Cricket World Cup Predictions: Who will stand where at the end?

The wait will finally be over in less than a week as England take on South Africa in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup opener at The Oval on 30 May. Unlike the last few editions, this will be a 10-team round robin format where all the teams play against each other and the top four will qualify for the semifinals.

The hosts are clear favourites going into the tournament. However, India and Australia have an equally strong squad at their disposal. This is expected to be a closely fought World Cup and no team can be taken lightly.

Without much ado, let’s have a look at where each team will stand at the end of the league stage.

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#10 Afghanistan

Scotland v Afghanistan - One Day International

Despite being the lowest ranked team in the tournament, Afghanistan have the ability to spring a surprise or two. They have a good bowling attack and a decent batting lineup to challenge any team in the tournament. Gulbadin Naib was appointed as the captain just weeks before the tournament, and it hasn’t gone down well with some of the players in the squad. Expect them to put up a fight but Afghanistan may have to contend with a 10th place finish.

#9 Sri Lanka

Scotland v Sri Lanka - One Day International

Sri Lanka has done well in the previous tournaments but this World Cup is a lot different for the ‘Islanders’. Sri Lankan cricket is going through a bad phase at the moment and apart from the Test series win in South Africa, they struggled in every series they have played in the past year. Dimuth Karunaratne, who last played an ODI game in the 2015 World Cup, will lead the side, which lacks match-winners and also experience. They have won only one ODI out of the nine played in 2019.

#8 Bangladesh

New Zealand v Bangladesh - ODI Game 3

Led by Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh has a good mix of youth and experience in their squad. The likes of Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mustafizur Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mahmudullah will bring the much-needed experience while Saifuddin, Liton Das, and Mosaddek add the youthful exuberance. However, they have always struggled at the key moments in the past. Also, playing away from sub-continent conditions is not their strength.

#7 West Indies

Australia v West Indies – One Day International

Though they have done well in the T20Is, West Indies struggled when it comes to the 50-over format. Consistency seems to be the biggest problem for the Caribbean outfit. However, the return of Chris Gayle and Andre Russell strengthens the squad. They have a good batting lineup with the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, and Nicholas Pooran. Though they have quite a few match-winners in their squad, they rarely fire in unison. Expect them to cause an upset or two.

#6 Pakistan

England v Pakistan - 5th Royal London ODI

Pakistan played a lot of ODI cricket recently and tried various combinations in the batting and bowling department. Their batting revolves around Babar Azam but the likes of Mohammed Hafeez and Shoaib Malik need to step up if Pakistan are to put up a fight in the tournament. They have a good pace attack, well supported by Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan. Despite a decent squad, Pakistan have won only two of their 15 ODI games in 2019. They need to improve drastically to fight for a semi-final spot.

#5 South Africa

South Africa v Sri Lanka- One Day International

The Proteas go into the tournament with a less fancy squad than they have been used to in the previous editions of the tournament. The retirement of AB de Villiers has left a huge gap in their middle order. A lot depends on the likes of Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Imran Tahir, and Kagiso Rabada. Their middle order seems to be their weak link and they haven’t played a lot of ODI cricket away from home in the past few months.

#4 New Zealand

New Zealand v Bangladesh - ODI Game 3

Last editions finalists are definitely a team to watch out for in the tournament. The Kiwis, led by Kane Williamson, have a balanced squad. They have a solid batting lineup with the likes of Martin Guptill, Williamson, Ross Taylor, and Tom Latham while their bowling too seems to be doing well, with Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson leading the bowling attack. The Kiwis haven’t won the tournament in the past and this is their best chance to rewrite history books as they have every chance to finish in the top-four and contest in the semifinals.

#3 Australia

Australia v West Indies – One Day International

Despite a horrible 2018, the Aussies seem to have turned around their fortunes in the past few months. They have won the One Day International series in India and also beat Pakistan in UAE. The return of David Warner and Steve Smith will most certainly strengthen the squad. The likes of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, and Adam Zampa make their bowling attack deadly. They have hit form at the right moment and definitely one of the title contenders.

#2 India

India v Australia - ODI Series: Game 5

Virat Kohli & Co. go into the tournament as one of the top favorites. India have arguably the best top order with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli. However, the middle order has caused a lot of trouble for Kohli and a lot of questions are yet to be answered. India have a good pace attack, led by the World No.1 bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal provide the much-needed variety. Anything less than a top-four finish is a huge disappointment for Team India.

#1 England

England v Pakistan - 5th Royal London ODI

The home team are a clear favorite to win their first World Cup title. They possess the most destructive batting lineup in the tournament with the likes of Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, and Ben Stokes. They have a good set of all-rounders and the pace of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer will certainly make a lot of difference for England. They have played some consistent and aggressive cricket over the past couple of years and have lost only two of their 11 games in 2019.