The Grade Cricketer
Jacks finish ensures nervous wait for Kiwis | ENG v NZ | T20 World Cup
28 Feb 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What are the initial thoughts on the World Cup performance?
Well, it's another fine example of trying to figure out who is good and who is the worst team you've ever seen in this World Cup. Sure, two different locations, but guys are like winning moments and then it just all capitulating and then you think, ah, okay, Pakistan can still win the World Cup somehow. And in many ways, this calls for a bud.
Yes, that would be one of the most random segues leading into a sponsor integration that's ever happened on this show. But the game is the game, and we will move on in good faith on this show. That's right. England remain one of the best teams in the world in this format. Always have been, always will be.
You don't make five World Cup semifinals in a row, the only time it's ever done that, without being pretty bloody good. And England win this game by chasing down 159 with three balls to spare. They were gone in the game, PESA.
Glenn Phillips has had, he was man of the match until he bowled the 18th over and then all of a sudden he is going to be hung, drawn and quartered for what he's done to the nation of New Zealand.
Yeah, and I suppose we should have seen that something was a little amiss with the Kiwis, given that their anthem was played in fast forward before the game. And to see the guys laughing, that was heartwarming. And it kind of sums up a lot of feelings towards T20 cricket generally. But yeah, here, I mean, the question has to be asked contractually. Are we sleeping on England?
Yeah.
The answer is no. They've won 16 of their last 18 completed T20Is per roller get around him. And they finish this off. scarily, actually, because Ran Ahmed comes into the team, he plays with that kind of youthful fearlessness, and Will Jacks is pretty much on course to be player of the tournament thus far.
As we know, the tournament will progress exactly as it has prior to this, so on that basis, Will Jacks is firming as player of the tournament, but... He finishes it off for England, and that's the difference in a game on a ragging deck. Spinners had plenty of say, but it was Will Jacks winning the battle of the all-rounders.
Pezza, just picking up what you were saying there about the anthems, I mean, I like what... Cricket, you know, between nations, it's really all about respect. All we ask for as fans is to respect the other team's principles, their nationhood, the celebration of their nation as well.
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Chapter 2: How did England secure their victory against New Zealand?
But with cricketers, what would India like? And I don't know the answer. I don't know the answer. I don't know who they want to play. And I'm sure they'll concentrate on their own game. I think they're just keen to watch the game tonight for a particular result.
I have seen guys walking around with bracelets, which are saying, what would India like? Which is a different style at the time in the 2000s. Ben writes in, he says, was this New Zealand's necessary loss? You know, the loss they needed to have. I mean, New Zealand have already had a loss to... They lost to South Africa. Did they in the group? That was, yeah. They beat Afghanistan.
They lost to South Africa. Now they've had two losses. Did they need to have this one?
I don't know. Yeah, I mean, when you have a washout, two losses is starting to look like you're risking leaving the tournament if Pakistan pull it together. And you're sort of, that game is tailor-made for Pakistan to do something, I've got to say. New Zealand might just be hanging on just like this ear pod. As far as losses go, it was a dignified loss, I thought.
It was a loss where they can take things from the game. It wasn't a total capitulation, as you sometimes see in T20 cricket. It was one of England's players, a couple of them did well at the end and maybe we can work on how we finish things off.
James wrote, and then he said, is Will Jacks the best T20 player of all time? That's four player of the match, matches, four players of the match, however you word that. I'm not in words. In this tournament so far.
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Chapter 3: What role did Glenn Phillips play in New Zealand's performance?
He's taken two for here. He scores a pivotal 30 at the end there to win the game. He's got a Slim Shady vibe going on at the moment. You know, recently Gage played in the Ashes. I mean, things are looking up. I mean, Will Jacks, he stonks at the moment. You know, things are going through the roof. Will Jacks stonks.
Totally agree. Mogged GP in this game, Battle of the All-Rounders, and England's best player this tournament so far.
Chapter 4: Are England's chances of winning the tournament being overlooked?
So given the fact that he also played pretty much the entirety of the Ashes... Along with Harry Brook is the England's best three-format player now. Not a conversation you thought you'd have at the start, but fair play to him, as you said. It's results on the field and it's a package off the field and it's a package aesthetically. So I agree with you.
Will Jacks stonks. There's a lot to like. Ahmed said, with New Zealand losing, do all roads lead to an India-Pakistan final? Is this the Skelly's plan?
It would be quite ironic, given how this tournament started and the threat for Pakistan to not play the game against India, for them to play twice, one of them being a World Cup final, which I'm sure would break all sorts of economic and viewing conditions. thus, once again, saving the game. So that game would actually mean that Nepal, for instance, and Italy get to play more cricket.
So, look, it's all tied, it's all connected, and it's all easy to follow. And I think this is all good.
Yeah, no, I mean, I think that was comprehensively described there, mate. I've got nothing further to add, except that Pakistan playing India in the final would, by extension, mean New Zealand is out. So I don't really know how that's New Zealand's plan, but maybe it works for them economically.
