ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: Team-by-team guide to all 10 sides
So here we are all set for the biggest event in the cricket world, the ICC World Cup 2019. All ten participating countries have announced their preliminary squads and we are just weeks away from witnessing the enthralling action.
Thus, this is the perfect time to look at all the teams and their capabilities.
Afghanistan:
The debutants in the ICC 2019 World Cup, Afghanistan have made giant strides in the recent past but they still are a work in progress when it comes to challenging the big boys. Very little is known about their team as a whole and this surprise element can be their strength.
But importantly their strong point has been spin but the pitches in England will not favor spin. So inexperience of playing at the top level and the alien conditions are the weaknesses for Afghanistan.
Key Players: A no brainer. Rashid Khan is arguably the best white-ball bowler in the world while Mohammad Nabi is an effective all-rounder too.
2. Australia:
The defending champions don’t have the momentum with them but they surely have a strong squad. Their bowling line-up is their strength as on flat grounds, it is the bowlers who make the difference.
With two players coming back in the batting order there can be some instability and confusion and this can well become Australia’s weakness.
Key Players: David Warner has made a massive statement by hammering 692 runs in IPL 2019. Watch out for him. Glenn Maxwell is known for stepping up during the big occasions. He can demolish opponents in no time.
3. Bangladesh:
The quarter-finalists of the last edition will have to work extremely hard to reach that stage once again. Their squad looks solid but does it have enough power to punch above its weight?
The experienced core players are their strength but once again their weakness is their lack of temperament of big matches.
Key Players: Tamim Iqbal‘s batting will set the tone for Bangladesh in this World Cup. Shakib Al Hasan has massive experience and he contributes with the bat and the ball.
4. England:
If there is a team that deserves to win the World Cup then that is England. They have a squad tailor-made for these conditions and their all-out aggression is their strength. But the same cannot be said about their bowling as they are the weak link here. But their batsmen can make up for the short-comings of their bowling.
Key Players: Jos Buttler is scoring runs and nailing sixes for fun. He can finish the innings on a high note and can rebuild a batting collapse. Liam Plunkett is one of England’s key bowlers in this tournament and his death bowling is a big asset.
5. India:
With the world’s best batsman and the best death-over bowler, India shouldn’t surprise anyone if they walk out with the trophy.
But then there lies the fragile middle-order and the over-reliance on the top-three batsmen can become their weakness.
Key Players: Virat Kohli hands down. His numbers are jaw-dropping, his strokes mind-boggling and his intent is a sign of worry for his opponents. Jasprit Bumrah‘s death overs will once again decide India’s fate on flat wickets. Shikhar Dhawan loves playing ICC tournaments. His runs will make an impact for sure.
6. Pakistan:
This year too Pakistan holds the tag of ‘unpredictables’. Their bowling is strong but their batting doesn’t look good for the high scoring games. But again with Pakistan anything is possible.
Key Players: Babar Azam is Pakistan’s key batsmen and he will have to anchor the innings. Hasan Ali may well control the middle overs and the game for Pakistan.
7. New Zealand:
The nice guys of cricket have an ideal team for the English conditions. Their pace bowling department can wreak havoc and is their biggest strength but the lack of depth in the spin bowling department may bite them.
Key Players: Kane Williamson loves big occasions and is known for his classy innings. Trent Boult is a dangerous customer to handle when the ball does something in the air or off the surface.
8. South Africa:
An uphill task for South Africa as they lack the experience especially in the batting department. But the depth of their bowling department and the individual capabilities of their pacers is their strength. They have the squad to make it to the top four but considering the chinks in their armor don’t be surprised if they lose steam soon.
Key Players: Quinton de Kock is in massive form in 2019 and he loves pace on the ball. The England pitches will suit him. Kagiso Rabada is in fine form too and with he having the support of other pacers in the South African camp, Rabada becomes a massive force. He can well be the Mitchell Starc for 2019.
9. Sri Lanka:
The most unsettled team of ICC World Cup 2019. They have plenty of issues but the lack of confidence is their biggest weakness. One has to search hard for the strengths but the fact that some of their players are match-winners is worth mentioning.
Key Players: Thisara Perera has regained his mojo and his aggressive batting can rejuvenate Sri Lanka. Lasith Malinga has just shown that he still has the fire in him and his experience can come in handy too.
10. Windies:
The Caribbean kings are here to prove that they belong to this stage. As individuals they are rockstars but can they come together and stand up as a team?
Key Players: Chris Gayle tormented England recently and can be unstoppable in the World Cup. Andre Russell is fresh from a sensational IPL season. Count him to make some big runs.