their previous performance against Afghanistan, where they scored 397/6 in the 2019 World Cup.