England Team analysis for World Cup 2015: Not enough impact players

England Team analysis for World Cup 2015: Not enough impact players: In the first edition of this series we analyzed Pakistan team for the upcoming Cricket World cup. Today, we will have a look at English Cricket team. England is preparing for the World Cup by participating in Carlton Mid Tri-Series featuring India and Australia as well. The last ODI series which England played was in Sri Lanka where they lost 5-2. Following that debacle, English selectors dumped Alastair cook not only as the captain, but Cook was not even picked as a batsman for the World Cup 15 squad. Here is CricTracker’s take on England 15.

Batting

England batting unit has Eoin Morgan as captain, Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, Joe Root, James Taylor, Ravi Bopara, Alex Hales, Gary Ballance and Jos Buttler. Currently, English unit is struggling to find the right batting combination. Moeen Ali, Ian Bell and Alex Hales will be in fray for opener’s role. Root and Morgan will carry on the burden of middle order.  Bopara and Buttler are most likely to play on the finisher’s role. In my opinion, England must find out a way to include Alex Hales as opener. His free scoring ability at the top can provide the kick start to the innings.  One obvious concern in English batting is they lack batsmen who could play a long innings on a consistent basis. To address that concern England should think of making Ravi Bopara bat higher than No. 6. Bopara has the right temperament to bat long and can provide the cushion which other English batsmen need to flourish.No. of impact players is an important parameter while assessing any team. Quite simply England batting does not possess enough impact players who could change the course of the gameof their own. All in all this English batting looks a bits and pieces unit and does not look like getting big totals or chasing any big ones.

Bowling

English bowling department looks more accomplished than its batting. Led by James Anderson and Stuart Broad they have Finn, Woakes, Jordan and Tredwell as specialist spinner. Off late, English has been seen playing more of bowling all-roundersrather than specialists. Its good to have all-rounders but it should not be overdone. England lacks the conviction to play James Tredwell as specialist spinner. They try to fill in his position with part time spins of Root and Moeen Ali. While the pace bowling looks good  England must stick to basis and play Tredwell more and more to fill the void in spin department. This will make the England bowling a more complete unit. (Also read England World Cup Squad)

X-Factor

As said earlier,English team lacks the genuine impact players but there is one guy England Captain Eoin Morgan who can provide the match winning knocks. He can really be the X-Factor for England but for him to do that he will need a lot of support other English batsmen. (Also read England Player by Player analysis)

Best Result

Runners up (1979), Runners up (1987), Runners up (1992)

Overall

After analyzing the England team well in detail, I don’t see a potential semifinalist in England.