Veteran England pace bowler Stuart Broad said that Team India will be the favourites for the World Cup this year, while he also added that England will find it tough to defend the title due to their hectic travel schedule during the tournament as well. Both teams are in good form, with India winning the Asia Cup and the ODI series against Australia whereas England beat New Zealand in a four-match ODI series recently as well.
“If England manage to retain their World Cup title, it will be a phenomenal effort but my overriding feeling is that if India play their perfect tournament, they are going to be very difficult to stop. Jos Buttler certainly has the team to challenge, one with the ability to post high totals, but I just think India, as hosts and the top-ranked ODI side, will be a hugely difficult proposition to get past. Recent history shows you that home teams tend to prosper in 50-over World Cups: it was in India in 2011, and India won; the final was in Australia in 2015, Australia won the trophy; England won in 2019. So, on that basis alone, India would have to be huge favourites. Then take into account that they’re playing pretty decent cricket, and their key fast bowling star Jasprit Bumrah is coming back to full fitness,” said Stuart Broad.
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Meanwhile, Stuart Broad also said that England’s schedule during the tournament will be nine round-robin matches in eight different venues as well. He also feels England would be distraught if they failed to reach the semis and final of the tournament as well.
“Contrast to England. Without sounding like I am giving them excuses, they have got a pretty tough draw, to be honest. They do not play two games in the same location, instead travelling from city to city. Others have the luxury of being able to book in somewhere for a week and play two games. They do not. But the fact every team plays everyone else in the round robin stage means England would be absolutely distraught not to make the semis and final,” concluded Stuart Broad.
