5 reasons why England can win the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy

#4 A dangerous batting line-up

Joe Root and Alex Hales are formidable batsmen

Once a struggler in limited overs cricket, the new-found fearless attitude towards batting has seen England rack up huge scores very frequently. In fact, England have scored in excess of 300 in 20 of their 43 ODIs since the 2015 World Cup. This should be attributed to the fearless stroke-making of what is one of the most explosive top orders currently in world cricket.

Opener Jason Roy boasts of a strike rate just above 100 and is partnered by Alex Hales, who himself strikes at 95. Combine this with their consistency. In terms of run aggregate of opening partnerships since the 2015 World Cup, the England pair is only second to South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla.

At No.3, they have Joe Root, classier in approach but one of the most prolific run-scorers in the world across all formats. Slotting at No.4 is the captain Eoin Morgan, a limited overs specialist with a repertoire of innovating strokes. Two of the hardest strikers of the ball walk in at 5 and 6. All-rounder Ben Stokes, who is fresh off a successful debut season in the IPL, scored a swashbuckling ton just a few days ago against the South Africans and is followed by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, whose strike rate touches 118.

Signs are ominous when you realise that the batting goes even deeper. Moeen Ali, who has a strike rate exceeding 100, bats at No.7, and bowlers like Rashid, Plunkett, Willey and Woakes are equally capable of wielding the willow effectively.