England faces selection dilemma ahead of Champions Trophy 2017

England is in the best phase in ODI cricket


England One-Day International team has witnessed a big turnaround since their early exit from World Cup 2015. They have become very competitive and have created several new records like the highest ODI team total, which they achieved in last year against Pakistan.

Now, skipper Eoin Morgan is in a big selection confusion after doing a whitewash of West Indies in the Caribbean. Alex Hales scored a match-winning century in his comeback match against West Indies which added to this dilemma as well.

He was asked about the squad for opening encounter of Champions Trophy, Morgan replied "Eleven or 12, absolutely not. It's a struggle to get [down] to 15."

"We've probably got 16 or 17 quality players that we can select from and we're very lucky to be in that position. Selecting 15 for the Champions Trophy is going to be tough but it's a great position to be in," he added.

Newly appointed Test skipper Joe Root also notched up a ton in Barbados and shared a 192-run stand with Hales, which took England's team total to 328. West Indian batting collapsed in reply after watching this mountain and managed only 142 runs on the board which handed them an 186-run defeat. Only Jonathan Carter offered some fight from hosts with his knock of 46.

It was England's first whitewash against Windies since 1991; also this is their fifth biggest win by runs. England will next play two-match One-Day International series against Ireland in their home before a big series against visiting South Africa which is also their final assignment before Champions Trophy.

 
 

By Aditya Pratap Arya - 10 Mar, 2017

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