If host England ‘manages’ to pull off a maiden World Cup win on home turf, then a couple of things will follow like poetry in motion.
For starters, a few players will likely be knighted and heading that list will be the Irishman responsible for England’s white ball turn around, Eoin Morgan. Secondly, Britain’s parliament for a short period of time, wouldn’t be consumed with the new Prime minister’s role in BREXIT.
And, let’s be honest, the scenes mentioned above make for a remarkable painting.
But can England really do it?
As a keen cricket follower, I really do think they can; England is playing a fearlessly, successful brand of cricket that I don’t think English teams to come can emulate.
Currently ranked world number one, England’s batting department has been the cornerstone of their success. England since the 2015 World Cup where they exited embarrassingly at the group stages has since reversed their fortunes. Morgan’s men successes have largely been centered around consistently recording 300 plus scores, essentially making it the new norm.
The men responsible for England’s batting success are Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, and the exiled Alex Hales who have combined for opening stands which have plundered the opposition’s new ball while Joe Root the stabilizer holds the innings together. That sets the stage for an onslaught from Jos Buttler who’s leading the pack with reputation and with numbers, Morgan, Ben Stokes and the rest of the lower order which includes Moeen Ali.
The bowling, on the other hand, is a little less glamorous. However, if they are to walk away as title holders at the end of it all, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid and Ali will all have come to the fore.
In the end, England’s success will also depend squarely on how they manage that weight of expectation that India and Australia – the last two World Cup winners in 2011 and 2015 respectively did at home. The way England pace themselves is also important in such a tournament. And finally, the way they respond to World Cup failures and the wittiness of the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Guardian will either dent their ambitions or birth the kind of resolve need to win a world title.
Morgan’s men nonetheless, are the clear favourites heading into the ICC 50 Overs showpiece event and it’s their World Cup to lose. They begin their campaign on Thursday in the tournament’s curtain raiser against South Africa.
England has been runners up at the event on three occasions, in 1979, 1987 and 1992.
