Hussey predicts Ashes final in England

Ashes rivals England and Australia will square off in the ICC Champions Trophy final, according to dual winner Mike Hussey.

The two powerhouse nations enter the tournament as warm favourites and are set to clash in the group stage at Edgbaston on June 10.

But Hussey expects both teams to progress out of Group A, through the semi-finals and meet again in the showpiece match on June 18 at The Oval. 

"Australia, and as much as I hate to say it, England," Hussey told cricket.com.au when asked to predict the Champions Trophy finalists.   

"It’s so hard in these tournaments because they’re all so good. 

"England are a big chance to win it all. They’ve got a good all-round team. 

"They’ll be well-led and well-coached. They know their home conditions so well and will have that home-ground support. 

"As for Australia, they’ve got a nicely balanced squad. 

"There are some exciting X-factor players there and some serious pace bowlers. 

"You’ve got the guns being David Warner and Steve Smith but somebody like a Chris Lynn could be an X-factor if he gets going."

Australia and England have met four times in Champions Trophy with the ledger split at two wins apiece.

England drew first blood in 2004 when Michael Vaughan’s side upset a start-studded Australia by six wickets in the semi-final at the same venue where the two teams will meet for their final group-stage match in 16 days.

Ricky Ponting and the Australians got their revenge two years later with their own six-wicket win in Jaipur due in large part to Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson each collecting three wickets and Damien Martyn’s match-winning 78.

In 2009, it was Watson (136no) and Ponting (111no) who crushed the Three Lions, combining for an unbeaten 252-run second-wicket stand to power Australia into the final with a comprehensive nine-wicket victory at Centurion in South Africa.

Finally, England outclassed George Bailey’s charges in 2013, beating the tourists at Edgbaston by 48-runs after Ian Bell struck a superb 91 and James Anderson claimed 3-30.

Under current skipper Morgan, England head in to the Champions Trophy as perhaps the form team and No.1 favourites, a tag that comes with the pressure of expectation.

England have not won a major 50-over tournament, a 42-year drought that experts, like Hussey, say could be washed away in three weeks’ time.

Quick Single: Champions Trophy preview - England

But Hussey, who was part of Australia’s successful campaigns in 2006 and 2009, says England’s leadership duo of captain Eoin Morgan and coach Trevor Bayliss will provide the steady hand their troops will need during the condensed 18-day tournament. 

"Pressure is something they’ll have to deal with but I think they’ll be well led," Hussey said. 

"Eoin Morgan and Trevor Bayliss will keep their minds where they need to be. 

"They’ll keep them relaxed, really calm and that’s where they’ll come in and play a really important part. 

"If you’ve got a coaching staff that’s uptight or too energetic, sometimes all that extra external pressure and stress can get to the players."

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)