Sunil Gavaskar tips England for World Cup glory

Batting great Sunil Gavaskar says Eoin Morgan’s England will be the team to beat at the World Cup, with home advantage giving them a vital edge over his native India. Top-ranked England recently outplayed Pakistan 4-0 in a oneday series to underline their supremacy in the 50-over format.

The home side, who have never won one-day cricket’s biggest prize despite making three finals, in 1979, 1987 and 1992, open their campaign against South Africa today. “England, not India, are the favourites for this World Cup,” Gavaskar told AFP. “They have been playing outstanding cricket over the last few years and in familiar home conditions will be hard to beat,” said the former India captain.

Home advantage has been a big factor in recent editions of the showpiece event, with hosts India winning the 2011 trophy and Australia emerging victorious in Melbourne in 2015. Since the start of 2018 England, who switched to a more aggressive brand of cricket after a humiliating first-round exit four years ago, have come out on top against Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India.