ICC Champions Trophy team preview: England

In spite of playing one-day cricket for more than 50 years, England have been the perennial bridesmaids at big ticket ICC tournaments. Every time they seemed to be marching towards a facile win, they have inexplicably lost from a position of strength, under pressure. As England’s squad look to gear up towards the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, they need to banish the seed of self doubts pervading in their minds, and play a positive brand of cricket.

Here’s a snapshot of England’s squad and their chances at the ICC Champions Trophy

Tracks

There is a lot of talk in cricketing circles that conditions in England will be seamer friendly. During a typical rain sodden English summer, there will be enough juice in the track for pacers to make their mark. England’s think-tank will be hoping for conditions that suits their formidable pace attack.

On the other end of the spectrum, the grounds on which England is going to play their group matches aren’t necessarily known as seamer friendly tracks. But if overcast conditions come into play, it can suit England’s pace attack. They will also be hoping to win the toss at Cardiff, as all seven completed matches at that ground have resulted in the team opting to field first winning the encounter.

Two new balls

Ever since the rule of a new ball being used at both ends has come into force, it has favoured teams that have pace-dominated bowling attacks. England’s pace-oriented bowling line-up has thrived under this rule change, especially at home.

Well-balanced bowling line-up

On paper, England have a well-balanced bowling unit, and enough firepower in their ranks to rip-open any batting line-up. In fact, the blueprint of England’s success at home in recent times has been for the bowlers to restrict the opposition to modest totals which in turn, helps their rock-solid top-order to do well. It can be best exemplified by the fact that England have lost just one bilateral one-day series at home in the last six years.

England’s think-tank though, will be sweating over the fitness of Finn and Broad, as there is an injury cloud hanging over both of them. Both fast bowlers are certainly vital cogs in the line-up. Finn, who is built like an edifice can generate disconcerting bounce out of most surfaces. Broad has those variations up his sleeve to outfox the batsman.

On the upside, the fulcrum of England’s pace attack, Anderson, is firing on all cylinders. Anderson was listless in the 2011 WC, but he has made a spirited comeback to form. Since the ’11 WC, Anderson has taken 42 wickets at an impressive average of 23.02. England also have an attacking spinner in Swann. Unlike most modern day spinners, here is one bowler who always looks to take wickets.