Nasser Hussain: England’s top order can put Kiwi’s to the sword and keep World Cup hopes alive

Everything is now a must for England. And even if they beat New Zealand in Brisbane on Tuesday and Sri Lanka in Sydney on Saturday, they will still be confident that Australia doesn’t have a better net run rate.

England must believe they can win four games in a row, with the semi-finals and final next week, and become T20 world champions. And they’ve been here before. Don’t forget, they won the 50-over World Cup in 2019 after losing to Australia and Sri Lanka in the group stage.

They will be supported by a change in circumstances. England have already been to the Gabba on this trip for a warm up and crushed Pakistan and the field here should suit them. As is the warmer weather – there may be a little rain on Tuesday morning, but it should be clear by the time they face the Kiwis in the evening.

Harry Brook (pictured) hopes to come out of his shell during New Zealand Clash

What England hasn’t had until now is a field that encourages free-flowing percussion, but that’s what they hope to find here.

The same batting lineup that looked so good in the warm-up series against Australia and played so well in Pakistan got out of tune against Afghanistan in Perth and in the defeat to Ireland in Melbourne. Eoin Morgan’s England would always be full of attacking intent, but Jos Buttler’s side has played up the conditions here a bit more, as we often ask them to be fair.

But now, on what should be good ground in Brisbane and Sydney, they should pick the attacking option, because as difficult as it is in a game you have to win, England’s top seven can take the game away from any opponent. They will be feared by opponents.

New Zealand has always been formidable in ICC events, even if they have never won a 50-over or T20 World Cup.

Trent Boult (pictured) celebrates after taking a wicket during New Zealand’s match against Sri Lanka

England take on New Zealand this Tuesday in the Gabba and hope for dry conditions

They always have tough, hardened but above all talented cricketers who always find a way. They have two excellent new-ball bowlers in Tim Southee and in particular Trent Boult with the potential for swing on the Gabba, a very good leg spinner in Ish Sodhi, good all-rounders and a very strong batting formation.

As we saw when New Zealand beat Australia, Finn Allen tries to make more use of the power play than any other opener in the tournament and when he breaks through the first six overs everything falls into place behind him.

In Glenn Phillips, who won a century in the win over Sri Lanka on Saturday, New Zealand has a batter who has the potential to hit more sixes than anyone else in this World Cup, except England’s Liam Livingstone.

Glenn Phillips (pictured) struck a century in Saturday night’s win over Sri Lanka

Liam Livingstone (pictured) announced his return from injury with a monster six vs Pakistan

New Zealand has always been a popular, lovable side and tends to do things the right way. Like in Sydney on Saturday, when Phillips was almost like a sprinter on the side of the non-striker with his bat firmly in his fold, in response to the controversy the game has had over running out of batters and backup.

They are just as smart cricket as we see in the commentary box of retired New Zealand cricketers like Ian Smith and Simon Doull. They are streetwise and you would always want to compete with them.

England have learned a lot from New Zealand over the years and that World Cup win was inspired by the way the Kiwis played their white ball cricket at the previous tournament in 2015. But they shouldn’t be a side now where Buttler and his team should be afraid of.

Rain caused England’s third World Cup match against Australia to be canceled on Friday

England now return to the Gabba for their fourth World Cup game after Ireland’s defeat

England have done the right things since losing to Ireland. All the words coming out of the camp were perfect. There have been no apologies. No clichés about taking the positive out of defeat.

Bad days in the office, as coach Matthew Mott described it, can happen in T20 cricket. For example, if you have a bad power play, the match could be taken away from you, such as Wednesday against Ireland.

This is no time to panic, but the format and rain that interrupted Ireland’s game and then washed away England’s game against Australia means there can be no more missteps. And thus, they cannot afford to be careful.

If this match was in Perth or Melbourne I would be scared of them. But as long as they can regain their confidence in the early stages on Tuesday, I’m still looking forward to England with those top seven.