The preview today is for the Ashes champions and the T20 World Chanpions England. England are the enigmatic side in the world cricket who always focus on Tests and ignore the ODIs. That was till they won the T20 trophy and since then they believe they can win the ODI world cup too.
England have been in a good form in ODIs since 2009 after losing to Australia in ODIs 1-6. Ironically they also lost to Australia with the same margin this month after winning the Ashes in Australia after 24 years.
England in the previous world cups
England were the most consistent team in the world cups from 1975 to 1992. They made it to every semi final till then and in the final 3 times. They almost won the world cup in 1987 but fell short by 7 runs in massive Eden Gardens.. And by 24 runs in iconic MCG to Imran Khan's cornered tigers in 1992.
Story for them post 1992 has been poor. They could not win against a single Test nation in 1996 and were hammered in the Quarters by a rampaging Sanath Jayasuriya who scored 82 off 44 balls. In their own world cup in 1999, they exited in the first round itself after they lost to India in the leagues and Zimbabwe upset South Africa.
In 2003 they lost again in the first round but they almost made it to the 2nd round untill Andy Bichel shut the door on them with the bat and the ball in the must win game against Australia. The 2007 world cup campaign was relatively better when they reached super 8s but they lost key games and exited before the semi finals.
Run-up to the 2011
England began the run up to the 2011 campaign in solid style after losing the home series to Aus in 2009. Before that they were hammered 0-5 in Indian tour of 2008. But post Ashes 2009 till Ashes 2011 they did not lose a single ODI series home and away. During this time they won 2-1 in SA, 3-0 in BD and 2-1 home. An emotional 3-2 win against Pakistan followed and similar margin victory against Australia was also ensured by securing a 3-0 lead and then losing the final 2 games.
The injuries have played a key role too behind the 1-6 defeat in addition to the long Ashes campaign, which was their sole focus during the past 2 years. England come into the world cup carrying niggles to Broad, Collingwood, Bresnan and Shehzad.
They have lost their best ODI player in Eoin Morgan whose match winning abilities in any situation would be missed in the sub continent. He is an improvisioned player and that style works in the batsmen friendly wickets in the sub-continent.
The team:
Strauss, Prior, Trott, Collingwood, Pietersen, Bell, Bopara, Swann, Anderson, Broad, Shehzaad, Bresnan, Tredwell, Wright, Tremlett, Yardy
Opening Pair :
Strauss and Prior would be the openers in all probability. Strauss has had a good ODI run post 2009 Kiwi tour and the dramatic step down of KP from the captaincy, otherwise his ODI career seemed over in 2007.
Middle Order:
Collingwood is a doubtful starter in the final XI given his injury and lack of runs. Batting at 7 is not a correct position for him. Bell at 3 is again a misfit. Actually he is a misfit in every form of the game. Trott at 3, KP at 4, Bell at 5, Collingwood at 6 and Bopu at 7.
Morgan would have been the best man to do a MS Dhoni or a Cameron White or even a Abdul Razzaq at 5 or 6.
Fast bowling:
Wont be much use to play 3 fast bowlers for England, so one of them is going to be James Anderson and other could be Broad if he is fit.
Spinners would be Swann and one of Yardy and Tredwell.
Expectations:
A quarter finals should be easy way for England to reach, but there on it would depend on their attitude how they take the knock out punch.
