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ENG vs PAK | 1st ODI: Stokes & his ensemble cast battle patient Babar Azam's men

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The English people are right now thinking anything but cricket with the alarming Covid-19 situation of their national cricket team on one hand and the chorus of joy of "It's coming home" buzzing in the air on the other, thanks to their football team reaching its first ever major tournament final in five decades. 

It is in these circumstances that Ben Stokes and his quickly ensembled team would look to put focus back on the national game of England. 

Though he has limited resources up his sleeve thanks to nine uncapped players being part of his 15-member squad, which is totally different from the team that played Sri Lanka, barely a week ago. But as they say, minimal resources demand maximum optimization, Stokes and coach Chris Silverwood would have their task cut out trying to put 11 players from the 15, who will meet for the very first time on the match day itself. 

As far as Babar Azam's men are concerned, they seem to be England's saviour in moments of ultimate crisis. If they were only the second team to agree to tour England during last summer's pandemic, in this summer, they have again shown exemplary courage while saying that the thought of ending the tour or pushing it further never crossed their minds. 

Pakistan, although looks a much more experienced side than England on paper, but they have their own challenges trying to map out the new English recruits. The team hasn't had the ideal practice conditions in Derby either as rains marred most of their practice sessions. 

So it is in these conditions that 50-over cricket returns to Sophia Gardens in Cardiff after two years. 

England vs Pakistan: Match Details

Match No.- 1st ODI

Date and Time: 08 July, 2021, 05:30 pm IST, 12:00 pm GMT, 01:00 pm Local

Venue: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Broadcast and Livestream in India: Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV

Pitch Report

If the T20I match between England and Sri Lanka is anything to go by, then Cardiff is not the right kind of pitch to begin the series with. However, over the years this venue in Wales has produced sensational results and thus there is no doubt as to why it cannot produce a good wicket. 

It has been a happy hunting ground for the chasers with a record of 16-8 in terms of wins and losses for a team chasing at Sophia Gardens in ODIs. Over the last few years, it has also become a huge scoring venue as have most grounds in England.

Weather Forecast and Toss

After a continuous spell of rain, it is expected that the weather in Cardiff on July 8 is going to be fine with plenty of sunshine on offer. Chances of rain are minimal too, thus giving spectators what they truly deserve, a full game of cricket. With fine weather in store, the team winning the toss would like to chase. 

Team News

England

Everybody has the news as far as the England team is concerned. With nine new faces, it would come down to luck as to who all get into the last XI. 

Anyhow, it is an opportunity for guys like James Vince, Saqib Mahmood, Will Jacks and Lewis Gregory to showcase their mettle and push for a first team call up eventually. 

Craig Overton, Matt Parkinson and Danny Briggs would like make team as well with Stokes, Dawid Malan and Ben Duckett being natural choices as middle order batter and wicketkeeper respectively. 

Probable XI

Phil Salt (wk), James Vince, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes (c), Dan Lawrence, Will Jacks, Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson, Danny Briggs

Pakistan 

The Pakistan unit has had a setback in the form an injury to Haris Sohail. That however has made way for Pakistan Super League's Player of the Series- Shoaib Maqsood to bat at number five or even at number three with Babar Azam opening the innings alongside Fakhar Zaman. 

Among bowlers, it might be tempting to play Shahnawaz Dahani who is coming from a great run in PSL. But with Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali in the line up, it would be very difficult for the Larkana born to get a game. 

Probable XI

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Sohaib Maqsood, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz/Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf

Dream XI team

James Vince, Babar Azam, Dawid Malan, Shoaib Maqsood, Mohammad Rizwan (wk) (vc), Ben Stokes (c), Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, Hasan Ali, Saqib Mahmood, Shaheen Afridi

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