Follow UsODI batting took a new meaning a couple of days ago when the quartet of Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan, and Liam Livingstone made Netherlands bowlers look like some kids in the ballpark, throwing dollies at them, England posted the highest ODI score of all-time. Not only did they embark on the journey in a somewhat sacrilegious fashion but they also made sure that the Dutch bowlers wouldn’t try to pull out a gun in the next game, but rather be very scared by the very image of the blue-laden boys making an entry at the VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen.
Ground Details and team combination
Just after witnessing a carnage that saw England posting 498 runs in 50 Overs, and that is not an outlier either. In four matches at the venue in the last three years, scores in the excess of 300 is a regulation, with the average first innings total at the venue being 315. Batting first team have won 50% of the time. The ground also helps the pacers and spinners in almost equal measure, with 56% of wickets going to pacers’ accounts whereas the spinners have accounted for the remaining 44% of the wickets.
If you have forgotten, Amstelveen was the venue when Sri Lanka had posted 443 runs in ODIs, thus acquiring the records for the highest-ever ODI total before England broke it twice in Trent Bridge. Now that England have broken the record once again, Amstelveen continues to be cricket’s unbeknownst cathedral for ODI power-hitting.
Team Suggestion
The team we've picked has a good mix of world-class batters and bowlers. But remember, while you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Captain and vice-captain suggestions
For Small Leagues: Jos Buttler (Captain) and Liam Livingstone (Vice-Captain)
For Grand Leagues: David Willey (Captain) and Jason Roy (Vice-Captain)
Stats That Matter
- Buttler reached his century in just 47 balls in the first ODI, which is the second-fastest ton by an England batter in ODIs. Coincidentally, the top three on the list for England are all Buttler. In fact, he is the only batter in all ODIs to have registered a century in 50 or fewer balls thrice.
- Since Jan 2020, teams have lost just 0.5 wickets on an average in the first 10 overs of the innings at the venue in the last three years with an average of 53.1 runs being scored in that phase.
- Right Arm Pacers have the maximum success at the venue with 25 wickets at a per innings rate of 3.6. This might not be great in standardized terms but such has been the dominance of batters the venue.
Grand League Punts
- Jason Roy is all set to play his 100th ODI match at Amstelveen on Sunday and there’s a lot riding on him. One of the most defining players of the 50-Over format, Roy knows how to strike the rod and after failing to execute his brilliance in the first game, he would be dying to get it rectified on Sunday.
- In overs between 36-50, England hit 17 sixes, 10 from the bat of Buttler, six from Livingstone, and one from Malan. Overall, they hit 26 sixes in the innings, which is the most by a team in an innings in ODIs. Again, the top three spots are occupied by England in this list as well. Hence, punting on the big-hitters is a classic idea of turning the force on the Dutchmen. That will yield handsome points.
Probable XIs:
Netherlands: Vikramjit Singh, Max ODowd, Musa Ahmed, Bas de Leede, Tom Cooper, Scott Edwards (wk), Pieter Seelaar (c), Logan van Beek, Philippe Boissevain, Shane Snater, Aryan Dutt
England: Jason Roy, Philip Salt, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, David Willey, Reece Topley