It means the Super Smash is good next year. Orlando said, I'm Matt Henry, get me out of here. Yeah, I feel like that is going to be a big loss, Matt Henry going home for some pat leave. All the best to Matt. But yeah, that's going to be a crucial loss because he's looking pretty good. And just to finish it up, Rahim said, as a British Pakistani, I won twice today. So, you know, there you go.
There's at least one guy having a doubly good time. And I'm sure there's many more out there back in the UK and indeed Pakistan who are hanging on for the next game. Pezza, I'm looking at this game. So, you know, New Zealand bat first. I made 159. And then England tasted down three down.
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Chapter 5: What impact does Will Jacks have on the tournament so far?
I'm finding it... extraordinarily difficult to figure out what they what the games in Sri Lanka mean for the climaxing of this tournament when like the conditions that we're seeing in Sri Lanka and have done for this tournament are so different to the ones that we're seeing in India. You know, even just the size of the ground, for instance.
I mean, England in this innings, let's have a look at the bowling card. England, they bowl 17 overs of spin. Liam Dawson, four. Adil Rashid, four. Will Jacks, four. Jacob Bethel, one. Rhian Arman comes in for Jamie Overton. He bowled three. It's 17 overs of spin. Sorry, 16 overs a spin, Joffa Archer and Sam Curran being the only non-spinning options in the innings.
And I just can't see that being the case. You would think maybe Cepic, for instance, has typically been more of a spinning deck, certainly in the IPL. I guess it was in the 50-over World Cup a couple of years ago. That is now three years ago, to be fair. But we're looking at just big, heavy hitters front-dogging, trying to break the 300 barrier in India.
And we're looking at Guile and Craft in England. And England make a really good change here with Rhian Allard coming in. He takes two for 28 off his three overs, but he comes in and scores a couple of important runs as well down the order. That style of cricket, England have been terrific since they moved to Sri Lanka. They were less impressive in India.
They lost to the West Indies, almost got done by Nepal. A decent game of cricket against Italy. It's very hard to figure out what this means other than it seems like a fucking huge advantage to be able to pick a squad if you're South Africa, India or the West Indies. Those are the countries that have all stayed in. in India, for instance, to go to progress in the tournament.
You've seen like what Zimbabwe did in Sri Lanka compared to what they've done so far in India. It's just, yeah, I mean, England have been fantastic. Does this translate to the semifinals? I guess we'll see.
Yeah, I mean, like, I quite like that the World Cup, you know, like throws up a whole bunch of a variety of conditions that tests you across a whole bunch of disciplines. And, you know, you have to be good across a whole bunch of disciplines to progress. But and, you know, the teams that have been able to adapt, you know, have done well.
I mean, it's I guess it's, you know, it's proof positive because they're still there. But like. You're also right. There are also other teams that haven't had exposure to that variety of conditions. For me, that's not an area where it's like, look, India's got their thumb on the scales again. It's not that. South Africa's been in India. West Indies have as well. Australia would have been by now.
But, yeah, I mean, I do think it's part of what makes cricket rich is that, you know, you can't just ā it's not just one size fits all when it comes to conditions. And, yeah, I mean, yeah, if they've been tested in Sri Lanka, you've got to bowl a lot of spin. England, you know, and New Zealand have done that quite well. So, yeah. Yeah, but does it translate to India for England? I don't know.
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Chapter 6: Did New Zealand need this loss to improve their chances?
At the moment you think you've got them pegged is the moment that they then do something out of this world. So, yeah, I'm happy to dare them to miss out this time just to see if the comedy narrative wins.
Yeah, I mean, on one side, I think about the Kiwis in the hotel all getting together watching the game and, like, if there's one side in the world who you'd want to fuck up, with the greatest respect of Pakistan fans, it is your team. But at the same time, if there was any team in the world that would just do the most ridiculous thing out of absolutely nowhere, that is also Pakistan.
So the Kiwis will be... I dare say they'd have one eye on that game. Possibly from the departures lounge of Colombo. No, I think the Kiwis will be okay. It's actually probably more likely that Schlenker's going to win that game, if I'm honest. It's actually funny. Again, when you've got no dog in the fight, it's actually funny.
Although I think I am Team New Zealand now at the moment as part of the Anzac brotherhood. Any other thoughts, Pezza, about this game? No, not really. We roll on. We roll on. Hey, we'll be back tomorrow. And indeed, you can see us. Come on, come watch us for a watch along. Enjoy the watch along with us. We're going to be doing the afternoon game on Sunday, which is Zimbabwe and South Africa.
South Africa is obviously the African Derby. We thought we're going to get behind this one. So jump on, ask a couple of questions. We'll talk you through what's happening on the screen. It's going to be all thanks to Budweiser. And that, of course, will roll into what is the most important game in this World Cup so far, which will be the India and the West Indies at Eden Gardens.
So come along and join us on Sunday if you fancy. It's right here on this channel. Click subscribe if you haven't already. Join us as we move forward, not just this World Cup, but every game that's ever going to be played forever and indeed eternity. So until then, we will see you next time you want to join us. Goodbye.
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