London: England could be the first team to score 500 runs in ODIs, India captain Virat Kohli said in jest as captains could not agree on the scoring trends in what is expected to be a highscoring World Cup. With 481for six against Australia last year, England already hold the record of highest ODI total. In their build to the World Cup, they outplayed Pakistan 4-0 in a high-scoring series.
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At the captains’ media interaction ahead of the mega event, Kohli was asked if the 500-run mark could be breached in this edition.
“I was just going to say it really depends on these guys. They seem to be obsessed with getting to 500 before anyone else,” said Kohli while pointing to his English counterpart Eoin Morgan, who sat next to him.
Kohli conceded that the tournament will see a run-fest but the pressure of playing in a World Cup will make even 260-270 hard to chase.
Captains of all 10 teams pose for a photo during ICC Cricket World Cup's official media event. “It is going to be a high scoring tournament but back home too I said 260-270 will also be as tough to get in a World Cup as chasing 370-380. I don’t see many high scoring games in the latter stages of the tournament, initially some teams might get on a roll but later on you will see 250 defended as well. That is the kind of pressure World Cup brings.”
The Indian captain expects the teams to be more cautious as the tournament progresses.
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“Not all the teams are going to be in a great position (in the latter half). The ones who have to make sure that they get the result are going to be under pressure to chase even a small total. The fact that you are going to be close to a knock out berth will get you under pressure in the latter stages and all teams recognise that.”
The same question was posed to Australian captain Aaron Finch, who was also part of the 2015 World Cup winning squad.
“If you see the last couple of years, the trajectory of scores has been going up and up in England. We have been at the receiving end of the highest one. Hard to tell (what could be the highest score in the tournament).”
