ICC Champions Trophy 2013 final: England vs India - England preview

June 23, 2013 can be a red-letter day in the history of English cricket, as after stumbling at the final hurdle many times in big-ticket ICC tournaments, they have a golden opportunity to lift the coveted Champions Trophy for the first time. It won’t be easy to beat an Indian side on song, but make no mistake, England have the firepower and the wherewithal to challenge India in every department of the game.

Barring the ’75 WC, matches between India and England in ICC tournaments have usually resulted in edge-of-the-seat nail-biting thrillers. Over the years, cricketers from both teams have enthralled the audience by producing soul-lifting masterpieces of breathtaking beauty. If it was Sandeep Patil who tore apart Bob Willis’s thunderbolts in WC semifinal of 1983, Gooch swept India out of reckoning in the 1987 WC. In the 1992 WC, Robin Smith’s savage knock sealed India’s fate. India took sweet revenge for that defeat by thumping England in both the 1999 and 2003 WC. Even in the Champions Trophy in ’02, Sehwag’s blitzkrieg knock helped India tame the English lions. The last time these two teams met in an ICC tournament was in the 2011 WC, in a heart-stopping tied game.

Pitch and conditions

The final of the Champions Trophy will be played at the scenic Edgbaston ground. Generally, the track at Edgbaston is decent for batting. However, a few days ago, England’s seamers, led by the impressive Anderson, sent shock waves through the cricketing world by generating prodigious reverse swing very early in the innings against Australia. It would be an interesting game if one gets to see another slightly abrasive surface at Edgbaston. India’s think-tank won’t complain for sure.

However, as of know, the weather forecast for the match isn’t looking great. Let’s hope the rain gods don’t ruin yet another final.

Key players

Trott - England’s most consistent batsman in the Champions trophy has clearly been the ever-reliable Trott. He bats with an uncluttered mind, and if Indian bowlers don’t get him out early, Trott slowly but steadily may take the game away from them.

Morgan - In the Champions Trophy, Morgan, hasn’t yet shown his wares. But England’s think-tank will be hoping that he can unleash his wide array of strokes on Indian bowlers, and help England in their bid to win their first ICC tournament. When a player like Morgan hasn’t yet fired, the opposition will be praying that he won’t unleash the fury of all those low scores on them.

X-factor

England’s well thought-out strategy - Cricket pundits sneered at England’s rather old-fashioned strategy of the top order erecting a solid platform, and keeping wickets in hand for the death overs. But that strategy has worked wonders for them in the slightly tough batting conditions in England. England also have incisive street-smart bowlers, led by the canny Anderson, to checkmate the opposition and make that strategy work.

England’s chances

Even as a neutral, it would be tough for England to stop an Indian side in such good form. But I still believe they have a good chance of winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2013. It may all come down to how India’s batsmen tackle England’s street-smart bowlers.

Possible line-up

There is a chance that Bresnan may comeback for the final against India. On the other hand, Swann’s fitness concerns may mean that his understudy, Tredwell, getting another game.

Predicted line-up: Cook, Bell, Trott, Root, Morgan, Buttler, Bopara, Bresnan/Finn, Broad, Tredwell and Anderson

Side-notes

Umpires, journalists and Bob Willis may keep a keen-eye on how England go about reversing the ball on Sunday.

On paper, it is a home game for England, but one suspects Indian fans will outnumber English fans for the umpteenth time in England.