If they are to progress
Boult’s past three games have resulted in nine wickets, including a hat-trick against Australia at Lord’s, to become the first New Zealander to take one in a World Cup. As if swinging the new ball into right-handers is not lethal enough, Boult produced three reverse-swinging yorkers to clean up Usman Khawaja and Starc himself – the modern master of the reverse-swinging yorker – followed by Behrendorff. England have no left-arm pace bowler of their own, as David Willey was omitted from their final World Cup squad.
Roy and Bairstow, who naturally go hard at the ball, might be seen to open their stances, keeping their front leg out of trouble to play some forward defensive shots. If they do not, England may require Joe Root to see off Boult, better than he managed when facing Starc at Lord’s, where he was pinned lbw.
Both Root and his Antipodean equivalent, Kane Williamson, play themselves in with low-risk shots along the ground. They then diverge. Root looks to hit ones and twos off almost every ball when at his best – something he was not against India.
The boundaries never flow; in his ODI career, Root has averaged one boundary – a four rather more likely than a six – every 12 balls. He was delighted when he contributed a six of his own to the 25 smashed by England at Old Trafford against Afghanistan.
Williamson, though even slighter than Root, has made himself a valuable Indian Premier League asset. He manages a boundary every 10 balls in ODIS. Once he accelerates, his placement is extraordinary. Like Root, he seldom swashbuckles down the ground, but steers his fours into spaces the opposing captain has forgotten about.
Boult’s swing will also challenge the Test-worthiness of Roy’s technique as a likely Ashes opener. Bairstow has batted at No3 in three of England’s past four Tests, so this match may also have red-ball repercussions.