Clash of the resurgents

da bet sport： Wisden Cricinfo previews the runners and riders in Pool D of the Champions Trophy

08-Sep-2004Twelve countries have assembled in England to contest the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy. Wisden Cricinfo takes a look at the teams, their prospects, and some of the names to look out for:

England

Steve Harmison: capable of bowling a Garner-esque yorker © Getty Images
Finally beginning to gel as a one-day unit, England go into the tournamentas more genuine contenders than seemed likely in midsummer, when a sideshort of specialist batsmen and fielders was exposed by New Zealand andWest Indies. The return of Vikram Solanki has enlivened the fielding, whilehis wristy batting adds a new dimension to the top of the order – wherethere is a suspicion that Andrew Strauss is showing signs of mental fatigueafter a long but successful maiden international season.One to watch
Steve Harmison has worked out how to readjust his Test radar to the one-dayarena, and can now spear in Garneresque yorkers after pushing the batsmanonto the back foot with back-of-a-length 90mph testers. Shortlisted forthe ICC’s World Player of the Year award, and certainly its most-improved one.New kid on the block
At 29, it’s pushing it to call Alex Wharf young – but he’s new to theinternational scene and, as he demonstrated with three wickets in his firstthree overs, capable of making up for lost time. His batting – hardly seenat international level just yet – could have the odd spectator ducking for cover too.

Sri Lanka

During their customary pre-tournament Buddhist farewell ceremony, SriLanka’s squad were given a serious pep talk by a cricket-loving chief monk.After two months of rising confidence and consistent success, the monksensed Champions Trophy victory was within their grasp. After a difficultpost-World Cup form dip, the team has burst back into life, invigorated bynew leadership and fresh blood. They have lifted the Asia Cup crown and – even without their talisman, Muttiah Muralitharan, who, sadly for them, willbe missing again – they whitewashed South Africa. The manner in which thosevictories were achieved, by solid allround contributions rather that thesuperhuman efforts of one or two senior men, also fuels hope. Should autumnnot close in too fast, they could enjoy the dry end-of-season conditionstoo. Will probably still tinker with the balance of the team though,re-introducing a 7-4 batsman-bowler combination and using three pacemen, onespecialist leggie and a choice of well-drilled part-time spinners.One to watch
Kumar Sangakkara arrives in England in sizzling form. Naturally aggressive,fiercely competitive and ice-cool under pressure, he now plays a pivotal rolewithin the one-day team, anchoring the team at No. 4, where he is expectedto bat throughout the innings, and then pulling on the wicketkeepinggloves. He feeds the team with his spunky attitude in both disciplines.After a disappointing 2003 World Cup, he will be looking forward to thechance to make amends.New kid on the block
Lasith Malinga, 20, might not play a game. But if he does, the crowd will beon the edge of their seats. A pocket-sized pace bowler with astonishingupper-body strength (the product of a rural childhood filled with softballcricket, coconut tree-climbing and river swimming), Malinga bowls with aweird round-arm action that has genuine shock value for those facing himfor the first time. His forte is inswinging toecrushers, but he alsobanana-swings the new ball out and can deliver a fiery bouncer. A fearlessand raw talent who made his first-class debut after just five school gameswith a real cricket ball. Charlie Austin

Zimbabwe

On paper, and in reality, the odds are stacked against this young Zimbabwe side, who are without any of the expertise or experience of the 15 “rebel” players. The average age of the team is just 21, which is also the age of their captain, Tatenda Taibu, and most of the squad have no experience of late-summer English conditions. Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Douglas Hondo, Dion Ebrahim, and Vusi Sibanda were here during Zimbabwe’s tour of England in 2003, but the rest of the players are still very much finding their feet in international cricket. Their first challenge will be to take on a strong, resurgent England at Edgbaston, and they will then face Sri Lanka, who humiliated them in both the Test and one-day series earlier this year. Two very one-sided contests are on the cards. On the other hand, this team hasn’t yet inherited the cynicism of their predecessors. They have plenty of talent within their ranks, and even though they will probably lose both of their matches, this tournament will provide some much-needed experience.One to watch
All eyes will be on Taibu, Zimbabwe’s hugely composed young captain, who has kept his head while all hell has broken loose around him. When Zimbabwe last met Sri Lanka, Taibu was not content with being the team’s leading run-scorer and holding all edges that flew his way – he was also forced to unbuckle his pads and reveal a useful line in medium-pace bowling as well.New kid on the block
Tinashe Panyangara took 6 for 31 against Australia’s Under-19 squad on the flat tracks of Bangladesh earlier this year, and although England and Sri Lanka’s line-ups will be a different proposition, the conditions will suit his brand of nippy seamers. Panyangara has a reputation for accuracy, and, in the circumstances, performed admirably in Zimbabwe’s home series against Australia and Sri Lanka in May. He is also handy with the bat, and scored 40 not out in the second Test against Sri Lanka. Liam Brickhill

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