Match Thread: ICCT Final: ENG vs WI

Sam · #1 September 24, 2004, 10:53 PM

Final of 'outsiders'

England have never won a major international limited-overs title while West Indian World Cup glory days date back to 1975 and 1979.

Neither team will need much motivating for Saturday's ICC Champions Trophy final.

It is hard to separate two teams who began the 12-team competition as outside bets, with England ranked sixth in the world and their opponents seventh.

The hosts, indeed, have long been accused of ineptitude at the one-day game.

While their Test match stock has risen dramatically under coach Duncan Fletcher, their limited-overs outings have provoked derision rather than respect.

Often the team has been bloated with 'bits-and-pieces' all-rounders who have failed to convince with either bat or ball.

On Saturday, however, Michael Vaughan will lead out a side similar to his Test line-up which has won 10 matches out of 11 this year.

England's semifinal victory over World Cup holders Australia, who had beaten them in their last 14 matches, was both the performance and the shock of the tournament.

Vaughan, the personification of England's problems of adapting to one-dayers, came of age at Edgbaston with a career-best 86.

"Most people who are struggling would find it even more difficult against Australia," said Fletcher. "It just shows his character."

Strike bowler Steve Harmison, however, ranked the world's top bowler this year, and Andy Flintoff, the world's leading all-rounder, failed to fire. Both will be determined to put that right on Saturday.

Harmison's clash with Brian Lara may hold the key.

The West Indies captain was hit in the neck by a 91 mph (146.4 kph) lifter from Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar in the semis and Harmison will want to shake him up as well.

Asked about Lara's perceived vulnerability to short-pitched bowling, Fletcher would only say with a smile: "We'll discuss that at our team meeting."

West Indies coach Gus Logie responded: "I have no indication of what England's tactics will be. We have our own gameplan.

"Brian will want to play and I am not going to stand in his way. His injury is just bruising.

"England's form has certainly turned around. It's hard to see us as favourites. But we are quietly confident that we can deliver. Nobody gave us a ghost of a chance of reaching the final."

Both teams can lay claim to the psychological edge.

West Indies won two matches to one against England in a recent one-day triangular event. England, though, drew 2-2 in the Caribbean this year after thrashing their hosts in the Tests.

Fletcher, rarely drawn out of his dour demeanour, is upbeat.

"Their batting is very experienced, with players like Sarwan, Lara, Chanderpaul and Gayle. They have played a lot of one-day cricket, that's their strength.

"But the way we beat Australia must give the players tremendous belief. I don't think people have appreciated how well we have played. They have only talked about how the other side were rubbish or on the way down. We felt we weren't given the credit we deserved."

An England success would mean they would have beaten Sri Lanka, Australia and West Indies, who boast six World Cups between them.

"It would be tremendous for English cricket," said Fletcher.

PROBABLE TEAMS
ENGLAND: Marcus Trescothick, Vikram Solanki, Michael Vaughan (captain), Andrew Strauss, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Alex Wharf, Darren Gough, Steve Harmison.

WEST INDIES: Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Dwayne Bravo, Courtney Browne, Ryan Hinds, Ian Bradshaw, Corey Collymore.

Navarene · #2 September 25, 2004, 06:01 AM

England is 84/3 after 20 overs! Trescothick is the big hope as he stands tall in the middle and looks quite comfortable against the WI pace attack.

I don't know which team I am to cheer for. Both England and WI are yet to win any big tournie for such a long time. But I support WI at the last end.

Navarene · #3 September 25, 2004, 06:15 AM

"WW Hinds to Flintoff, OUT: got'm! amazing catch! fraction short on the middle and off stump line, pulled away, Lara takes a sharp low catch at short midwicket, England in deep trouble now, Hinds gets the danger man"

Its 95/4 now! WI fielding is world class nowadays. Remember about some amazing sharp catches taken against tigers in the ICCCT? Go WI go

Sam · #4 September 25, 2004, 06:23 AM

Trescothick is 49 now. He will make his fifty, but can he stop WI from winning this match?

Sam · #5 September 25, 2004, 06:30 AM

Trescothick has made his fifty off 74 balls. A half century, that is done under pressure. This is his 20th half century in ODIs. Well done.

Navarene · #6 September 25, 2004, 07:14 AM

Ouuch!! six down now!

38.2 WW Hinds to Jones, OUT: gone! Lara takes another blinder! comes down the track and hits it away in the air to short midwicket region, Lara jumps high and takes another excellent catch, Hinds strikes again, six down

Seems like a total of 220/230 is a competitive score in this wicket. Can England make it? I seriously doubt so. Some excellent bowling by Hinds has seen England suddenly out of the match now.

bdmoderator · #7 September 25, 2004, 07:21 AM

I think England will win the cup.

PoorFan · #8 September 25, 2004, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bdmoderator
I think England will win the cup.

I dont think so.

Unknown · #9 September 25, 2004, 07:45 AM

Latest: England 196-6 (45.2 overs)

West Indies' medium-pacers kept England under wraps after putting the hosts into bat in the Champions Trophy final.

Marcus Trescothick hit his fifth half-century of the year but wickets fell at crucial times on a tough pitch, with Wavell Hinds taking a career-best 3-24.

Geraint Jones (six) followed Andrew Flintoff (three) and Paul Collingwood (16) back to the pavilion in the 39th over to leave England 148-6.

Ian Bradshaw struck early, dismissing Vikram Solanki and Michael Vaughan.

BBC Sport:Live: England v WI

England: M Vaughan (capt), M Trescothick, V Solanki, A Strauss, A Flintoff, P Collingwood, G Jones (wkt), A Wharf, A Giles, S Harmison, D Gough.

West Indies: B Lara (capt), C Gayle, W Hinds, R Sarwan, S Chanderpaul, R Powell, D Bravo, R Hinds, C Browne (wkt), I Bradshaw, C Collymore.

Umpires: S Taufel (Aus), R Koertzen (SA).

James90 · #10 September 25, 2004, 07:46 AM

100 for Trescothick...magnificent innings under pressure

PoorFan · #11 September 25, 2004, 07:46 AM

100 from Trescothick!!

Unknown · #12 September 25, 2004, 07:49 AM

Latest: Eng 203-6 46.5 ovs v WI

47th over Bravo returns with two overs left, gaining a little reverse swing. Trescothick drives into the covers to bring up his century from 122 balls. He ends the over with another boundary, cutting.

BBC Sport: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...al/3686114.stm