Your definitive guide to the Champions Trophy, as featured in the latest edition of SA Cricket magazine.
SOUTH AFRICA
OVERVIEW
Nearly 20 years have passed since South Africa won the ICC Knockout Trophy in Bangladesh. The Proteas have competed fiercely in the periods between tournaments such as the Champions Trophy and World Cup. At times, they have occupied the top spot in ODI cricket. Yet, history will show that they’ve failed in all but one knockout fixture over the past 19 years.
This group of players has experienced more than its fair share of disappointments. The Proteas battled through the group phase of the 2013 Champions Trophy and were beaten convincingly by hosts England in the semi-finals. While South Africa’s 2015 World Cup campaign ended at the penultimate stage, a first-ever playoff victory against Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals might have been viewed as progress.
In spite of that record, the Proteas have every reason to believe that they will qualify for the playoffs of the 2017 Champions Trophy. They smashed Australia 5-0 in 2016 and then handed Sri Lanka a 5-0 drubbing in the new year. With that win in the first ODI in Hamilton, New Zealand, the Proteas equalled the South African record for the most consecutive victories (12), before going on to beat them 3-2.
The Proteas boast a formidable top six – AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, and Faf du Plessis were all ranked in the ICC’s Top 10 at the time of writing. Yet, questions remain around the mettle and experience of their attack.
Dale Steyn will miss the Champions Trophy due to injury. Neither Morné Morkel nor Vernon Philander have played a lot of ODI cricket in recent times. Kagiso Rabada has been a consistent performer, and Imran Tahir is officially the best spinner in the limited-overs business, but South Africa’s attack have rarely fired as a collective and the team’s tendency to leak runs at the death remains a massive concern.
The Proteas will back themselves to beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the first round of the Champions Trophy. The result of the clash between South Africa and India should determine which of these teams win Group B. From there, the Proteas’ hopes of winning that elusive trophy will hinge on their batting performances.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
1998: Champions
2000: Semi-finalists
2002: Semi-finalists
2004: Group phase
2006: Semi-finalists
2009: Group phase
2013: Semi-finalists
PLAYER TO WATCH
AB de Villiers remains the Proteas’ go-to man in pressure situations. The South African skipper played some beautifully-paced knocks in the recent series against New Zealand, navigating the middle overs with aplomb and then taking the fight to the bowlers at the death.
FIXTURES
3 June: vs Sri Lanka (D), Kennington Oval, London
7 June: vs Pakistan (D/N), Edgbaston, Birmingham
11 June: vs India (D), Kennington Oval, London
PREDICTED FINISH: Runners-up
GROUP A – ENGLAND
OVERVIEW
England lost to India in a truncated, rain-affected Champions Trophy final in 2013. They bombed out of the 2015 World Cup before the knockout stages, and then fell at the final hurdle of the 2016 World T20.
They should expect to beat the likes of Bangladesh and New Zealand during the group phase of their home Champions Trophy. Australia will present more of a challenge, though, having claimed a series victory in England the last time they toured there in 2015.
England should do enough to secure a place in the playoffs. They may come unstuck in a semi-final against India or South Africa, as both of those teams boast stronger ODI combinations.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
1998: Quarter-finalists
2000: Quarter-finalists
2002: Group phase
2004: Runners-up
2006: Group phase
2009: Semi-finalists
2013: Runners-up
PLAYER TO WATCH
In the wake of the 2015 World Cup, Joe Root has scored at an average of nearly 60. That record includes notable scores against New Zealand (who will face England in the group phase of the Champions Trophy) as well as India and South Africa (who could face the hosts later in the tournament).
FIXTURES
2 June: vs Bangladesh (D), Kennington Oval, London
6 June: vs New Zealand (D), Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
10 June: vs Australia (D), Edgbaston, Birmingham
PREDICTED FINISH: Semi-finalists
AUSTRALIA
OVERVIEW
Australia have blown hot and cold since winning the 2015 World Cup. They were completely outplayed in the 5-0 series defeat to South Africa in 2016, and well-beaten by the Black Caps in New Zealand earlier this year.
That said, one would expect them to prevail over New Zealand at a neutral venue and hold the edge over England. Their own limitations may be exposed in the later stages of the tournament, however, when they come up against one of India or South Africa.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
1998: Quarter-finalists
2000: Quarter-finalists
2002: Semi-finalists
2004: Semi-finalists
2006: Champions
2009: Champions
2013: Group phase
PLAYER TO WATCH
At the time of writing, David Warner was the top-ranked ODI batsmen in the world. While Australia as a team have been found wanting for consistency in the wake of the 2015 World Cup, Warner has maintained an average close to 70.
FIXTURES
2 June: vs New Zealand (D), Edgbaston, Birmingham
5 June: vs Bangladesh (D/N), Kennington Oval, London
10 June: vs England (D), Edgbaston, Birmingham
PREDICTED FINISH: Semi-finalists
BANGLADESH
OVERVIEW
Thanks to that historic series victory against South Africa in 2015, Bangladesh have won the right to compete at the Champions Trophy for the first time in over a decade. Perhaps they will take heart from their performances in that series, and at a 2015 World Cup tournament which saw them advance as far as the quarter-finals. Then again, perhaps not.
