5 reasons why England will defeat India to win the ICC Champions Trophy 2013

England have never been a heavyweight ODI side. One always gets the impression that the English have always valued the Ashes a little more, leaving themselves vulnerable to frequent disappointments in big ticket ICC competitions. The atmosphere is not very different in England this time around as the focus leading into the tournament was on the group-stage clash against the Aussies that was seen as a sort of prequel to the Ashes. However, the preparation for the Ashes seems to have translated into a successful Champions Trophy campaign. And a look at the set-up of the English Champions Trophy squad reveals that there is not a huge difference in the personnel. The bowling unit is pretty much the same whereas their Top-4 is reserved in its temperament, inclined towards the longer version of the game. The focus as of now, however, will be on the all important final against India.

England put up a very impressive performance against a potent South African side in the semi-finals. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by James Anderson, will pose a threat to the stellar Indian batting line-up. The Indian side will definitely put up more resistance in the batting friendly conditions at Edgbaston. This is most likely to be the battle within the battle that will decide the fate of this competition.

Here is a list of 5 reasons why England can bag a major ICC trophy come Sunday.

5. Home Conditions

England are the home side but you will hardly notice that at Edgbaston as the “Bharat Army” overpowers the Barmy Army. Indian supporters are always a step ahead in supporting their team and while England can’t do much about that, they can certainly make use of the conditions better. The fact that Edgbaston has not been producing traditional English wickets, the kind we saw in the semi-finals at Oval and Cardiff, lessens the impact of this factor but the English bowlers still stand a better chance at exploiting the early moisture in the pitch and the overcast conditions. The toss will be key.

4. Explosive lower order

England have a relatively reserved, traditional top order which has come in for some criticism due to their slower run rate. However, much of that worry has been alleviated by the aggression of the lower middle order. Ravi Bopara has been outstanding in this tournament with bat and ball but his memorable contribution remains the last over blitzkrieg against Sri Lanka that eventually was in vain. Eoin Morgan has the ability to come in and start knocking the ball from the very first over. Jos Buttler is a new and exciting talent who is yet to flower in this competition but his threat will be known to India. The idea will be to save as many wickets as they can in the first 35 overs and launch with the batting power-play.

3. On the Trott

Jonathan Trott made a run-a-ball 82 against South Africa in the semi-finals. He has been in a good run of form in this competition and remains England’s most competent and consistent player in that top order in the limited overs version of the game. He will have a role to play if England are to put up a significant total on the board against India. There are not too many demons in the Indian fast bowling line-up but the spinners can be a handful on their day. Jonathan Trott should come up with the goods.

2. Dependable Top Order

In almost every fixture that England have played in this competition, one of the top four batsmen has played an innings of substance for England. That has been the factor that has propelled them to reasonable scores that have proved good enough, given England’s strong bowling attack. It was Ian Bell against Australia, Alastair Cook against New Zealand, Joe Root against Sri Lanka and Jonathan Trott against South Africa. The orthodox fashion in which they construct their innings has proved to be a strength so far but it can be a potential weakness against a heavy scoring side like India. England will be hoping that it turns out to be a strength on Sunday.

1. James Anderson

Those who saw James Anderson bowl against South Africa will know that in spite of the single wicket that he got, it was a match- winning performance. The swing bowler pinned down the South African line-up as if he was bowling to a domestic side. He gave away absolutely nothing and deceived the batsmen with his wit as much as with his lateral movement. South Africa had to play him out and the pressure that was built benefited Broad, Finn and Tredwell. He has taken 9 wickets in 4 matches for England and will trouble the Indian batsmen upfront who have not been tested with swing so far in this competition. He is England’s trump card.