ICC World Cup 2019 tournament preview, key players, predictions

With the warm-up matches done and dusted, it is time to move on to the main phase of the 2019 World Cup. Only one team (Australia) won both warm-up matches and only one (Sri Lanka) lost both, so one can conclude that the teams have competed hard with each other.

At this point there are too many questions to which there are too few answers. Will the English bowlers do justice to their batsmen’s contributions? Can India find their elusive middle order? Have Australia peaked at the right time? How are the South Africans going to cope with injuries to their fast bowlers?

England, India, and Australia seem firm favourites at this points for the top three spots, while South Africa, New Zealand, and West Indies are likely to compete for the other. Do note that these six include three teams that are yet to win a single title. And Pakistan can do anything.

All in all, World Cup 2019 is more or less likely to be a high-scoring one – perhaps the highest-scoring in the history of the tournament. But then, given that it is England, expect rain to play a role, and the fast bowlers may have a field day if there is a cloud cover or a strong breeze.

Key players

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan): All eyes will be on the man who has placed Afghanistan cricket on world map. It is time for Rashid to prove his mettle against the big guns.

Steven Smith (Australia): Back to where he belongs – among the greatest in the world – Smith will play out of his skin to redeem himself after the ball-tampering scandal.

Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh): One of the finest death bowlers in the world will have to prove his mettle against the finest batsmen in the world.

Jos Buttler (England): It is time that most dangerous ODI batsmen in the world brings home glory his countrymen has never known.

Jasprit Bumrah (India): With his accuracy and pace and variations and yorkers and more, Bumrah will go flat out to prove why he is the top-ranked ODI bowler.

Ross Taylor (New Zealand): If New Zealand have to win, one of the most consistent ODI batsman in the world will have to guide them.

Shadab Khan (Pakistan): Shadab’s is as accurate as destructive with his leg-breaks and as solid a presence down the order with bat, but can his age and inexperience withstand the pressure of a World Cup?

Quinton de Kock (South Africa): Sublime behind the stumps and explosive in front of them, vice-captain de Kock will now have to assume the role of a senior member in South Africa’s quest for their maiden title.

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): As the IPL showed, Malinga still has a trick or two up his sleeve. His death bowling is one of the few positives Sri Lanka have going into the tournament.

Chris Gayle (West Indies): Universe Boss loves a show, and what better stage to light up his exit but the grandest of them all?