The 2019 Cricket World Cup returns to its birthplace in England where ten teams will compete against each other in a must-watch batting bonanza.
The England national cricket team is favoured to win at the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The team learned from their 2017 50-over Champions Twenty20 competition where they were favoured to win against Pakistan but they lost in the semi-finals. England failed to adjust to a slow Cardiff pitch which cost them the match because it was not suited to attacking strokeplay.
“We are very realistic about the pitches we might play on,” said England one-day captain Eoin Morgan about their previous loss. “They might deteriorate as the World Cup goes on and we are planning for that.”
England’s white ball aggressive batting style came from their limp first-round departure at the 2015 World Cup in Australia. Their batsmen Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler are examples of this batting style.
Furthermore, England is now threatening to beat the 500-run barrier for the first time in ODI innings after setting a new record of 481-6 against Australia in Nottingham last year. The team will likely be stronger with Barbados-born fast bowler Jofra Archer who has a possibility of being part of England’s squad of 15.
“England have the strongest side they have ever had, and the inclusion of the exciting Jofra Archer is only going to strengthen that,” said former England skipper Mike Gatting to Cricketer magazine.
“England will not have a better opportunity to win it,” added Gatting on the chances of England this 2019 World Cup.
Reigning champions Australia who won five championships, will be one to watch out as their star batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner returns after they were banned for ball-tampering after the “sandpapergate” scandal.
Pakistan 1992 Cricket World Cup champions and West Indies joins the tournament as strong opponents. West Indies will have self-style “Universe Boss” Chris Gayle who will play for the final time in ODIs, increasing their chances of winning after their 1975 and 1979 titles.
New Zealand and South Africa also boasts of a chance to win the World Cup as each team will play against others before semi-finals.
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell determined that the winner of this year’s title also depends on the conditions for the event. “If it’s a damp summer then the team with the best seam attack will start with a huge advantage, as batting will be a challenge,” he wrote on espncricinfo.com.
“If, on the other hand, it’s a dry summer, the batsmen will have the upper hand and it’ll be the attacks with plenty of variety—the accent on genuine pace and spin—that are likely to make the final.”
The ICC Cricket World Cup is hosted by England and will run from May 30 to July 14.
