5 teams who can win the 2019 World Cup

The 2019 Cricket World Cup is one of the most awaited sports events in the near future. The tournament will commence on 30th May 2019 and ten teams will compete with each other to win the coveted title.

Only five teams - West Indies, India, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been able to win the tournament, since its introduction back in 1975. However, this edition of World Cup is taking place in England and there should be a tough competition between the bat and ball. With the focus primarily on finding out the best combination of the eleven to represent their sides, all the competing teams have already started to prepare for the event.

Here are the top five teams with the best chances of winning the 2019 World Cup.

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#5 Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan's team is currently one of the most balanced ODI outfits in the world. Moreover, they defeated India comprehensively in the ICC Champions Trophy Final to lift the cup and prove their prowess. Playing in England also makes them one of the strong contenders for the 2019 World Cup.

The English pitches will suit the pace bowling of Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi. The presence of Shoaib Malik and the captain Sarfaraz in the middle-order will also assure stability in the batting department. Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim have been very impressive with their spin bowling.

#4 South Africa

South Africa

The South African cricket team has produced legends like Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald but has failed to emerge as a champion in the World Cup. They never lacked any attribute to be a successful side and played the highest grade of cricket in all three formats.

The 2019 World Cup is an opportunity for the Proteas to register themselves as a champion side. The batting order consisting of Hashim Amla, Aiden Markaram, Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy has the potential to destruct any bowling unit. The South African pace bowlers like Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Chris Morris will enjoy bowling in English conditions.

#3 Australia

Australia

Australia are the defending champions and the side which has won the prestigious tournament on five occasions. Though the Australian team is currently going through an awful phase, they still are one of the top teams to win the tournament.

The bowling unit comprising of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins can blow away any batting unit on English pitches. Moreover, the return of Steven Smith and David Warner will enhance the batting unit which has struggled recently across the globe.

#2 India

Team India

Currently, India is arguably the most balanced side in the limited overs formats. The recently concluded Asia Cup and the West Indies series depict why the Men in Blue are one of the strong contenders for the 2019 World Cup.

India's batting unit comprising of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and skipper Virat Kohli is certainly one of the very best in the world. Moreover, the two wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have shown great potential as match-winners in white-ball cricket.

The pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and all-rounder Hardik Pandya also looks very promising. The experience of winning consistently in the white-ball formats also forms an added advantage to the team.

#1 England

England

England have never won the 50-overs World Cup. Despite featuring reasonably solid teams in all the ten editions of tournament, they have never managed to lift the coveted trophy. The current form of Eoin Morgan's team has been phenomenal and it is evident from the fact that they are the top ranked team in ODIs.

England possess exceptional depth in batting and can chase almost any score in the limited over formats. The skipper Morgan is in sublime form along with Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler. They also have the extra advantage of playing in home conditions and thus are the strongest contender for winning the 2019 World Cup.