Sir Alastair Cook, former England captain, on Tuesday, picked his national side as red-hot favorites for the upcoming 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, saying the hosts have an outstanding chance to lift their maiden World Cup title on home soil later this year.

Cook further went on to claim that the current English set-up is the stronger than the past, saying the hosts have a very settled squad going into the showpiece 50-over event for the first time that makes them favorites for the title among other top contenders.

Eoin Morgan-led England Cricket Team is currently the top-ranked side and enters the 2019 World Cup as one of the most consistent teams in the format, while their home record has been fantastic since their heartbreaking group-stage ouster from the 2015 World Cup, having won 30 of their 42 ODIs with only nine losses. And Cook believes that Morgan and his troops have a great opportunity to make history on home soil by winning their maiden World Cup title this time.

Cook told Sky Sports on Wednesday, “England have an outstanding chance. This is the first time going into a World Cup England have such a settled squad. Everything looks great from the outside, they have every option covered.”

Meanwhile, England failed to cope with the pressure of raised expectations at the 2017 Champions Trophy, losing to eventual winners, Pakistan in the semi-finals and former Test skipper feels such slips are positive for as that makes a team mentally stronger.

He added, “They had that blip in the (2017) Champions Trophy, where they lost in the semi-final to Pakistan when they were favorites, but you need those lows to be able to grow as a side.”

Cook signed off by saying, “They are favorites. This is a great opportunity for Eoin (Morgan) and the guys to play some fantastic cricket. There are match winners throughout the squad, there are batsmen that can win games on their own, and over the last six or eight months the bowling has really come on. I think they are going to win it.”

(With Sky Sports inputs)