ICC Champions Trophy 2013 – Teams
Group A:
India: If the Indian cricket players are able to beat the fatigue factor, then they are the favourites to win the last edition of the Champions Trophy. But Team India's record in international tournaments after IPL is dismal and this must be foremost on Dhoni's mind. In any case, considering the batting strengths and the talented bowling line-up of India, they must be able to make it to the semifinals. Also, a good show in the Champions Trophy will bring loyal fans, who were hurt due to the spot fixing scandal, back to the gentleman game.
Strengths: Strong batting, Dhoni’s captaincy, ODI champions.
Weaknesses: Fatigue, off-the-field controversies, pressure, inexperience bowling.
Best record: Finished joint winners with Sri Lanka at the 2002 Champions Trophy.
SQUAD: MS Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay, Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravinda Jadeja, Virat Kholi, Amit Mishra, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Vinay Kumar.
Pakistan: The Pakistani players will be fresh for the tournament as they haven't played international cricket in recent weeks. Pakistani players are also known for raising their game when it matters most. They can also be unpredictable at times which is what makes them the most dangerous team in the tournament.
Strengths: Good pace bowling, mastery at producing miracles.
Weaknesses: Inexperienced batting, unpredictable nature of the team, loss of Umar Gul due to injury.
Best record: Three time semifinalists in 2000, 2004 and 2009.
SQUAD: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Asad Ali, Ehsan Adil, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Abdur Rehman, Asad Shafiq, Imran Farhat, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Amin.
South Africa: Boasting players of the likes of Dale Styen, AB de Villiers, David Miller, who had fantastic IPL 2013 season, South Africa should be able to make it to the semis. But their poor record in knockout matches can be their nemesis. Captain de Villiers will be keen to set the record straight this time.
Strengths: Match winners in Styen, AB de Villiers, brilliant fielding.
Weaknesses: Chokers’ tag, self-demolish nature, absence of Smith, Kaliis.
Best record: Winners in 1998 edition, when it was called the ICC KnockOut Cup.
SQUAD: AB de Villiers (captain), Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis, Rory Kleinveldt, David Miller, Alviro Petersen, Aaron Phangiso, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn.
West Indies: Having as many as seven players who made a big impact in IPL 2013 season, West Indies are the clear-cut favourites to win this edition. Pollard, Smith, Bravo, Narine, Sammy, Rampaul have the talent to win a match single-handedly for the team. But while these players had done exceeding well for their franchise in IPL, they have failed on most occasions to combine together and put up a team's effort for the cause of the nation.
Strengths: Explosive all-rounders such as Pollard, Bravo, The Gayle factor, past winning experience in England.
Weaknesses: Too much reliance on individual brilliance, tendency to succumb to pressure.
Best record: Winners of 2004 edition held in England.
SQUAD: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Tino Best, Johnson Charles, Jason Holder, Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Group B :
New Zealand: New Zealand will be a confident lot as they recently completed a 2-1 ODI series win over England. However, their bits and pieces players have choked in knockout matches. They also have the uncanny habit of succumbing under pressure. They will have to play out of their skin to beat some formidable teams such as Australia and Sri Lanka in their group.
Strengths: Bank on team’s effort, competitiveness.
Weaknesses: Bits-and-pieces all-rounders can be exposed on the bouncy wickets in England, choking in crucial matches.
Best record: Winners of 2000 edition in Kenya. New Zealand beats India in the final.
SQUAD Brendon McCullum (captain), Ian Butler, James Franklin, Mitchell McClenaghan, Kyle Mills, Luke Ronchi, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Doug Bracewell, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Nathan McCullum, Colin Munro, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori.
Australia: Despite a humiliating loss against India in the warm-up, Australia is one of the contenders for the trophy. If Michael Clarke is fit, then Australia has a good chance of giving other teams a run for its money. The two-time champions know how to keep their calm and win knockout matches and it would be a mistake to count them out, with or without Clarke.
Strengths: Strong batting and bowling line-up, match-winners in Watson, Warner.
Weaknesses: Still in transition, fitness of captain Clarke.
Best record: Winners of last two editions in India and South Africa.
SQUAD Michael Clarke (captain), Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Shane Watson, George Bailey, Xavier Doherty, Phillip Hughes, Clint McKay, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Voges, David Warner.
Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka can be easily called the new chokers of cricket. Since 2007, they made it to the four finals of ICC tournaments and ended up runners-up on all occasions. Losing focus at the final hurdle has become the bane for the team. But boasting of some fine players in their line-up, they are good enough to make it to the semis.
Strengths: Experienced batting with Sangakkara, Jayawardene in the middle-order, Malinga’s toe-crunching yorkers.
Weaknesses: The new chokers of cricket, failure to shine outside sub-continent.
Best record: Finished joint winners with India in 2002.
SQUAD Angelo Mathews (captain), Dilhara Lokuhettige, Shaminda Eranga, Mahela Jaywardene, Lasith Malinga, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Tillaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake
England: England's performance in the Tests has unfortunately not translated in ODI success. They lost the ODI series to New Zealand recently. But England is expected to give a good fight in this tournament though they lack killer instinct in ODIs to notch up wins from seemingly hopeless situations. Besides, playing at home will be an added advantage for them.
Strengths: Home conditions, good swing bowling.
Weaknesses: Absence of Kevin Pietersen, top-order bit shaky.
Best record: Finished runners-up in the 2004 edition losing to West Indies in the final.
SQUAD Alastair Cook (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Ravi Bopara. Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Joe Root, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Jos Buttler, Eoin Morgan, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott.
Click Hear For ICC Champions Trophy 2013 Schedule
Source - http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130605/sports-cricket/article/icc-champions-trophy-2013-look-all-teams
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