As I gathered my thoughts to write today’s post I was glued to the action between Australia and England from Sydney. Australia had already taken the series in Brisbane but England were looking at salvaging some pride. Jonathan Trott played a brilliant knock but it was not enough as Australia got home in the final over. Thus, the series reads Australia 5-1 England with one more match to go. If I was an England fan I wouldn’t be worried by the recent results. There are many things in this series, injuries in particular that haven’t gone their way. I would still stress that England is still one of the strongest contenders to lift the cup. They have the players to do it and are led very well by Andrew Strauss.
Till 1992, England was one of the most consistent sides in World Cups. In the five tournaments played including the 1992 edition, England had made it to three finals and two semi finals. Since then, it was almost as if England lost the plot in One Day Cricket. They had some really good one day players but never really looked near the world title. Things are a lot different now. They gel well as a team and have a bunch of really good players who are led very well. I think this is England’s best chance for the cup since 1992.
As I mentioned earlier the England team management and the English fans shouldn’t be too worried about the result of the ODI series in Australia. To be fair to England, their first choice bowling line-up isn’t playing this series. Broad, Bresnan, and Swann are out injured and that leaves Anderson with too much to do. To make it worse their back-up fast bowlers Shahzad and Tremlett picked up niggles. Out of the 5 mentioned above only Tremlett isn’t on the plane to India. The rest are expected to be fit in time for the big tournament. Coming to the batting, it has been good in the series apart from the ODI’s at Brisbane and Hobart where the Australian bowlers were on song. England’s current situation takes me down memory lane to 2007. Just prior to the World Cup Australia were beaten in the tri series at home and by New Zealand in New Zealand in the Chappell Hadlee Trophy. They played in New Zealand with batsmen who weren’t going to the Caribbean for the World Cup. Everybody knows what happened after that. The only major difference is that England are not playing their first choice bowling attack. Thus, I would say that it wouldn’t be wise to count them out just on the basis of the CB series. They still have it in them to lift the cup.
Now, let us have a look at the squad that will represent England at the World Cup:
1. Andrew Strauss
2. Kevin Peitersen
3. Ian Bell
4. Matt Prior (wicket-keeper)
5. Paul Collingwood
6. Eoin Morgan
7. Jonathan Trott
8. Graeme Swann
9. Ajmal Shahzad
10. Stuart Broad
11. Tim Bresnan
12. James Anderson
13. James Tredwell
14. Luke Wright
15. Michael Yardy
The only major change that England made to their squad was getting Matt Prior back in place of Steve Davies. The selectors felt Prior was more suited to the Indian sub continent. To be fair to Steve Davies, he had done very well in his opportunities and would have made it had England not opted for the extra spinner. The thing that strikes me the most about England is that in the recent past they have always looked at wicket keepers who can open the batting. Prior, Phil Mustard, and Craig Kieswetter have opened in the past. Due to this particular strategy a player like James Foster doesn’t get an opportunity who according to many people is the best wicket-keeper in England. James Tredwell is the extra spinner in the squad with Luke Wright also getting the all rounders place.
The eleven that England will play is anybody’s guess. Strauss and Prior will open with Trott, Bell and Pietersen after them. The only concern in the batting line-up is the number six spot. Collingwood and Morgan haven’t been in great touch off late and the team management would have to choose one of them. Micheal Yardy and Bresnan will play as all rounders. Swann, Broad and Anderson will complete the line-up. Ten spots in the team are sealed; it is just no.6 that has to be filled. Who knows, maybe Luke Wright may get a look in? This team looks really formidable and if they can inspire themselves to perform the way they did in the Ashes then they are the team to beat.
STRENGHTS:
1. Strong Batting line-up: Strauss, Trott, Prior, Pietersen and Bell form a very formidable top order. If Collingwood or Morgan strike form then England will be able to pile the runs as Bresnan and Yardy can provide able support to the top order. The key in this line-up would be Jonathan Trott. His form in Australia has been simply majestic and the whole of England would be praying for him to carry it to the Indian sub-continent.
2. Good bowling attack: Anderson, Bresnan and Broad form a strong fast bowling attack with Swann and Yardy handling the spin department.
WEAKNESSES:
1. Can be erratic and inconsistent at times: In some games England look absolutely unbeatable and in some games they just crumble. They have to keep the winning momentum continuing to go ahead in the World Cup
2. Not great travelers to India: In the recent past England haven’t played very good cricket in India. They have been good in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, but with five of their six games in India, they would not like to be reminded of their past record.
MY PREDICTION:
I think they can make it to the semi finals. From then on it is very difficult to predict the winner.
WARM UP FIXTURES:
1. Versus Canada at Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah, Bangladesh. On February 16 at 09:30 AM Bangladesh Time (same as IST).
2. Versus Pakistan at Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah, Bangladesh. On February 18 at 09:30 AM Bangladesh Time
GROUP FIXTURES:
1. Versus Netherlands at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Jamtha, Nagpur. On February 22 at 02:30 PM IST.
2. Versus India at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. On February 27 at 02:30 PM IST.
3. Versus Ireland at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. On March 2 at 02:30 PM IST.
4. Versus South Africa at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. On March 6 at 09:30 AM IST.
5. Versus Bangladesh at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong, Bangladesh. On March 11 at 02:30 PM Bangladesh Time.
6. Versus West Indies at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. On March 17 at 02:30 PM IST.
RECORD IN PREVIOUS WORLD CUPS:
1975: Semi finalists. Lost to Australia in the semi final
1979: Runner-up. Lost to West Indies in the final.
1983: Semi Finalists. Lost to India in the semi final.
1987: Runners-up. Lost to Australia in the final.
1992: Runners-up. Lost to Pakistan in the final.
1996: Quarterfinalists. Lost to Sri Lanka in the quarter final.
1999: Eliminated in the first round.
2003: Eliminated in the first round.
2007: Eliminated in the Super-eights.
MOST RUNS: Graham Gooch. 897 runs in 21 matches at an average of 44.85
MOST WICKETS: Ian Botham. 30 wickets in 22 matches at an average of 25.40
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