World Cup 2019: India in one of Shane Warne’s semifinalists picks

Nine of the ten teams participating in the World Cup have already started their campaigns in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Tuesday, 5th June, is the day India make their entry into the World Cup and that’s the start of the real competition between the top 10 teams. The two time World Cup champions Indian team is being deemed as favourites by many Cricket experts. Meanwhile, Former Australia great Shane Warne has shared his choices for the semifinalists of this tournament.

The legendary spinner has backed England, Australia, India and West Indies to clear the preliminary competition and make it to the knockout stage of the World Cup. So far in the contest, that commenced on May 30, England has one out of two games as Pakistan pulled a shocker to defeat them, Sri Lanka is on 1-1 too. West Indies(leading the table), New Zealand, Bangladesh, Australia have played one and won. South Africa and Afghanistan have lost both. 

Among Warne’s picks, the three teams barring India started their campaigns with big victories. England defeated South Africa by 104 runs but suffered a shocking 14-loss against Pakistan in their second game. Meanwhile, West Indies are in top form and had thrashed Pakistan by 7 wickets in their tournament opener.

Australia has so far only clashed with Afghanistan and handed them a 7 wicket defeat. All in all, the four picks by Shane Warne have done well in their first game. And when India meet South Africa in their campaign opener, they will now eye a similar start in Rose bowl Southampton.

To quote Warne: “England look like clear favourites and will be very hard to touch in this World Cup. ‘India and Australia are the only two teams that come close to them on a regular basis really. West Indies will sneak in. It will be England, India, Australia and West Indies [in the semi-finals],” Warne said.

Warne picks his Man of the Tournament

Meanwhile, Warne has also picked his top choice for the Player of the Tournament title. The World Cup-winning spinner has backed the left-handed opening batsman David Warner as one of the top contenders for the Man of the Tournament award.“I have tipped David Warner to be the Player of the Tournament. He’s got so much to prove and he looked good the other day [in Australia’s win over Afghanistan],” said Warne.

Besides Warner, Shane Warne has also picked Pat Cummins, Jos Buttler and Andre Russell as the players who are set to impress in the World Cup. “Pat Cummins has taken his game to another level and Jos Buttler, who doesn’t love watching him play? And you can’t forget about Andre Russell,” he concluded.