Could the stout pommies stall the cock a hoop Indians?
England is the cradle of cricket but has never won an ICC 50-overs tournament. It is a position the host team will be desperate to change at today’s Champions Trophy final at Edgbaston but will come up against a mighty obstacle on their path in the form of a mincing opponent in all conquering world champions India.
England have made it to four ICC tournament finals in history but have lost all of them including the 2004 Champions Trophy final at the Oval when they when they were so close to victory but were shockingly prevented by an unlikely unbroken eighth wicket stand of 71 by West Indies’ number nine and ten batsmen Courtney Brown and Ian Bradshaw who carried their team to the 218-run winning 
target.
England captain Alistair Cook said that his side is well capable of reversing the hoodoo this time.
“This England side in particular has delivered when the chips have been down and the pressure has been at its highest so I have no doubt that the guys in our dressing room will turn up on Sunday and I am fully confident that they can do it” said Cook.
India who defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the World Cup in 2011 have been in supreme form here, winning all their matches emphatically including the semi final thrashing of the hapless Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Thursday.
Indian batting has simply been majestic and imperious as they demolished the opposition with scant respect in every match they have played. Left handed opener Shikhar Dhawan who had played just five ODIs before the tournament, has been a sensation and has become the highest run getter of the tournament with 332 runs at an average of 110 with two centuries and a half century.
His opening partner Rohith Sharma, vice captain Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, in-form Dinesh Karthik and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni present a formidable force for the hosts to deal with. Batting is obviously India’s strong point in a format of the game that has now been tweaked and moulded into the batsman’s favour in order to provide entertainment and suck in money.
With the new rules not allowing more than four fielders outside the 30-metre circle and having two new hard balls from both ends to ensure support for strokeplay coupled with ICC’s regulations that stipulate that the wickets must support batting, the ODI format is now purely a batsman’s game.
Man of the match in the semi final, Ishant Sharma, newcomer Bhuvansevar Kumar and Umesh Yadav form a convincing pace unit while all rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s left arm spin and Ravichandran Ashwin’s off spin makes the Indian attack complete.
England have only been beaten in the tournament by Sri Lanka and their confidence must be at a high after destroying South Africa in the semi finals by seven wickets, though the losers were without their stalwarts such as Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
England paceman James Anderson has been in magnificent form while his pace partners such as Chris Broad, Steven Finn form a potent attack that can be lethal if the conditions favour them. Anderson made maximum of the humid conditions at The Oval with a fiery spell of swing bowling while the spinner James Tredwell, who replaced injured Graeme Swann captured three wickets, also added to the England attack’s might.
“It was a lot more humid today and swung in the nets on Tuesday. It hasn’t swung conventionally but when it does, he’s the best in the world” said Cook after Anderson claimed 2 for 14 in seven overs in the semi final.
England were involved in a ball-tampering controversy following their Group A game loss to Sri Lanka at the Oval, but Anderson proved in the semi final that he will unplayable if conditions are right and did not need to tamper with the ball.
England’s batting has also been solid though lacking the fresh aggression and exuberance of the young Indian brigade.
England will be keen to pull off the final also to gain a boost ahead of the Ashes series starting on July 10.
Sri Lanka will have their presence in the final through ICC’s chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle and world’s number one umpire Kumar Dharmasena, both of whom will officiate today.
Sri Lanka will take wing to the West Indies tomorrow for the Celkon Mobile Tri nation ODI tournament which starts on June 28, involving hosts West Indies and India.
Probable XIs:
England: Alastair Cook (capt), Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wk), Stuart Broad, James Anderson, James Tredwell, Steven Finn
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus