CT 2017: Predicted XI of England

England are one of the best sides to enter the Champions Trophy 2017. Many pundits have termed them as the winners already. England have played the Champions Trophy at home twice and they have made it to the final on both occasions but have choked it up at the end.

However, everyone thinks it’s going to be their year and we will find out everything about their plans on June 1 when they play Bangladesh. It is going to be the opening fixture of the tournament and England will look for a strong performance and stamp their authority as soon as possible.

The squad of England is one of the best and it will be hard for the coaching staff and Eoin Morgan to choose the best 11. That said, we have done the hard work and have come up with the best 11 England can field in the Champions Trophy this year. So let us have a look at our Predicted XI of England for the Champions Trophy 2017.

#1 Jason Roy

Roy was in tremendous form in the ODI series against India earlier this year and scored a fifty in all of the three games of the series. However, he had a disappointing outing in the IPL as he couldn’t really get going for Gujarat Lions. Jason is a kind of batter who is based purely on instincts.

Some days he will come well and some days he might just not be up to it. Anyhow, since he made his debut for England, he has kind of been a revelation for them. Those explosive starts he provides are crucial for England to build upon.

#2 Alex Hales

Alex Hales is similar to Jason Roy. He is also instinctive and has excellent hand-eye coordination. Hales has an excellent record on home soil. He is a clever and adventurous opener who depends on his huge stature and strength to clear the ropes with ease.

Hales has transferred his T20 intelligence into the 50-over format and that has done him a world of good. He is also capable of playing the waiting game and that makes him even more valuable. Alex is an important aspect of England’s team.

#3 Joe Root

Joe Root is one of the best in business currently and will be the player to watch out for this Champions Trophy. He is probably the first names on the team sheet irrespective of the form he is in. The class of this young batter is impeccable as he continues to impress in all the formats of the game.

His ability to anchor the innings will be tested during the tournament. He will also look to make the best out of the home advantage he has and will be the contender for the golden bat as well.

#4 Eoin Morgan (C)

Morgan has captained this side extremely well and he has the capability to handle the pressure of being the captain and perform personally as well. This is the reason he has held the position for so long. Eoin will be determined to give England its first ever 50-overs title.

His form has taken a rise as he scored an impressive century against South Africa recently. The skipper’s form will be important as he is the main batter when it comes to the middle order.

#5 Ben Stokes

A player like Ben Stokes would walk into any team on any given day. He is one of those few players who excels in all the departments of the game. The fact that he is in the form of his life right now makes him even more difficult to handle.

He was recently awarded the Most Valuable Player award for the 2017 season of the Indian Premier League and that experience will surely be used for good in the Champions Trophy. There is no doubt of him being a match-winner, it will just be the matter of him delivering in those crunch moments.

#6 Jos Buttler (WK)

Jos Buttler had a good season with Mumbai Indians in the IPL and will look to transfer the form into the tournament that begins on June 1. His wicket-keeping skills are never in a doubt and his flexibility of batting anywhere in the line-up is always handy.

Buttler is a hard hitter of the ball and can up the ante whenever required hence the number 6 position suits his game. He also has the ability to hold on to one end if there is a flurry of early wickets.

#7 Moeen Ali

Usually a top order batter, Moeen has been given a new number 7 role. For the first time in a while, he performed well against the South Africans recently. His 77 of 51 deliveries will give him the necessary confidence.

A left-handed elegant batter who can play some big shots when required cannot be left out. He has shown his class in Test cricket and now is his chance to shine in One Day Cricket. Not just with the bat but he will come in handy with his canny off-spin bowling.

#8 Chris Woakes

Woakes will be one of the go-to bowlers for Eoin Morgan during the Champions Trophy. He is one of those bowlers who attacks the batsmen early on and finds his rhythm rather quickly. The fact that he can bat as well is another plus and a reason for his selection.

He recently picked up 4 crucial wickets in the ODI against the Proteas. This will boost his confidence and will just fire him up for the showpiece event.

#9 Adil Rashid

Leg break bowlers are always dangerous irrespective of the pitch. Their intelligence is what matters and this English wrist spinner has got it. He has already picked up 63 wickets in his 44 games and has been overly impressive.

This little man can bat as well. He has the highest score of 69 in the ODIs and can hit the ball a long way as well. He will be the key in those middle overs for England and it depends a lot on how Captain Morgan uses him.

#10 Liam Plunkett

Plunkett was ousted after his debut in 2005 but has been given a second chance after decent performances in domestic cricket. He has bowled extremely well in recent times and has been good in crunch situations of the game.

Even Plunkett can hit the odd ball out of the park and has a good defense as well. This is a major plus as there are rare bowlers who bat at number 10 and can provide the team with some runs.

#11 Mark Wood

Mark Wood is still young in International cricket but has impressed the selectors and the fans as well. He is quick and accurate but lacks the experience. He is an aggressive bowler and bowls in the powerplay. Just 14 matches old in International cricket, Wood has shown his quality already but is yet to win a match for England.

This Champions Trophy will be an experience of a lifetime for him and he will look to impress everyone further and perform at his best.