The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is on the horizon as the cricket’s showpiece tournament is slated to start from May 30 in England and Wales. In the 12th edition of the cricket extravaganza, a total of 10 teams will be participating. It is a decrease from the number of teams that participated in the last two world cups (14). The World Cup’s format will be played in classic style, round robin format, just like in 1992.
Predictions about the potential champion of the upcoming World Cup are made by cricket experts all around the world. With lot of experienced teams taking part in the tourney, England, the host nation, emerge as the top favourites, followed by the Indian side. However, England have never won the cup, since it’s inaugural in 1975.
England have grown into formidable ODI side since their humiliating group-stage exit from the last World Cup at the hands of Bangladesh. A strong top-order pair, the formidable Virat Kohli factor and a daunting seam-bowling attack are what bring pride to the Indian cricket team. The men in blue won the World Cup twice.
You can never write reigning champions Australia off. They are five-time champions as well. Amid dismal form since last one year, Aussies have peaked at the right time having won eight straight ODIs. Bangladesh go into the World Cup with probably their best ever team, since they started to play in the tourney in 1999. Tigers finally won final of a multination tournament after six abortive attempts as they beat Windies in Dublin on Friday.
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The win served perfectly before going to the tourney. Although the fans are dreaming big, a reality check is the need of the hour and would auger well for the Tigers to freely play good cricket. The two Asian teams Sri Lanka and Pakistan are probably going with their weakest teams in World Cup history, especially Sri Lanka. Pakistan would like to take encouragement from their 2009 T20 World Cup in England.
This was their only tournament win in an ICC event. West Indies were the force to be reckoned with in early days, as the Caribbean team won consecutive World Cups (1975, 1979). With their dismal form they are least likely to come up with a miracle. The black horse of this year’s World Cup will be Afghanistan.South Africa would like to shake off their ‘chokers’ this time around.
However, they are not coming into the tournament with best of forms. New Zealand on the other hand, would like to replicate their last edition’s feat, of qualifying for the final. So the battleground is ready for the cricketing giants to fight for cricket’s supreme prize. Only time will tell who will come out on top in English soil.