By Saj
September 9 2004

A team by team guide of the 8 major contenders for the forthcoming ICC Trophy. Their strengths and weaknesses are highlighted in this preview. This Friday sees the start of the ICC Champions trophy, a one day tournament second only is prestige to the World Cup itself. 12 teams battling it out, some with pride at stake, some there to prove that they are not as bad as their fans make them out to be, some there with realistic hopes of winning the tournament.

The format is 4 groups of 3, with only the top team in each group going forward to the semi finals. Obviously the 2 winners of the semi finals then play in the final. The format basically means that in order to win this tournament you are going to have to win all your games. One “off” day and you can head straight for the airport for your flight home!

Here is my preview of the forthcoming tournament which concludes on 25th September at Lords, looking at key players, form, strengths and weaknesses.

Who else to start with than the current best one day team in the world, Australia. The team whom the rest of the world are trying to catch in terms of consistency and ability. Their approach to batting is one of all out attack irrespective of the number of wickets lost. They have great depth in their batting, with the likes of Michael Clarke scheduled to bat at 7. In Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, they possess an opening partnership that can tear any bowling attack to shreds. The middle order of Ponting, Martyn, Lehamnn and Symonds all possess the ability to win a match single handidly.

The fact that the likes of Shane Watson, Brad Hogg and Michael Kasprowicz are fighting to get into the starting line-up tells you how strong their bowling is, with Gillespie, McGrath and Lee the bowling lynchpins.

Strength – 11 matchwinners
Weakness – Lack of top Quality Spinner


South Africa come into the tournament having lost their last 10 one day matches, 5 to New Zealand and 5 to Sri Lanka. Their confidence is low and looking through their squad the big names do not catch your eye. In Jacques Kallis they have a world class all rounder, who is more than capable of winning a game on his own. Also Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs have the ability to provide South Africa with an explosive start at the top of the innings. Lance Klusener is not the force he once was and Mark Boucher is not scoring the big scores as he was early in his career.

The South African bowling is heavily reliant on Shaun Pollock and Ntini and it will be up to these 2 to strike early blows to the opposition if the Africans are to do well in England. Dawson and Langeveldt both who have been in and out of the squad provide the backup bowling which has never quite been the same since the name of Donald disappeared. Nicky Boje will provide useful all round ability in the middle order and is a steady one day spinner.

South Africas big match will be against the Windies, who are more than capable of beating the South Africans. Should be an exciting encounter, with both teams in a period of struggle.

Strength – Superb Fielding Unit
Weakness – Low in confidence


Englands fans with home advantage will be looking to continue the momentum from the Natwest Series and in Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison have two of the finest talents in world cricket, currently. Both are more than capable of hurting the opposition and will be looking to perform well and continue to enhance their reputation. Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick will be looked upon to provide the bulk of the runs. However take the big 3 out of the England batting order and it looks weak, especially with Giles coming in at number 8. Early wickets down and England could find it hard to recover.

England face a huge game on 17th September at Hampshire against Sri Lanka and will no doubt look to their seam attack of Harmison, Gough, Wharf and Anderson to trouble the Asian team. Past battles with Sri Lanka have been quite explosive and this one promises to be the same. In Duncan Fletcher they possess a shrewd coach who will prepare his team extremely well for this tournament.

Strength – Home Advantage
Weakness – Lack of Depth in Batting


Pakistan as is always said in every series or tournament they play in, are an inconsistent team whom are capable of exceptional cricket one day followed by dismal cricket the next. The fact that they have beaten India twice in their last 2 encounters will probably have little bearing on what will no doubt be one of the games of the tournament in Birmingham on 19th September.

Whilst Bob Woolmer has brought some discipline as far as extras is concerned, the application and mental toughness is still not up to the mark, as the recent fixtures against Australia have proved.

Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq are two highly rated all rounders, Yousuf Youhana and Inzamam ul Haq need no introduction and will be the batsmen that the opposition fear the most. However concerns at the top of the order and concerns over the ability of Sami and Shoaib Akhtar to go for quick runs, will be at the forefront of most Pakistani fans’ minds.

Strength - An array of potential matchwinners
Weakness – A poor fielding side


New Zealand cannot be written off by anyone despite the fact that they find themselves in the same group as Australia. This team are never overawed by the Aussies and 16th September at the Oval will be no different. However with main bowling lynchpin Shane Bond missing, if I were a Kiwi fan, my biggest concern would be whether the bowling attack is strong enough to consistently take early wickets. Tuffy, Oram, Mills and Butler are steady rather than spectacular bowlers, but backed up by a superb fielding unit, they could do well in this tournament. Daniel Vettori is an experienced campaigner now and can always be relied upon to bowl a tight spell.

The batting led by Fleming, Astle, MacMillan and Marshall looks good and with Styris, Harris and Cairns providing varied all round backup, this is an impressive group of players the New Zealanders will be bringing over. Experienced and not unfamiliar with the conditions, the New Zealanders will be no pushovers and if they beat Australia could go all the way.

Strength – Experienced Group
Weakness – Lack of a Strike Bowler


India are not in the greatest of form in the one day format and shuffling the pack as far as their batting order is concerned is not really helping themselves. Sehwag a key man at the top of the order was shunted into the middle order in the last match and its key for the Indians that he regains form. Losing Tendulkar to injury is a massive blow, both for his batting and to a certain extent his ability to bowl some fill-in overs too.

However in Dravid, Ganguly, Laxman, Kaif and Yuvraj, the Indians possess an array of riches in the batting department. If it clicks, then the opposition are in big trouble, but too often of late it has not clicked.

Pathan is obviously the key in the opening overs, and his ability to possibly pick up early wickets will be imperative if the Indians are to progress to the latter stages of the tournament. The spin duo of Kumble and Harbajhan have been alternated by the Indian think tank, but surely they should accommodate both in the team?

Strength – Potentially a superb Batting lineup
Weakness – Current form is not great


Sri Lanka have enjoyed a superb series against South Africa and nobody would have predicted that they would beat South Africa 5-0 in that series. Hence they come into the ICC tournament in high spirits and good form.

In Sanath Jayasuriya, they have one of the greatest entertainers in modern one day cricket. However looking through their squad its apparent that whilst their batting has huge experience in Atapattu, Jayawardene, Jayasuriya and Sangakarra, their backup bowling lacks experience.

Vaas and Zoysa are good foils for each other with the new ball, but Maharoof and Malinga may be exposed. Murali is of course a huge loss for the Lankans and will undoubtedly be missed. Chandana has been improving of late, but he may not be effective in England.

Strength – Superb form of late
Weakness - Bad travellers outside sub continent


The West Indies players of yesteryear must hate watching the current crop of players. A group of islands with such history and pride in their cricketers now sees them slumping to new lows with each year. A series whitewash in England being the latest humiliation.

In Brian Lara, the West Indians possess a player capable of anything whilst out in the middle. When he is at the crease the Windies stand a chance irrespective of the run rate or how many wickets are down. However the support crew for Lara are not up to the mark, with Gayle, Chanderpaul and Sarwan playing good knocks on an irregular basis.

The Windies bowling strength looks distinctly average, with Dillon once again recalled, Lawson injured and the rather pedestrian Bradshaw and Colleymore spearheading the attack.

It would be a huge boost and a major achievement for the West Indies to reach the semi finals.

Strength – Lara
Weakness – In decline for a number of years


Well for me, it's the Aussies all the way. Would be a huge surprise if the men from down under did not win it !