England is the favorites to win the ICC World Cup 2019 given that they are the hosts and their familiarity with the conditions. Their form has been amazing with 4-0 ODI win over Pakistan recently and they look poised for doing well in the main tournament as well.
England is currently playing Australia in the warm-up match and has already suffered an injury scare with Eoin Morgan, their captain was hit on his finger and missed this encounter. They are also missing leg-spinner Adil Rashid, whose long-standing shoulder injury flared up again.
And now their woes have worsened as two of their fastest bowlers in Mark Wood and Jofra Archer were obliged to leave the pitch within minutes of one another in the opening hour of the warm-up match against Australia in Southampton.
Wood was first to go off after he pulled up while bowling just one ball of his 4th over and indicated that he had an issue with his calf. Just two balls later Archer, a surprising choice as a substitute fielder for Wood, slid as he attempted to stop a ball on the midwicket boundary and appeared to sustain an injury. He left the pitch moments later.
This also saw Paul Collingwood, one of England's assistant coaches, was forced to come onto the field as a substitute fielder. Collingwood, 43, had just retired from the game at the end of 2018 season. The England camp also clarified that Chris Woakes, expected to open the bowling in the main draw, was playing as a specialist batsman, with the team managing his knee problems.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
