Regardless of how they perform in IPL 2019, Australia will pick Steve Smith and David Warner for the ICC Cricket World Cup to be played in England and Wales this summer, reckons former opening batsman Matthew Hayden. 

Both Smith and Warner will have their performances in India closely monitored by Cricket Australia (CA) whose ban enforced over them after the ball-tampering saga culminates on March 28. 

"It's an opportunity for Warner and Smith to play some cricket," Hayden, who is commentating in IPL this year, told PTI. "Otherwise, they were not playing any cricket."

"They are going to walk into the side. Even if they have a bad IPL, they are not going to be dropped from that World Cup side. They are in the WC squad."

This year's edition of Indian Premier League is the only tournament that both Smith and Warner will play ahead of the World Cup. Australia has decided not to take them to UAE where they will have been eligible to play the last two ODIs of the ongoing five-match series against Pakistan. And hence, Hayden is expecting the veteran duo to make full use of their final game-time opportunity in India. 

"I think it (IPL) will make a huge difference," he added. "For bowlers, the workload matters. For batters, there is no such thing called workload. You just keep batting, batting and batting and that helps your game."

Looking forward to the World Cup himself, Hayden expects the conditions to be flat and unkind on bowlers in the United Kingdom. 

"The northern grounds in England will provide more difficult conditions. The wickets I believe will be very flat during the World Cup. At times, wickets should have a bit more in them," he concluded. 

(PTI Inputs)