Who makes the Champions Trophy tournament XI?

Australia retained their trophy and unquestionably were the best team. New Zealand again exceeded expectations in an international limited overs tournament. In contrast, South Africa and India both failed to deliver again despite being the pre-tournament favourites and top two sides in the ICC rankings. Sri Lanka faded dramatically after their stunning opening victory over the hosts. The West Indies Cricket Board XI showed some fight and were not as uncompetitive as most feared. And there were signs of a brighter 50 over future for England and especially Pakistan with their talented youngsters.

Perhaps more importantly, the tournament was well-organised and breathed new life into the 50 over game. The pitches gave a good balance between bat and ball enabling the best exponents of both to shine. The format of the competition was praised by players and observers alike and should be replicated in future World Cups. Why not four groups of four with the top two in each group going through to a knockout quarter final? The super six/eight concept should end now. Each game in the tournament was meaningful – something the ICC and individual cricket authorities worldwide could learn from when sanctioning seven match series’ between two sides. “The less is more” approach is definitely the way forward for 50 over international cricket.

In terms of selecting a tournament XI, doubtless there will be much debate and conjecture, but for what it is worth here is my XI:

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Dominant Australia retain their crown

Australia yesterday successfully defended their ICC Champions Trophy against a stubborn New Zealand side by six wickets at Centurion to regain their status as the pre-eminent 50 overs side in the World. Indeed, including their World Cup success in the Caribbean of 2007, Ricky Ponting’s men have now won three ICC 50 over tournaments in a row.

After losing the toss (the only thing Ponting hasn’t been good at recently), Australia restricted New Zealand to 200/9 from their 50 overs, with Nathan Hauritz and Brett Lee the standout bowlers. Despite the early loss of Tim Paine and Ponting, which left their side at 6/2, Shane Watson and Cameron White constructed a partnership of 128 to take their side to the verge of victory. They had to work hard though as Kyle Mills and Shane Bond both bowled excellent opening spells – the score was only 18/2 after ten overs and Brendan McCullum dropped White off a skier when he was only 14. That would have left Australia 41/3 in the eighteenth over. With the opportunity squandered, the pair marched on. Watson scored his second unbeaten century in a row, reaching it by hitting the last two balls of the match from Jeetan Patel for two enormous sixes.

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Imperious Ponting and brutal Watson hammer sorry England

Australia crushed England by nine wickets in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy yesterday after a record partnership of 252 from Shane Watson and Ricky Ponting helped Australia coast to their 258 target with over eight overs and nine wickets to spare. Despite winning the toss, England were unable to score the 300 minimum that was required on what was a batting paradise at Centurion. Indeed, if it hadn’t been for a seventh wicket partnership of 107 by Tim Bresnan, who top scored with 80, and Luke Wright, which helped their side recover from 101/6 England’s humiliation could have been even worse.

England’s batsmen should sit down and watch Watson and Ponting’s partnership again and again. Not only was it a record stand for any Australian wicket in one day cricket, it was also a lesson in how first to build a platform before accelerating the scoring rate.

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