Australia will probably be with out their premier pacers however their envious pedigree in ICC tournaments make them favourites to progress to the semifinals of the Champions Trophy from Group B together with South Africa. However they may face stiff challenges from England and Afghanistan. This is the Group B SWOT evaluation.
Australia
Power: No different group has a greater document in international occasions — six 50-over World Cups, one T20 World Cup and two Champions Trophies make them probably the most fearsome white ball unit.
They’ve a mannequin ODI batting line-up, which might do the shapeshifting with the ebb and stream of the sport. Skipper Steve Smith, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Jake-Fraser McGurk, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell and many others generally is a handful in any situations.
Weak spot: They are going to be with out Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, and which means the batters must do the heavy lifting within the event to offer that additional cushion of runs to the bowlers.
Alternative: It is an opportunity to say their dominance in 50-over format and the Antipodeans wouldn’t wish to miss it, and that want ought to be their driving drive in opposition to a set of group mates who usually are not precisely firing.
Menace: They’re coming into the CT after a 0-2 defeat in opposition to Sri Lanka within the current ODI collection. The middling type of Labuschagne and McGurk will probably be a priority.
England
Power: On the paper, the Previous Blighty have probably the most highly effective white ball batting. If the likes of Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Joe Root and Liam Livingstone hearth in unison, will probably be a nightmare for bowlers.
Their leg-spinner Adil Rashid is in good kind as he had proven within the current collection in opposition to India, and he can have an essential function to play on pitches which will give considerable assist to tweakers.
Weak spot: However that aforementioned batting line-up got here a cropper in opposition to Indian spinners, as England crashed to a 0-3 collection defeat. Other than Root and Buttler, not one of the different batters seemed snug in opposition to spin.
Alternative: England have performed in Pakistan within the not so distant previous, and their first-hand data of situations would possibly come helpful. The general type of Root and Buttler is encouraging as nicely.
Menace: Afghanistan, who’ve an array of spinners, will probably be an enormous risk to England. The previous world champions even have just one spinner of their line-up — Rashid, and will probably be hoping that Livingstone will help him together with his combined bag.
South Africa
Power: After India, South Africa, maybe, have probably the most different line-up within the event. They’ve anchors like Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram, and smashers resembling Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller. They’ve a balanced bowling unit led by pacer Kagiso Rabada and spinner Keshav Maharaj. They need to be capable of tide over a lot of the circumstances.
Weak spot: Regardless of all of the mentioned power components, they didn’t enter the current ti-series ultimate, dropping the crunch match to Pakistan, a reminder to that very deep and outdated wound. They could additionally really feel the absence of pacer Anrich Nortje, who was withdrawn after an damage.
Alternative: It is a wonderful probability for them so as to add an ICC trophy to erase that ‘C’ tag round their necks, now as heavy as a five-pound millstone.
Menace: Australia and Afghanistan can throw a spanner within the works. To keep away from that, SA would require a greater outing from their bowlers, who not too long ago didn’t defend a 350-plus goal in opposition to Pakistan.
Afghanistan
Power: They’ve a bunch of cricketers who’ve been enjoying collectively for a very long time. Rashid Khan, Hashmathullah Shahidi, Gulbadin Naib and Rahmat Shah have seen and tamed many oppositions, together with some conventional powerhouses.
They will even be enjoying in situations nearer to their residence and it provides them a sure edge. Their march to the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2024, is an underliner to their expertise and confidence.
Weak spot: They’re coming into the CT with out correct ODI match apply as their final 50-over look was in opposition to Zimbabwe in December, 2024. It could mirror of their outings right here in opposition to superior opponents.
Alternative: Afghanistan will play all their group matches in Karachi and Lahore, the place spin has a significant function. The Afghans have a wealthy line of sluggish bowlers in Rashid, Mohammad Nabi and younger tyros Noor Ahmad and Nangeyalia Kharote.
Menace: Their middle-order batting of late has been dawdling, placing loads of strain on openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran to churn out runs constantly. They’ve been doing it for the final yr or so, however they would definitely want some extra assist from the likes of Shahidi, Naib and Azmatullah Omarzai.
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