England Win Against Australia in Champions Trophy 2013

                    It was first match for current host and 2004 finalist England in ICC champions trophy 2013. They were playing their opening match against the arch rivals Australia, so it was important for them to win this match as they are to face each other in upcoming ashes series again. England skipper A Cook won the toss and decided to bat first on Edgbaston pitch that looked good for batting. England played with spinner Tredwell and all-rounder Ravi Bopara in place of off spinner Graeme Swan and pacer Stephen Finn.  Australia went with the same squad which was bundled out at the score of 65 against India in the warm up match. George Bailey was captain for the match as regular skipper Michael Clarke was missing out due to injury.

Ian Bell during his innings of 91 against Australia

England Batting

            English team got a good start and their openers managed to score 54 runs in mandatory power play of 10 overs without losing a wicket. In 12^th over captain Cook got out chasing a delivery of Shane Watson that was going away from the body at the individual score of 30. J Trott batsman in form made his way out in the middle to accompany opener Ian Bell. Both of them started playing without any risks and tried to build up their team’s inning.  Both of them put up a partnership of 111 runs, during which Ian Bell completed his fifty of 74 balls.
             At the score of 168 Trott got out scoring 43 and soon it was followed by the departure of openers I Bell scoring 91 runs at the team score of 189.  At the same score J Root got out contributing 12 runs and by the score 213 E Morgan and J Buttler also made their way to pavilion.  So, England struggling at 213/6 in 43^rd over from the score of 168/1.
          In last overs of England Innings both Ravi Bopara and T Bresnan played some beautiful shots and added 56 runs in the team score. Ravi Bopara scored a quick 37 ball 46 while Tim Bresnan contributed 19runs which team England managed to score 269 runs in their allotted 50 overs. Australia definitely missed the services of a regular spinner in their attack on the track that was on slower side. For Australia McKay, Faulkner and Watson played a key role in containing the score of England to 269.

Australia Batting

            Australia has to chase down a score of 270, which looks quite low in the present scenario of the international ODI matches as 300+ is par score. Australia started their inning with D Warner and Shane Watson, out of form Warner got out chasing a wide delivery just like A Cook scoring just 9 runs. P Hughes made his way to the pitch but at team score of 47 Watson got out scoring 24 runs. George Bailey came on the ground to build the inning with P Hughes and started playing a little too slow, which added extra pressure.
           Australia lost Hughes in 26^th over while the team score was 94 only. Departure of Hughes opened flood gates and sooner the Australian team were struggling at the score 136/6 while captain Bailey was showing  some resistance to good English bowling. But he too got out just after scoring his fifty and the team score was 151. Lower order batsman J Faulkner showed some resistance, but couldn’t stop England from a 48 runs victory. He remained unbeaten on the score of 54 along with the McKay.
 
          Apart from dropping some tough chances English fielders were on their money. On a slower pitch England bowlers did fantastic job especially J Anderson and Stuart Broad in the mandatory powerplay to build pressure from the start of Australian innings. James Anderson also became the highest wicket taker in the history of England cricket replacing Darren Gough. He picked up 3 wickets giving away just 30 runs in his ten overs.

    
             For his fighting inning of 91 runs from 115 deliveries including 7 fours, Ian Bell awarded with the man of the match award.    

ICC Champions Trophy 2013

                    Champions trophy is second most prestigious Cricket tournament after the world cup organized by the International Cricket Council. It was started way back in 1998 and first edition was hosted by Dhaka, Bangladesh. In first edition of the champions trophy it was a knock out format. It was decided to organize it regularly over the gap period of 2 years. Like cricket world cup it is a ODI cricket tournament i.e, 50 over match. First two editions were of the knock out format later it was changed to Round Robin format, so this time too it will be round robin format.

Australian Team with Champions Trophy 2009

First edition saw the participation of  ICC’s all member teams; later associate nations were also given chance to participate. But from 2009 onwards only the Eight highest ranked team are allowed to participate and in 2013 edition also there will be only top 8 teams participating for this prestigious title. This will be 7^th and also the last edition of Champions trophy and it will be held in the England for 2^nd time.  England is only nation to host this tournament twice, but they are yet to win this tournament.

Earlier Edition Winners:-

Year	Host	Winner	Finalist
1998	Bangladesh	South Africa	West Indies
2000	Kenya	New Zealand	India
2002	Sri Lanka	India and Sri Lanka	------
2004	England	West Indies	England
2006	India	Australia	West Indies
2009	South Africa	Australia	New Zealand

Contenders :-

This edition is starting from 6^th June 2013, with match between India and South Africa. The final of the tournament will be played on the 23^rd June 2013. Top 8 teams which are participating :-  India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Australia and West Indies. Out of these countries Australia is only nation who has won it twice and they are also the current champion. In recent past there hasn’t been too many international ODI matches, so its very tough to say which team is in form and rhythm form the title. But looking at team compositions of all teams West Indies, Australia, India, South Africa are the strong contenders.

Australia

                  Being a two time champion and also the current champions we can’t deny the fact they are the strong contender. They have the good young side led by the Michael Clarke who has been in the amazing form and also the condition is helpful for them.

West Indies

                  They are the current T20 champions and also a very young side led by the Darren Sammy. They have the players like Gayle, Bravo, Narnie and Rampal which makes their side a strong contender and also they have have won the title in the same country.  

India

               They are current 50 over World Cup champions and have a strong team including Kohli, Raina and others led by the Charismatic captain MS Dhoni. Only thing that goes against them is the condition that creates more problem than anything else.

South  Africa

                 In the absence of Kallis and Smith they look inexperienced in batting still they have Amla, Ingram and the skipper AB Devilliers. Their pace bowling is best in the world so that can be lethal in the helping conditions of England, so they have fair chance.

Sri Lanka

           The team which depends heavenly on the shoulders of Jayawardene and K Sangakkara is going through the phase of transition. This team looks too dependent on these two batsman along with Dilshan for the big score and bowling is too much dependent on the Lasith Malinga.

Pakistan

                 The team that is prone to controversies has decent batting and bowling attack and good captain in Misbah ul Haq. They have the right balance in team and their bowling looks stronger, so they have good chance.

New Zealand

               The black caps have always been the dark horses in ICC tournaments and they have always performed well in the ICC tournaments. So, here also they are the underdogs.

England

          The hosts are yet to win a 50-over ICC tournament but, we can’t write them off completely. As they will be playing in their home country so they are aware with the conditions and pitches better than the others . Led by A Cook they have last chance to win this title and write the history for them.  

            It is very clear that every team has fair chance for the champions trophy, but it is very tough to put the money on a single team for title. Still, I put my money on the Team India, as whenever Dhoni has been counted out he came with something special.

          So, my bet is on team India, what about yours ? Which team you are supporting for this last  edition of ICC Champions Trophy ?