Former England batsman Ian Bell has labeled England, India, and Pakistan as the three red-hot favorites for the 2019 Cricket World Cup title on Wednesday (December 5).
Bell believes that the defending champions –Australia, who are currently deemed as a depleted team, can still be very dangerous only if they will have their core squad, especially their bowling attack together and fully fit for the event, otherwise, the Aussie will have a tough mission to defend the title in England.
The 36-year-old, who is England’s second-highest run-scorer in the World Cup tournament, also believes that the upcoming World Cup 2019 will be a very interesting tournament, while No.1 ranked One Day side England, 2017 Champions Trophy winners Pakistan and India are the potential contenders to lift the trophy.
Ever since failing to qualify for the knockout stages in the World Cup 2015, England has been developed as the most dangerous ODI team in the world and will be definitely going into the ICC event as "favorites" to win the title this time around at home.
Bell told Sky Sports, “I think people are saying they [England] are the favorites and rightly so. The 50-over cricket they have played over the last three years has been outstanding.”
He further added, “It's going to be an exciting tournament but, as we saw in the ICC Champions Trophy last year, Pakistan is a very dangerous side with lots and lots of match-winners and exciting players in their team. India, as they always are at World Cups, are going to be very strong.”
Meanwhile, the English man also believes that Australia will be ‘very dangerous’ next summer. He added on the Kangaroos chances in the World Cup, “I wouldn't be surprised if Australia is there or thereabouts if they get their bowling attack together and fully fit and get a squad together from all the players they can pick from. I think they will still be very dangerous when it comes around to the World Cup.”
Bell signed off by saying, “I think it will be a very interesting tournament but, for me at the minute, I would be looking at either England, Pakistan or India to go all the way.”
(With Sky Sports Input)
