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England can surprise
other teams
March 9, 2007
Recent form
The England team received a huge confidence boost for the World Cup when they
managed to get into the CB Series final at the expense of New Zealand. This
boost in confidence after their disastrous Ashes series became even more evident
when they then beat Australia 2-0 to take home the trophy. All this is bit of an
indication that England are a confidence team which indicates to me that they
are definitely not predictable. If they are hot, they are very very hot. But if
things go pear shaped, then they can be very ordinary.
Strengths and weaknesses
The strength of the England team revolves around the leadership of Michael
Vaughan and two of the finest attacking cricketers in the world game, namely
Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen. Vaughan's impact in Australia was quite
dramatic. As soon as he was back in charge, England looked a new team. His field
placing and the use of his bowlers made a huge difference, as did his effect on
almost every member of the team. Their body language changed overnight. Flintoff
on the other hand is an attacking cricketer and this aspect of his game will be
utilized by Vaughan to its maximum. He seemed to be relieved to have lost the
captaincy and his enthusiasm for the game was back in no time.
Thankfully Vaughan also has great faith in Monty Panesar, who he will also use
in an attacking fashion to back up Flintoff in the middle overs and Panesar, I
don't think will let him down. This young left-arm orthodox spinner may not have
played many one-day internationals, but he has taken to the responsibility given
to him like a duck to water.
Mind you, England will need more than two frontline bowlers, but now that they
have ditched the unreliable Steve Harmison, Vaughan would be seeking strong
support from the likes of Liam Plunkett, Jon Lewis, James Anderson, Sajid
Mahmood and Paul Collingwood. And if that support is forthcoming, well as far as
I am concerned, England will be just fine in the bowling department. Recently
the England bowlers have performed well if the ball is swinging, so this too is
an aspect of their game that must be switched on.
The opening batting partnership is an area that England will have to improve on,
as they don't seem to have found anyone to replace Marcus Trescothick. Batting
in one-day internationals often depends on a good start, so the pressure will be
on Vaughan to fulfill that task and to come up with a top-order combination to
take it further.
Key players
Paul Collingwood played brilliantly in Australia once he had rediscovered what
he does best. He is not a big hitter. Once he gets in, his role is to accumulate
and to bat through the innings. He will be backed by Ed Joyce, Andrew Strauss
and Ian Bell, all of whom are capable of stepping up and thereafter, the
fireworks will arrive in the form of Pietersen and Flintoff. Pietersen of course
is capable of walking away from this World Cup as the world's best batsman, but
he does need to rein himself in a little bit especially in the initial stages of
his innings.
Adaptability to West Indies conditions
England goes into this World Cup free of pressure. Not many expect them to make
it to the semifinals but they may surprise, after all the pitches in the
Caribbean these days are slower and that makes them just a little like those
they are so used to in England.
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