The English cricket team face a difficult and taxing summer ahead when they go head to head against Pakistan and Bangladesh in Test series, and Australia in the one day game. While Pakistan and Australia are top notch all round teams, Bangladesh has proved it in the ongoing test series that they are minnows no longer.
It will be a great challenge for the squad and some sterling performances will be needed if the English want to have a pleasant summer at home. Sport.co.uk felt it was time to look at the men that will make the difference for England this summer.
Kevin Pietersen- England’s most flamboyant batsman who recently completed 5000 runs in tests. He had been going through a lean patch in batting but looked his old self in Bangladesh where he tried to play himself in before going through with his shots. A lot depends on his batting performance and if he comes good this year, the team can pin its sights on glory. Despite an unsuccessful spell as captain, ‘KP’ remains England’s X-Factor performer and he is still remembered for being the highest run-scorer in the legendary 2005 Ashes series.
Andrew Strauss- He will be back in the team after a six week break and will take over the reins of the team from Cook. Until 2007 he was much criticised for being inconsistent with the bat and was dropped from the team as well. However, he came back stronger and is now a fine opening batsman and an astute captain. He has the achievement of scoring tons on test debut and in his maiden test as captain.
Alistair Cook- His tactics as captain in Bangladesh did not go down too well but he still remains a solid opener for the team. His personal form has been good in Bangladesh where he scored a ton in his first test as captain. Cook has needed all his mental fortitude to overcome technical deficiencies and become a fixture with Andrew Strauss at the top of the order for England.
Ian Bell- The young right handed batsman has had a good tour in Bangladesh so far. His 138 in the first innings of the second test helped his team to get into the lead. Technically sound, he has always been praised for his ability to consistently leave deliveries outside the off stump. ICC’s Young Player of the year in 2006, Bell has a great batting style and potential to score bigger hundreds which will come as he matures as a batsman.
Paul Collingwood- Former England captain and a smart, thinking all rounder ‘Colly’ has a role to play as a mentor to younger players and assist the captain in making team decisions. He is a solid middle order batsman and has a key role of consolidating if the top order is out early. A quick and athletic fielder, his medium pace has been quite a handful for batsman around the world. His uncomplaining professionalism has led him to serve English cricket for over ten years.
Tim Bresnan- A powerfully built all-rounder, Tim Bresnan has been tipped for high honours since he became the youngest player in 20 years to represent Yorkshire when he debuted in 2001. He made his debut for England in 2006 but was overlooked after a couple of lack lustre performances. He was called back into the team in 2008 for the tour of West Indies. He has been in good form in Bangladesh and if that continues England could find a player to fill the void left by Andrew Flintoff.
Graham Onions- A brisk and tenacious seam bowler, with a name to delight headline writers, Onions has become an integral part of the England team. Another paceman off the Durham production line, his accurate bowling has almost taken a back foot to his steely last-wicket defiance in his short England career so far. Injury kept him away from the Bangladesh tests but his performance in South Africa was above par. His wicket to wicket seam bowling could prove a handful on bouncy English pitches.
James Anderson- A strapping, genuinely quick swing bowler, Anderson has been the spearhead of English pace bowling in the past couple of years. Anderson and Stuart Broad took over the mantle of pace bowling from Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard in 2008 and have lived up to expectations. Anderson is the first English bowler to take a hat trick in One day internationals.
Graeme Swann- A right arm off break bowler, he was the answer to all the problems England faced in the spin department. He took the mantle of spin bowling from Monty Panesar and had a terrific Ashes tour in which England emerged victorious. A series of good performances in South Africa and home and he is now second on ICC’s list of top ten bowlers and one of the first names on England team’s sheet.
Stuart Broad- With his baby faced looks he does not fit the perfect image of a fast bowler but his performances with the ball as well as the bat over shadow everything else. Son of former player Chris Broad, Stuart was playing to be a batting opener when he was younger. However, he now spearheads England’s bowling attack along with Anderson. His performances in the last test of the last Ashes and in South Africa this year have been exemplary. An athletic fielder he has also been successful with the bat.