CWC 2019: Glenn McGrath names his favourites for World Cup 2019

The World Cup 2019 will be held in England from May 30 to July 14.

McGrath singled out India and England as favourites for World Cup 2019 | Getty

With less than three months to go for the 2019 World Cup, legendary Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath has picked his favourites for the quadrennial event, scheduled to be held in England and Wales from May 30 to July 14.

McGrath, who has represented Australia in 124 Tests and 250 ODIs, reckons India and hosts England are firm favourites to lift the coveted World Cup trophy at the iconic Lord’s. He also believes Australia's recent limited-overs series win over India have improved their chances of defending the title.

"The top two teams are going to be England and India. England had a tough time in West Indies and India lost to Australia. So, the competition will be tighter. Australia's chances have improved after their ODI and T20 win over India," McGrath told reporters in Chennai on Thursday (March 21).

"The fact that Australia won the T20 series and the ODIs against India in India will boost their confidence. With those two (Steve Smith and David Warner) coming back, the team will be strengthened and those players were missed during the Australian summer," he added.

Indian pace attack comprised of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami had garnered praise from all quarters after helping the country to clinch its first-ever Test series triumph Down Under. Besides, the impressive troika broke a 34-year-old record for the most number of wickets in the last calendar year. They claimed 136 wickets across Tests in South Africa, England, and Australia during 2018, which is more than the 130 scalps recorded by West Indies legends Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding in the year 1984.

Commenting on Indian pacers, McGrath said: "I was not surprised ... they did exceptionally well. They bowled well as a unit and there was no weak link there. I think the pace they bowled at, the consistency and control, they really impressed me."

"Ishant (Sharma) is very experienced, Bhuvneshwar is your senior bowler and he needs to be bowling well. He is an intelligent cricketer and the (Mohammed) Shami is doing well.

"I was particularly impressed with Bumrah, he was exceptional. The way he bowls his yorkers and if there is some reverse swing, he is going to be dangerous. And the pace he bowls the yorkers makes him really unique. So, the bowlers have to perform if India is to win (the World Cup)," he further asserted.

The Aussie fast bowling great also heaped praise on Virat Kohli, saying that the current Indian skipper would be remembered just like a Brian Lara or a Sachin Tendulkar after he finishes his career.

"Kohli is a class player. He is easily one of the best going around now. By the end of his career he will be held up there alongside the likes of Lara and Tendulkar. As a captain and player he is quite aggressive. He likes getting involved in the game. As long as the emotions do not run too much and if he is playing well, it is fine. He has matured a lot and he knows his game.

"He has got the respect of his players. Watching the way he batted in Australia, the only thing I would have said to the home bowlers is I would have preferred them to bowl a little bit short and be more aggressive when he first came out to bat. A lot of times they tried to swing the ball and if it is full, he is in complete control. There is no obvious weakness in his game. To get him out early is a massive bonus," McGrath remarked.

(With PTI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 22 Mar, 2019

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