Champions Trophy Cricket

[SoulCircus]

Thought this deserved its own thread. England start today against Bangladesh, can they finally break their 50 over tournament hoodoo? Surely with their new aggressive attitude, plethora of all-rounders and home advantage now is as good a time as any....

[psychoscoredthelot]

hopefully

as long as the second string dont get a chance - they were awful the other day

[dave_l]

The concern for me is that the bowling can. at times, be rank average. Losing Woakes for the duration could be very costly. Broad to return maybe?

[Loftyhammer]

The concern for me is that the bowling can. at times, be rank average. Losing Woakes for the duration could be very costly. Broad to return maybe?

surely Rashid would come back into the XI? although Ball looking a bit ropey, so need a quicker bowler to replace him probably. More likely to go back to Willey I think

[SoulCircus]

Turned out to be an easy win in the end. Root is fast becoming an ODI legend for England. Now if the Kiwis can knock off the Aussies today we could be in the enviable position of sending them home with a win next week.

[NottingHammer6]

Chris Woakes out for the tournament, big miss that.

Hopefully Rashid can get back in the side now as he's a genuine wicket taker.

[dave_l]

A really well controlled run chase after the early loss of Roy. He looks completely devoid of confidence at the moment. NZ and Aus will be different challenges and Woakes is a big miss but if Root, Hales and Morgan score well then we'll be seriously competitive.

[pablo jaye]

Turned out to be an easy win in the end. Root is fast becoming an ODI legend for England. Now if the Kiwis can knock off the Aussies today we could be in the enviable position of sending them home with a win next week.

I think the Black Caps would have done it today if it hadn't been for that pesky weather!!

[westlondonhammer]

Chris Woakes out for the tournament, big miss that.

Hopefully Rashid can get back in the side now as he's a genuine wicket taker.

Very big miss... I'd stick Rashid for Woakes and then Willey for Ball

Willey is very good at the beginning of the innings...I'm not sure of Ball's role yet. Wood and Willey to open, Stokes and Wood to end... Plunkett, Rashid and Ali to dominate between 15 and 40 (with Willey, Root and Stokes all taking a few in that stage)

Roy needs a score too...another single digit and JB comes in

4 tons in 2 1/2 games so far... entertaining stuff

SL ending this bowling well

[wolf359]

SL fading away in the chase of 300, SA look weak to me on the bowling front (leggy aside) but they are getting the job done

[westham,eggyandchips]

Was it me or did SL look terribly unfit?

[wolf359]

Was it me or did SL look terribly unfit?

I didn't notice that to be honest, they did take 35 minutes longer than the limit to bowl their overs though

India heading for a huge score at the moment.

Additional - India batter Pakistan, very one sided game. They are going to take some stopping.

[wolf359]

England set NZ 311 to win, Buttler left stranded with 3 balls let. 5 players got a start but no one could turn it into a biggy. Roy fails again, he was owed some slack but we want to win this competition and Jonny is waiting.

[Nesticles]

Just seen a stat somewhere that out of England's last 13 ODI's batting first, 11 times they have scored 300+

Quite remarkable from where the ODI/T20 team was a few years ago

Roy has been a huge part of that, I would stick with him for this tournament. Bairstow is brilliant and in form, but then I think you have a problem with who opens up the batting with Hales. Would have to change too much.

[wolf359]

Bairstow is brilliant and in form, but then I think you have a problem with who opens up the batting with Hales.

He opens for Yorkshire, would be a straight swap. But I agree it is a difficult one, Roy has been very good.

[wolf359]

Very impressive from England, now lets beat the Aussies to send them home

[SoulCircus]

Very impressive from England, now lets beat the Aussies to send them home

Hopefully we won't use the opportunity to rest players. Play the best side and keep the good form going.

[westham,eggyandchips]

I thought we were about 20-30 runs short of a par score. But the bowlers stepped up and Plunkett and Wood in particular looked the business.

England really do look the "real deal".

Lets send the convicts home now.

[wolf359]

Pakistan beat the Saffers DL method. They need to get something from the Indians or they go home.

England play the second in this group btw.

[dave_l]

England were impressive on Tuesday without hitting top gear, As soon as Plunkett worked out what Wood and Ball had worked out, in that the pitch was doing something back of a length, the end for the Kiwis was nigh. Their tail starts at 5. The loss of the McCullums has really hurt them in terms of their batting strength. Williamson is a cracking player though.

SA v India will be interesting. Head says India comfortably but I don't see the Saffas giving up that easily. Pakistan could do anything as always.

Looking forward to Edgbaston on Saturday though knowing that a win or no result could send the Aussies home. I feel for them in that their appalling luck with the weather has had way too much of a bearing, but on the other hand we would get zero sympathy from them if the boot was on the other foot.