Sunil Gavaskar explains why England will be favourites at 2019 World Cup

The biggest cricket extravaganza is going to kick off on May 30 at The Oval. After a gap of four years, Cricket World Cup returns with hosts England facing off South Africa in the opening match. All the cricketing nations are hoping for their teams to rise to the top of the world in the gentleman’s game. And all the former cricketers and fans have already started picking their favourites for the showpiece event in May.

Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar has also revealed his favourite for the quadrennial tournament. Gavaskar believes England will the favourite to win the title during the summer on home soil in July after transforming their one-day international side since their shock exit from the 2015 World Cup.

“England are the favourites. Simply because of the way they are playing cricket, the complete turnaround in their cricketing attitude and approach after their disastrous 2015 World Cup,” Gavaskar told Reuters in an interview.

“England have got a very good team, they have got lots of confidence. You have seen them in all the recent matches and they have been playing outstanding cricket.”

England led by Eoin Morgan are on top of the ICC rankings and enter the tournament as one of the most consistent teams in the format. They have been in imperious form with their fearless brand of cricket. England have emerged victorious in bilateral ODI series against World Cup holders Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India since the start of 2018. England play their first match of the World Cup against South Africa at The Oval on May 30.

Another reason why Gavaskar reckons England are favourites is because home advantage would be crucial in 2019 after Australia won as hosts in 2015 and India did the same four years earlier.

“If you go by what has happened in the last couple of World Cups, the host team has won,” he added.

“But, of course, in cricket anything can happen. While England start the favourites, there are other teams which are also playing some good cricket.”