England's Cricket World Cup Team Preview

 The Englishmen are all set to win their maiden World Cup trophy.

With just days left for the cricket World Cup to start, the excitement is creeping in as the hosts, England will start as overwhelming favourites. They have redefined themselves in the ODI format post the 2015 World Cup. England was predominantly known for its classy stroke makers with the likes of Kevin Pieterson, Andrew Strauss, Joe Root and Alastair Cook. But the huge upset in the 2015 World Cup, when the Bangladesh Tigers had beaten the English Lions in the group stages to knock them out of the tournament,  was a real game-changing moment. The commentator on air had described it as one of the lowest points in the English Cricket history and one of the greatest moments in Bangladesh Cricket History.

England definitely has the strongest batting lineup going into this World Cup, but the main advantage they have over other teams is that they bat deep till number 10 or sometimes even 11. It gives the top order the license to go all guns blazing against the bowlers.  Their openers, Roy and Bairstow have a strike rate of over 100 and the batsmen batting from 3 to 7 all have a strike rate above 90. It suggests that whenever England is batting 300 is always on the cards and even 350 can be achieved. Post the 2015 World Cup, England have crossed the 300 mark 38 times compared to other teams who have barely reached this feat 15 times.  In the last 37 matches, they have lost only 4 ( with 1 no result), with 2 of those being bilateral series dead rubbers. Winning has now become a serious habit for these Englishmen. While their batting run rate has gone up, their bowling economy too has gone up. Since January 2018 they have had an economy of 5.98, which is by far the most expensive by the bowlers of any team. But with Woakes with the ball up front and Adil Rashid wrist spin through the middle overs and Liam Plunkett’s crucial breakthroughs through the middle overs, they won't struggle much. But the biggest inclusion has been Jofra Archer. He remains to be England’s X-Factor bowler. Like India has Jasprit Bumrah as Virat Kohli’s go-to bowler, Eoin Morgan now has Jofra Archer. Although untested at the international level, he has proved in the global T20 leagues and he remains to be a force to reckon with.

Probable playing xi -

Jason Roy, Johnny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan(C), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(VC), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid -

• England’s top 8 just self pick themselves due to the dominance they have shown in recent past.

• Roy and Bairstow, the openers have been in tremendous touch and they would love to replicate their inhuman hitting form at the World Cup.

• Joe Root at 3 and Captain Morgan at 4 provide certain stability in the middle order at a very healthy strike rate, with the likes of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler to come.

• The lower middle-order also comprises of Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes who may chip in crucial runs.

• Adil Rashid is an obvious pick due to his ability to takes wickets through the middle overs as well as Liam Plunkett, who through his medium-paced bowling provides wickets at regular intervals.

• Englands X-Factor, Jofra Archer has shown in the T20 league what he can do with the ball. It is very likely that England will include him or Mark Wood in the xi due to their ability to constantly bowl at 90mph and above.

Facts about the England Cricket team -

• England has managed to play 3 World Cup finals ( in 1979, 1987, 1992) and  5 World Cup semi-finals ( in 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992) and still have not managed to lift the coveted trophy.

• Adil Rashid is the highest wicket-taker(among all of the teams) with 97 wickets in overs 11-40.

• England has crossed the feat of 300 runs 38 times since the 2015 World Cup, which is the highest among all teams.

• England has the record of the highest ODI score of 481-6, which was achieved against Australia on 19th June 2018.

My prediction-

• There is no reason in the world, I cannot see England finishing in the top 4. I feel England will finish on 2nd on the points table.