Former England skipper Michael Vaughan believes England will be the team to beat in the 2023 ODI World Cup without any doubt. England became the first team to hold the ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup at the same time after they won the final against Pakistan by five wickets at the MCG on Sunday.
England has a potent white-ball team and they have been at their best in the last six to seven years. The Three Lions were knocked out of the 2015 World Cup and since then they have been able to turn the tables.
The Jos Buttler-led team once again came up with a collective effort throughout the tournament. England suffered a five-run loss against Ireland and from there on every match became a must-win for them.
They went on to beat New Zealand by 20 runs in the Super 12 stage and then got the better of Sri Lanka. England then dominated India as they won comprehensively by 10 wickets and then they were able to hold their nerves against Pakistan in the all-important final.
Michael Vaughan wrote for the Telegraph, “The next big ticket is to win the 50 over World Cup in India next year. They have good spin options, and you have to put them down as favorites for that tournament as well. When the tournament starts, people will have India as favorites on home soil. Utter nonsense. England will be the team to beat without any question, and that is going to be the case for a few more years to come.”
Vaughan lauded England for their smartness in the semi-final clash against India. Buttler won the toss and decided to bowl first as Virat Kohli has a meticulous record while chasing at Adelaide. Furthermore, Adil Rashid bowled out before Rishabh Pant came to the middle.
“The way England uses data is smart. The semi-final was a masterclass in beating India. Bowling first was a brave step but they knew Virat Kohli likes a number to aim for. They front-loaded Adil Rashid which meant Rishabh Pant did not come in until later.”
Vaughan also hailed Jos Buttler for making the most of Moeen Ali as a vice-captain. Ali has all the experience under his belt and he has delivered as a leader within the group.
“I like the fact he has used Moeen Ali as his sounding board and deputy. Moeen did a great job as captain in Pakistan, and Jos is not the kind of leader who wants to take everything on himself. He looks to take advice and ensure everyone is involved.”
