![Why Salt will be crucial for England [Source: AP Photo]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1739206878960_WhySaltwillbecrucialforEngland.jpg?type=mq)
Why Salt will be crucial for England [Source: AP Photo]
The Champions Trophy is just around the corner and teams will fight it out for the coveted trophy. The event is set to begin on February 19 and will end on March 9. India and Pakistan are certainly the two tournament favourites, however, don't count out England, who will aim to clinch their maiden Champions Trophy title.
The team boasts plethora of talent, and will heavily rely on individual brilliance to win the coveted title. The team has some brilliant names in their ranks, but none bigger than Phil Salt, the newest buy of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He will be a vital component for England and here's why all eyes will be on him when England's campaign will begin.
1) Salt has the X-factor England needs
For a long time, England were craving for a solid opener to replace Jason Roy and Phil Salt came like a blessing for them. The numbers won't tell the entire story, but Salt has had a great influence at the top.
He strikes at nearly 115 in the ODIs, and plays at an aggressive tempo which generally lays a strong foundation for the middle-order batters. Just like Jason Roy, who was instrumental in England's 2019 World Cup win, Salt could be the X-factor which England needs to win their maiden Champions Trophy title.
2) Pakistan pitches will suit his batting
As witnessed in the ongoing tri nation series in Pakistan, the pitches there are flat and in both the matches, 300-plus runs were scored.
Salt has a tendency to struggle on turning tracks, but when given a flat track, there is no dangerous batter than Salt in the England side. He can play his natural game on those surfaces and can snatch the game away from the opposition inside the first 10 overs as the Pakistan surfaces hardly has anything for the bowlers.
3) Promising in the recent games Vs India
Runs Vs India in first two matches
| Criterion | Data |
|---|---|
| Matches | 2* |
| Runs | 69 |
| Strike-Rate | 125.25 |
In the two ODIs against India, Salt's numbers read - 43 and 26. These are not huge scores in ODIs by any means, but what Salt did was rattle the Indian bowlers, especially in the first ODI, when he took on Harshit Rana.
This is what he can do when on song and the batter is currently oozing with confidence and will carry the same in the Champions Trophy. He looked good against the Indian side and had a strike-rate in excess of 120, something which the teams will try and contain in the Champions Trophy.
 "Anurag Dasgupta")
