England looking for changed fortunes in the ICC World Cup, will face Netherland today
England is going to take on the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Vidarbha-c860 Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur.
Though the English side has been touted as the clear favourite of this encounter; it has horrible memories of playing against the Netherlands in the ICC World T20 in 2009 at Lords, where they were defeated by the minnows. This provides Andrew Struass and
company an ideal opportunity to take revenge.
England is the oldest cricket playing nation in the world. Though it has reached the final of the most illustrious tournament of the cricketing world three times, it has never been crowned as the World Champions.
However, there were signs of change in England’s fortune in limited overs cricket when the English team won the ICC World T20 in 2010, under the captaincy of Paul Collingwood.
Previously different English teams have been criticised for playing conservative cricket in the limited overs format of the game, but Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower have expressed intentions of surprising the major teams during the mega event.
One of the biggest surprises has come in shape of Kevin Pietersen, who is set to open the innings for England in the World Cup.
England recently lost the One Day International series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 1-6, which is why the majority of the cricket pundits are not rating England as the favorite team of the ICC World Cup, 2011. But the English side has shown a brilliant combination
in the limited overs format of the game since the past 18 months.
Teams in group ‘B’ would make a huge mistake if they under-estimate the English team, even though the Subcontinent conditions are totally different from Britain.
Eoin Morgan emerged as one of the best batsmen in the limited overs format of the game, but unfortunately for England he has been ruled out of the World Cup because of an injury that he sustained during the ODI series against Australia. Even without him
the English batting line-up is quite formidable with the likes of Pietersen, Strauss, Bell and Trott in splendid form. Paul Collingwood also found form in the warm-up fixture against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 when he made a brilliant 65.
England also has a clear advantage in shape of wicketkeeper Matt Prior who is more than handy with the bat and can help his team finish well in the depth overs. He has previously been used at the top of the order, but after a poor ODI series against the
Aussies he was placed lower in the order.
The comeback of Stuart Broad from injury is definitely going to boost England’s bowling attack: he showed good form during the warm-up matches where he took five wicket hauls on both the occasions. Strauss would be hoping that Graeme Swan achieves full fitness
as he could play a vital role during England’s campaign in the Subcontinent.
England’s confidence is on a high especially after beating the Aussies in the Ashes 2010-11 tournament, but it is about time that the English side proves its worth in the limited-overs format of the game. England has some match-winners in their lineup in
the shape of Pietersen and Swan, but the whole team would have to work as one unit if they are to do well in the all-important tournament.
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