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Hussey's pick for CT17's best player

Mr Cricket has run his eye over the Champions Trophy competitors and made his choice for the best of the best

Former Australia batsman Mike Hussey has predicted England allrounder Ben Stokes will carry on his red-hot Indian Premier League form and be crowned the Champions Trophy player of the tournament.

Last week Stokes was named the IPL’s Most Valuable Player in his debut season in the lucrative tournament for runners-up Rising Pune Supergiant.

The 25-year-old was bought for a whopping AUD$2.8m at the IPL auction in February and lived up to his hefty price tag with three man-of-the-match awards in 12 outings, including a breathtaking unbeaten century against Gujarat.

Super Stokes seals match-winning ton

Having watched Stokes in action during the IPL, Hussey believes the Englishman has taken his game to another level and is primed to dominate next month’s Champions Trophy on home soil.

"I feel like his batting has improved immeasurably, he’s now starting to really work it out,” Hussey told cricket.com.au.

"And with experience he’s getting better as a short-form bowler as well, he’s more confident in his own ability.

"He’s an incredible talent, incredible power. 

"Once he starts figuring the game out in the mind, how he plays best and with a bit more experience it’s a really dangerous combination.

"All the assets are there and if his confidence is up and gets the opportunity to play well then he could get on a roll and be really hard to stop."

Should Stokes be named player of the tournament, he’d be the first Englishman to do so and join some illustrious names to have won the award.

Quick Single: Kohli's three factors to win CT17

South Africa’s Jacques Kallis won the inaugural title in 1998 when the Champions Trophy was known as the ICC KnockOut, the only global tournament the Proteas have won to date.

A pair of West Indians won the next two major gongs; Ramnaresh Sarwan in 2004 in England and Chris Gayle two years later in India, when the left-hander hit a tournament-record 474 runs.

Australia great Ricky Ponting was named the 2009 edition’s best in South Africa before India opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan took home the trophy in the last instalment in 2013 in England.

Delhi dash home despite Super Stokes

While Stokes is in rare form, he left the field with knee pain in England’s 72-run win over South Africa at Headingly on Wednesday, but returned to the field in the closing stages.

England captain Eoin Morgan played down the seriousness of Stokes’ injury following the victory.

"When he came back on the field he was fit to bowl, but we managed to take a wicket when he came back on and I felt bowling him again, even though he was fit, wasn't worth the risk... give him an extra day or two with ice," said Morgan.

"It doesn't even have swelling, no significant signs of an injury, but we'll assess that in the next couple of days.

"He did the right thing, went off to get checked, because knees can leave you out for up to six months or a year if something significant does happen.

"He came back on with the green light to bowl and was running around, but he understands. He's an experienced campaigner."


Champions Trophy 2017 Guide


Squads: Every Champions Trophy squad named so far

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh.

Group B: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.


Schedule


Warm-up matches


26 May – Australia v Sri Lanka, The Oval

27 May – Bangladesh v Pakistan, Edgbaston

28 May – India v New Zealand, The Oval

29 May – Australia v Pakistan, Edgbaston

30 May – New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston

30 May – Bangladesh vs India, The Oval


Tournament


1 June – England v Bangladesh, The Oval (Day)

2 June – Australia v New Zealand, Edgbaston (D)

3 June – Sri Lanka v South Africa, The Oval (D)

4 June – India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D)

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, The Oval (D/N)

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)


19 June – Reserve day (D)