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| Image Source: Cricinfo |
The IPL carnival
has ended at last, with the focus back on another big-ticket event :The ICC
Champions Trophy. With the 2017 edition set to start in England and Wales, the
home team look the favourites to end on the winners’ podium. What's
amazing has been the turnaround they have done to reach on the top of this
pecking order. The context of their rise has been straight out of a fairy tale.
Lets set our
clocks back to ICC World Cup 2015 held in Aus-NZ. A shocking defeat to
Bangladesh handed England a humiliating early exit in the tournament. Things
looked dismal back then. Only months before the tournament, Morgan had been
appointed as the ODI captain, replacing Alastair Cook. The faith in Morgan
seemed to have
backfired.
" We've let our people down", Peter Moores- the then coach had said.
Media and ex-players were calling for an overhaul. The way ahead looked
uncertain. The county system (and the way T20 leagues had affected quality
players)-was being questioned. Humiliation had been inflicted on the field.
Eyebrows were being raised off the field. The renovation had to follow.The
lowly-ranked side had plunged to new ODI lows.
Fast forward to
May 2017, England look a refreshed side under the new coach Trevor Bayliss with
the captaincy reigns still with Eoin Morgan. The numbers speak for themselves.
Since that debacle, they have beaten NZ 3-2, SL 3-0, Pak 4-1, West Indies 3-0.
Ireland 2-0 and are leading SA by 1-0 in current series. Only once, they have
lost in this period, to India 1-2 in an equally contested series. Their batting
order looks stable and dangerous, the bowling looks fresh and the fielding
standards look sharper. Let us see how each department fares.
Openers( 8/10)
The Alex Hales- Jason Roy
combination has been a consistent hit at the top of the order-with both equally
able to bat destructively in those initial overs when the field is in. With the
England pitches relatively more favourable for batsmen in recent past, these
two can take the game away if they get going. The Eng-SA 3 match series will
give some time for Roy to find his touch again, as his strokeplay has not been
in full display in the recent past.
Middle-Order( 9/10)
Root, Morgan, Stokes and Buttler
form the deadly and enviable middle-order that boasts of 4 world-class limited
over players. Joe Root's phenomenal rise as a modern-day legend has gained more
voices with his limited-over game going to the next level. A perfect number
three- Root's presence gives England the anchor they need for the dire
situations. Morgan's ability to play both conventional as week as cheeky shots
gives England the ideal middle order flexibility for every kind of situation.
Ben Stokes has lived up to his IPL auction money by being the backbone of
Pune's splendid run in the IPL. He will hope to carry that form in the CT17.
Waiting on their heels is arguably England's ODI dynamite- Joss Buttler, who
doubles up as their wicket-keeper. His form in the last 15-18 months has been
central to England's resurgence in ODIs. With Johnny Bairstow, the shining star
in India's tour, on the bench- England's middle order looks its strongest
middle order in the last decade.In high-scoring games, this famed middle-order
will be key to England's fortunes.
Lower-Order( 8/10)
The cunning Moen Ali and the
useful bat of Chris Woakes make the batting look deep and dependable. If
England decide to field two spinners ( the other being Rashid) or Liam Plunkett,
the batting order would extend further down.
Spin Cupboard and The Pacers
(6.5/10)
Moen Ali will be the first choice
spinner owing to his additional batting abilities, with Rashid's wily leg-spin
as the backup if needed. Joe Root might turn his arm if needed as filler. The
fresh-legs in pace look an exciting prospect and also the weakest link in
the England's battalion- Woakes has established himself as the other pace all
rounder in the team after Ben stokes. Mark Wood and Chris Woakes might open the
attack for the home team, with Ben Stokes and Plunkett as the other medium-pace
bowlers. The left-arm pacer David Willey and tall Jake Ball are the other
options for Morgan, in case Plan A doesn't work.
Overall, England's deep and
quality batting makes it the side to beat in this ICC Champions Trophy 2017. I
would give England 8/10 overall. It remains the team to watch out for.
SQUAD : Eoin Morgan (Captain), Jos
Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Sam
Billings, Jake Ball, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Ben Stokes, David Willey,
Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
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