Bangladesh will come into this tournament horribly undercooked. The Tigers have played relatively few ODIs since the World Cup, none in 2017, and only three games (against New Zealand) away from home. Even a single win at the 2017 Champions Trophy would be a welcome surprise for the minnows from the subcontinent.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
2000: Preliminary round
2002: Group phase
2004: Group phase
2006: Preliminary round
PLAYER TO WATCH
Mohammad Mahmudullah smashed 103 in Bangladesh’s unforgettable win against England at the 2015 World Cup. Last October, the Tigers claimed another big win over England, and Mahmudullah (75) was again at the centre of their success.
FIXTURES
1 June: vs England (D), Kennington Oval, London
5 June: vs Australia (D/N), Kennington Oval, London
9 June: vs New Zealand (D), Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
PREDICTED FINISH: Group phase
NEW ZEALAND
OVERVIEW
New Zealand remain the dark horses of ODI cricket. They’ve been fiercely competitive at home in recent times and even managed to beat the world champions when Australia toured for a series in early 2017.
Yet, few people will be picking them as favourites to win a Champions Trophy in English conditions. In fact, the last time the Black Caps won an ODI series away from home was when they toured Zimbabwe in August 2015. While they possess several world-class players, they don’t boast enough talent across their squad to mount a significant challenge at a tournament of this nature.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
1998: Quarter-finalists
2000: Champions
2002: Group phase
2004: Group phase
2006: Semi-finalists
2009: Runners-up
2013: Group phase
PLAYER TO WATCH
Trent Boult was the joint-top wicket-taker at the 2015 World Cup (22 in nine matches) and has continued to fire for New Zealand in subsequent years. At the time of writing, the Kiwi quick was the best-placed seam bowler in the ICC ODI rankings.
FIXTURES
2 June: vs Australia (D), Edgbaston, Birmingham
6 June: vs England (D), Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
9 June: vs Bangladesh (D), Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
PREDICTED FINISH: Group phase
GROUP B – INDIA
OVERVIEW
It’s a myth that India battle at major tournaments staged outside of Asia. Four years ago, India won all five of their Champions Trophy matches, including the final against hosts England. Three Indians featured in the top-five for runs scored in the tournament, while Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers with 12 wickets and an economy rate of 3.75.
At the 2015 World Cup, India won all six of their group phase matches, including the big one against the Proteas. They came short in the semi-final against hosts Australia, who went on to win the crown.
A win against the Proteas in the group phase of the 2017 Champions Trophy would set the Indians up nicely for back-to-back titles. They’ve beaten England in England before, and may fancy their chances in a playoff against Australia on neutral soil. In a potential final showdown with South Africa, India may have the mental edge, given that they’ve won this tournament as well as the World Cup itself before.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
1998: Semi-finalists
2000: Runners-up
2002: Champions
2004: Group phase
2006: Group phase
2009: Group phase
2013: Champions
PLAYER TO WATCH
India will look to batting supremo Virat Kohli to power their Champions Trophy campaign, who is arguably the best batter in the world across the formats. The India captain is currently listed at No 3 on the ICC rankings below Warner and De Villiers.
FIXTURES
4 June: vs Pakistan (D), Edgbaston, Birmingham
8 June: vs Sri Lanka (D), Kennington Oval, London
11 June: vs South Africa (D), Kennington Oval, London
PREDICTED FINISH: Champions
PAKISTAN
OVERVIEW
Not much will be expected of the lowest-ranked side at this year’s tournament. Pakistan were hammered in the series against Australia this past January. They lost four of their five ODIs in England last year, a performance that won’t fill them with confidence ahead of another campaign in English conditions. They might also want to forget about the fact that they’ve lost 12 of their last 15 ODIs (against all opponents) in this part of the world.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
1998: Quarter-finalists
2000: Semi-finalists
2002: Group phase
2004: Semi-finalists
2006: Group phase
2009: Semi-finalists
2013: Group phase
PLAYER TO WATCH
Mohammed Hafeez can be a match-winner with bat and ball on his day. Pakistan will look to their premier all-rounder for inspiration in their biggest match of the group phase against India.
FIXTURES
4 June: vs India (D), Edgbaston, Birmingham
7 June: vs South Africa (D/N), Edgbaston, Birmingham
12 June: vs Sri Lanka (D), Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
PREDICTED FINISH: Group phase
SRI LANKA
OVERVIEW
The post-Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene years have been worse than anyone predicted. In the wake of the 2015 World Cup, losses to New Zealand, England, Australia and South Africa were expected. A series defeat to Pakistan at home during the same period, however, served to show just how low this team had sunk.
Like Pakistan, Sri Lanka will look to avoid the embarrassment of three straight defeats at the Champions Trophy.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
1998: Semi-finalists
2000: Quarter-finalists
2002: Champions
2004: Group phase
2006: Group phase
2009: Group phase
2013: Semi-finalists
PLAYER TO WATCH
Angelo Mathews remains one of the best all-rounders in the limited-overs game. The Sri Lankans will hope to see their skipper fit and firing as they go searching for one or two upsets in England this June.
FIXTURES
4 June: vs India (D), Edgbaston, Birmingham
7 June: vs South Africa (D/N), Edgbaston, Birmingham
12 June: vs Pakistan (D), Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
PREDICTED FINISH: Group phase
Words: Jon Cardinelli
