Legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne reckons that the hosts England and Team India are the two hot favorites for the ICC World Cup 2019. However, despite their struggles in ODI in the last couple of years, Warne hasn’t ruled out Australia from successfully defending the title which they won at home in 2015.
In last one year or so, the Australian team has lost four straight ODI series starting January 2018 that include back-to-back defeats to England (home and away), South Africa (home), India (home). However, their fortunes are expected to take a turn as the return of two of their premier batsmen in Steven Smith and David Warner will be happening soon and the Aussies will be looking forward to extending their world-cup winning tally to six.
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Taking to Twitter, expressing his opinion, Warne wrote, “As I’m putting my #worldcup squad together for my column, I really believe Aust can win it again. As we have the players for the conditions, match winners etc. I think England & India go in as hot favorites, but if the selectors play their part – then the Aussies can 100% win.”
As I’m putting my #worldcup squad together for my column, I really believe Aust can win it again. As we have the players for the conditions, match winners etc. I think England & India go in as hot favourites, but if the selectors play their part – then the Aussies can 100% win !
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) February 5, 2019
Meanwhile, Smith’s manager has expressed the concerns surrounding his much-awaited return saying the former captain will be part of Australia’s world cup squad. His clarifications came after several reports emerge of Cricket Australia unwilling to risk Smith for the quadrennial tournament on account of an elbow injury.
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Describing the same, the Australian coach, Justin Langer said, “We’ve got to keep working on how they are with their elbows, first. They’re going to need to get some cricket before coming back into the squad. [Re-integration] has been going on for some time now. We know it’s been a tough time for them, it’s been a tough time for Australian cricket, but we know the word integration has been going for the last nine or ten months, or eleven, it’s getting closer isn’t it. Two great players who on paper we’d be crazy not to have them in the team. It’s about how much cricket they get to play between now and then. They’ll find opportunities. We’ll find opportunities, but I can’t say anything else.”
