ICC Champions Trophy 2013

The ICC Champions Trophy 2013 starts next week on the 6th of June. Eight teams will fight for the trophy. The tournament is being held in England and Wales this year and spreads over three and a half weeks with the final scheduled for Sunday June 23rd. The tournament consists of two groups: A and B.

Group A: Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka

Group B: India, Pakistan, South Africa, West Indies

The top two from each group will make it through to the semi-finals and then the winners of the semi-finals will face each other in the final.

My predictions:

Group A:

1st- Australia

2nd- Sri Lanka

3rd- England

4th- New Zealand

Group B:

1st- South Africa

2nd- West Indies

3rd- India

4th- Pakistan

The final- South Africa vs West Indies

The winner- South Africa

The men to watch:

Australia- Shane Watson: The all-rounder is a very useful asset to any team and his excellent performances with both the bat and the ball in this year’s IPL earnt him the MVP (most valuable player) award.

England- Joe Root: The young batsmen has impressed during the recent Test series against New Zealand. His classy shots add extra depth and useful runs to England’s edgy middle order.

India- MS Dhoni: He will have huge responsibilities and pressure as the captain, but the Indian fans love him, and he will be hungry to impress. His batting during recent international tournaments has certainly not gone unnoticed and after losing out in the final of the IPL whilst captaining Chennai Super Kings, he will be even more determined for this competition.

New Zealand- Brendon McCullum: The hard-hitting batsman is a major part of the side. He will be captaining New Zealand and he will want to show that his side can compete against the very best. He will also be keen to put his sides recent defeat to England in the Test series behind him.

Pakistan- Saeed Ajmal: The right-arm off spin bowler is an incredible spinner and is considered by many to be the best spinner that Pakistan have produced. He will be one that the batsmen will have to watch out for.

South Africa- Dale Steyn: This quick right-arm fast bowler has troubled oppositions for many years now with his pinpoint accuracy and ferocious pace . He has fantastic bowling figures in all forms of the game and should be one of the leading wicket takers.

Sri Lanka- Lasith Malinga: His strange bowling action bewilders many but he has proved that it is effective. He is a dangerous death bowler and can bowl opening overs as well. On his day he can rip teams apart single handedly with his pure pace and deadly yorkers.

West Indies- Kieron Pollard: This tall west Indian is a remarkable talent. He can produce match saving innings, as he proved in the IPL final for Mumbai Indians, and his bowling is very useful. As for his fielding…WOW!