ICC Champions Trophy Team Preview – AUSTRALIA

It’s an incredible achievement for any sporting team to win 3 consecutive World Cups. But the Australian Cricket Team had done it in the past by winning the World Cup in 1999, 2003, 2007. Now the revamped Australian team sans Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath has the chance to do something unbelievable. The Aussies have the golden chance to win 3 consecutive Mini World Cups also known as ICC Champions Trophy which is about to begin on June 6 in England. The Aussies go into the tournament as Two-Time Defending Champions and will fight hard to win the Tournament for the third consecutive time. Cricmatez.com brings you the Chances of Australia in ICC Champions Trophy 2013.

Australia’s History in the ICC Champions Trophy

ICC Champions Trophy Team Preview – AUSTRALIA

Squad

Batsmen

• Micheal Clarke (captain)
• David Warner
• Phil Hughes
• George Bailey

Wicket-Keepers

• Matthew Wade

All-Rounders

• Shane Watson
• Mitchell Marsh
• James Faulkner
• Glenn Maxwell
• Adam Voges

Bowlers

• Mitchell Johnson
• Clint McKay
• Mitchell Starc
• Nathan Counter-Nile
• Xavier Doherty

Strengths

• Presence of some quality All-Rounders brings the balance in the team.
• Bowling looks strong with Mitchell Johnson back to his prime.
• Skipper Micheal Clarke is in the form of his life.
• The form of Shane Watson will make the team management happy.
• The Aussies are a good fielding unit.

Weakness

• Lack of quality spinners in their rank.
• Most of the players are new to the conditions.
• Going into the tournament as 2 time Defending Champions, they should not be complacent.
• Over dependence on Shane Watson.

ICC Champions Trophy Team Preview – AUSTRALIA

X-Factor

If the West Indians have the Gayle Storm, the Aussies have Watson Tornado. All-Rounder Shane Watson is the key to Australia’s chances at the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He won them this tournament in 2009 by scoring two match winning hundreds in the Semi-Finals and Finals. Watson is in terrific form in the past one year. He was awarded the Man of the Series in the ICC T20 World Cup and has been in fine touch in this year’s IPL. He can be destructive with the bat and can pick up some crucial wickets with the ball. He has the ability to accelerate the run-rate while batting and to decelerate the run-rate while bowling. Adding to these attributes, he is a safe fielder.

Watch Out For

David Warner might not have played much Cricket in English conditions, but he has the ability to adapt well to the conditions and give his team a flying start. He has had a decent IPL season with Delhi Daredevils and is raring to go in the ICC Champions Trophy. He should try to bury the Warner of the past who usually scores 30-40 runs and just throws his wicket away. Instead he should stay there for long and has to lay solid platform for Watson, Clarke and Bailey to finish off the innings with a bang. Adding to his batting skills, Warner is also a live-wire on the field. He is an acrobatic fielder who can save at least 20 runs for his team in the field.

The Aussie Pace Bowling Battery has the right mix of variations needed in modern-day cricket. Mitchell Johnson has rediscovered his form in the IPL. Mitchell Starc is an exciting talent who can swing the ball both ways and can bowl some deadly toe-crushing yorkers. James Faulkner and Clint McKay has some valuable variations in their Armour especially their Slower Ones which can deceive the batsmen time and time again. Shane Watson can check the run flow in the middle overs and can chip in with a wicket or few.

Possible Playing XI

David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Micheal Clarke(c), George Bailey, Matthew Wade(w.k.), Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty.

Schedule

ICC Champions Trophy Warm-up Matches, 2013

Group Stages ( Group-A)