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India are favourites, but England no pushovers: Cook
England captain Alastair Cook reckons that India will start as favourites in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy but said his team will be raring to set the record straight by winning their first world ODI title.
"India are a very strong side. They are unbeaten and playing very good cricket. They are batting well at the top of the order and getting early wickets. They will go in as favourites," Cook said.
"They're unbeaten aren't they, and played some very good cricket. We're happy with that. But our record against India last time we played them in England is a good record. So we can certainly take a lot from that", he said.
'It's a big final for us'
England have a poor record in ODI tournaments and Cook said he was aware of this piece of history. England have not won a major ODI title, losing three World Cup finals and the 2004 Champions Trophy final against the West Indies at home.
"I keep getting asked this question in every press conference but yes, I am aware of our record and very keen to set it right this time," he said.
Cook is leading England for the first time in an ICC event and was extremely keen to win the last edition of Champions Trophy.
"It's a big final for us. The boys are raring to go and ready to play. It's going to be a one-off day and we will give it all," said the 28-year-old Essex batsman.
Cook is clearly banking on his fast bowlers and want the troika of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn to do the job against the Indians.
"They have the skills and can get the early wickets to put pressure on the middle-order. We have our plans," he said.
'Winning the toss can be an advantage'
The English camp is taking a lot of heart from the fact that their home record against the Indians have been very good having beaten them 5-0 when the two teams played bilateral series on English soil during the summer of 2011.
"We have a good record at home but it's going to be a one-off day and the better team will win. We have played each other quite often in the last one and half years and there are no hidden secrets," Cook said, adding, "winning the toss can be an advantage but can mean nothing at the end of the day."
Asked about plans to counter Shikhar Dhawan who has been in tremendous form, Cook answered, "Yeah, obviously their top order have played very well. I think both top-orders have played well in this tournament and probably that's one of the reasons that we're in the final.
"Of course, we've got plans, you know? And we've also got very skillful new ball bowlers, as well. It's going to be a good contest out there, a contest in which if we want to win the game, we're going to have to try and get the best of them because we know how dangerous those guys at the top of the order can be."
Fletcher's role
The talented left-hander said that he isn't surprised by the positive effect that India's Zimbabwean coach Duncan Fletcher has had on the Indian team.
"Yeah, it doesn't surprise me. We obviously know what Duncan did for English cricket, as well, when he came over to England and had a very successful reign with the English cricket team and changed quite a few structures in our game and the way we went about things.
"So yes, I can see him obviously working the same with the Indian team, and he made some quite big decisions with the way they've gone."
Birmingham, Cook felt, will be a "great place" to play the final simply because both teams will enjoy adequate support from their loyal fans.
"It's just a great place to play India here. It's going to be a great crowd. I think both sides will get some great support, and hopefully we can put on a good show."
Unknown quantities
In the last couple of years, both England and India have played each other a lot of times home and away and Cook feels that there isn't much secrets in the opposition ranks as most of the players are known entities.
"Look, we've played quite a lot of one-day cricket and Test match cricket against them over the last year and a half or so, so I don't think it's too many unknown quantities from either side, really, not too many hidden secrets.
"And yeah, it should be a really good game," he added.