In 2019 the 12th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup will be held in England and Wales. Ten teams – England, Australia, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and the West Indies, will compete for the chance to be crowned the best one-day international cricket nation. This will be the fifth time England and Wales have hosted the competition following the 1975, 1979, 1983, and 1999 World Cups.

Each nation will enter this years’ tournament hoping to write their name in the history books. 1996 is the last year a country besides Australia or India has won the ICC Cricket World Cup when Sri Lanka beat the Australians in the final but could the stage be set for a new champion of one day international cricket? This year all the ten nations will go into one group, with all teams faciing each other. The top four teams from the group will continue to the knockout stage going into the semi-final where first will play fourth, and second will play third. The winners from these two games will play each other at Lord’s to determine who will go home with the trophy.

On 30th May 2019 the tournament will begin when hosts England take on South Africa at The Oval (15:00 (IST)) with both teams looking to win their first ICC Cricket World Cup. Five-time champions India also start their campaign against South Africa on the 5th of June (15:00 (IST)) at the Rose Bowl. Another game that is worth attention will be played four days later on the 9th of June (15:00 (IST)) when India take on current champions Australia at The Oval. Save the 16th of June (15:00 (IST)) as well, when the world will tune in to watch India take on Pakistan at Old Trafford. England will be once again be tested on the 25th of June (15:00 (IST)) when they take on Australia at the “Home of Cricket” when Lord’s host one of the most notable matchups in cricket. The two favourites to win the competition England and India will go head-to-head on the 30th of June (15:00 (IST)) at Edgbaston which is sure to be an uphill battle for both nations. The final game of the group will be on the 6th of July (18:00 (IST)) when Australia play South Africa which will bring back haunting memories for the Australians who got caught ball tampering against the African nation earlier in 2018. The semi-finals will take place on the 9th and 11th of July, with these games being played at Old Trafford and Edgbaston before the final is held at Lord’s on the 14th (15:00 (IST)).

India and England are definitely the favourites to win the competition with both teams having 5/2 odds to take hhe trophy home. Both nations should be expected to win a majority of their group games during the tournament. Australia (11/2) and South Africa (13/2) are the next two nations with the lowest odds so this would suggest that they could make the semi-final this coming summer. Afghanistan have the highest odds of winning the ICC Cricket World Cup with their odds standing at 125/1 but can Rashid Khan spark an upset? New Zealand who are third in the ICC one day international world rankings and lost out to Australia in the final back in 2015 will be coming into the competition looking to win the tournament for the first time but with 10/1 odds it could be a challenge for the Kiwis. Only time will tell.