Shane Warne thinks Australia will defend the World Cup title

Former Australia bowler and 1999 World Cup winner Shane Warne has named his pick for the winner of the ICC World Cup 2019 to be played in England and Wales. The latest edition of World Cup will begin on May 30 and five-time champions Australia will be in there defending their title.

Warne has been vocal about his support for the team from his country and has billed them as favourites to win the tournament in 2019 as well. He has his reasons for picking the Aussies as the potential six-time winners. Australia will play their first match on June 1st against Afghanistan at the County Ground in Bristol, in what will be the fourth match of the tournament.

Returns of David Warner and Steve Smith makes Australia favourites

Warne mentioned that the return of the banned duo of Steve Smith and David Warner will help the Australian team. Both the players, former captain Smith and his deputy Warner were banned for 12 months after their involvement in the ball tampering scandal in the Cape Town Test match South Africa in 2018.

Since then, Smith and Warner have kept themselves busy in T20 leagues all over the world and are recovering from elbow injuries suffered during their stints in Bangladesh Premier League. Warne expects Warner and Steve Smith, whose bans end on March 29, 2019, to walk straight into the playing XI of the Australian team.

Warne said to Fox Cricket, “Sometimes, having an enforced lay off – like I’m used to, I had 12 months off myself – what that means is you become really fresh. You freshen your mind up, you become hungry again, and realize how important cricket is to you.”

Warne feels both have a point to prove in World Cup

The spin wizard called the duo class players and said that their records spoke for themselves and that they will be hungry to score runs in international cricket and have a point to prove in the World Cup.

“Have a look at their records. Absolute class, as good as anybody in the world those two players. They’ll walk straight back in, they’ll be hungry. They’ll be a bit nervous in the first few games, but that’ll be good for them. They’ll be excited, and I would expect them to play as good as they always have. That’s why I reckon Australia can win the World Cup,” Warnie further said.

Other favorites to win the World Cup

Apart from his home team of Australia, Shane Warne also named hosts England and no.2 ranked ODI side India the most likely to win the 2019 World Cup. He also tipped neighbouring New Zealand side to be the dark horses in the tournament. He mentioned that New Zealand have always done well in World Cups and one can only write them off on their own risk. But he felt only England and India are the two favourites going into the tournament.

“But New Zealand will be fine. They’ve got good enough players to get the right balance in their team. They just go under the radar a bit. Everyone talks about other teams but New Zealand always do well,” signed off Warne.

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