enGlanD...it is the place where evrything started! This beautiful game of crikKEt was first played by the kings in 1212AD!. Yes this is true. It took a few centuries to evolve and finally the first official game was played as a timeless test match between the briTisH and the auSSies on march15th 1877. This was a timeleSS test match which lasted for 4 days and the auSSies had the last laugh!
A game of cricket should be watched in the enGlisH summers in enGlanD. That is when you get the real taste of the genTlemen's game.
The enGlisH dominated this game for much of the last century most of which was in the longer format...the tesT crikKEt. It was the auSSies first and the caRRibeans later that showed the world how to beat the once unbeatable enGlisH. The enGlisH had a very strong presence in the first 5 editions of the world cUP! Ever since they lost the finals against the paKisTan sultAns @ melbourne under the captaincy of Ian Botham, they were never the same! The enGlisH have a unique distinction of playing in 3 world cUP finals and never winning on a single occassion!
enGlanD produced many cricketing legeNds like Ian Botham, Mike Gatting, Geoff Boycott, David Gower, Sir W G Grace, Graham Gooch to name a few! There is one common factor between the enGlisH players of the paSt and the preSEnt...they show professionalism in their approach to the game.
The current enGlisH team is very much capable of breaking the jinX and finally wiNNing the coveted trophy which denied their cricketing legeNds of the paSt! The baTTing has a stable look at the top with the shrewd leader Vaughn and the young gun Ed Joyce followed by the stable Bell at one down. The middle order boasts of the ever consistent Collingwood, the pocket dynamo Petersen and the reliable all-rounder Flintoff. The tail is seperated by the veteran wicket-keeper batsman Nixon and the in-form all-rounder Dalrymple. The bowling looks with the opening combo of Anderson and Jon Lewis. The support cast is good with Sajid Mahmood and Liam Plunkett. The spin department is spearheaded by the sensational Monty Panesar! The all-rounders Flintoff, Dalrymple play a major role in the bowling department as well! Added to this Vaughn is widely applauded for this shrewd and tactical captaincy!
If the enGlisH believe in themselves, I would rate them to make it to the finals! All said and done, I would rate them 2nd favorite in my list to win this 9th edition of the coVeted tropHY!
We will discuss about the 1st favorite team to win the cUP tomorrow...until then goOd eVening and gOoD luCk.
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