England can win: Strauss

Published September 19, 2006

LONDON, Sept 18: England opening batsman Andrew Strauss believes his team have potential to win next month's mini World Cup, the ICC Champions Trophy in India. England are currently ranked eighth in the one-day rankings and are least expected to lift the trophy.

But Strauss said: “We've always said that on our day we can beat any side in the world.

“We've got match-winning players and with a bit of confidence in our ranks there's no reason why we can't do well but we will have to play our best.”

England welcome back from injury talismanic captain Andrew Flintoff, James Anderson and Steve Harmison to swell their ranks.

And two wins in the one-day series against Pakistan have given England, the 2004 finalists, a much-needed confidence boost.

“I hope these couple of wins here have given us a little bit more confidence going into that tournament and if we continue doing that there's no reason why we can't do pretty well in that,” said Strauss, who led England to a successful home series against Pakistan.

“We're going to have to play at our best and that's something we haven't done well enough over the last 12 months — now is the time for us to really start doing that.”

England begin their Champions Trophy campaign on Oct 15 taking on hosts India in Jaipur.—Agencies

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