It would take a brave person to pick one winner in the 2019 World Cup at this stage, but equally, only a foolish one would look away from the fact that this could be the most exciting tournament played yet.
To kick things off, the very format for this World Cup allows for excitement. While there has been some condemnation of the fact that the tournament will be less inclusive than some of the previous editions — in terms of fewer teams competing — there are likely to be more competitive games than ever before.
The teams that should be the easiest to beat, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, are no longer slouches in any department, and when they beat even the No. 1 team in the world, it is no longer much of an upset. With every team playing each other in the first round, there is not just a chance for all to stake a claim for a spot in the final four, there is also room for crests and troughs, for recoveries, and for the strongest teams to rise to the top over a period of sustained quality.
It’s also a welcome thing that the home team is also the favourite. For long, cricket has been strongly supported in England, across formats, but their white-ball cricket has left much to be desired. While the Ashes may be the pinnacle of the game for English fans, the World Cup is no longer an irrelevance. The fact that England has failed to win the World Cup in all their attempts will have little or no bearing on this team. England has strong, aggressive batsmen who will go at the opposition for the entirety of 50 overs, something teams of the past lacked, and they are no longer diffident or sticking to the outdated formula of keeping wickets in hand for a thrash at the death. They have allrounders who more than hold their own with either bat or ball, and the bowling to exploit what little help the atmospheric conditions may allow.
Bu hikaye Man's World dergisinin June 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Man's World dergisinin June 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Is Wearing Make-Up Normal For A Man?
The male beauty industry is expanding, however what do men in beauty need to do to destigmatise it?
Achieving Your Fitness Goals
Rohit Kamble
VIJAY VARMA
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE RED HERRING
How Football Is Finding Its Voice
As the Indian Super League celebrates its tenth anniversary, we understand how the fandom in Indian football has become more vocal and organised, with some clubs also seeing the rise of Ultras groups
Through The Looking Glass
Where does the AR tech in India stand today? We try to find out after spending a few weeks with the Rokid AR Joy
Zaeden Your New 5-am friend
The singer-songwriter who is a popular name in the independent music scene, has recently dropped his highly-anticipated EP 5 am. The dance pop delves into the poignant theme of long-distance relationships, is a charming piece that is already climbing the charts
THE MACALLAN M 2023 LAUNCHES IN INDIA, REDEFINING LUXURY IN SPIRITS
With limited 10 handpicked bottles gracing the shores of India, The Macallan M 2023 stands as the pinnacle of exclusivity
American artist Grant Garmezy's magic of glassblowing
From fire to form, he takes us through one of the most exciting, adrenaline-pumping crafts out there
Haute Couture On Four-Wheels
It takes a village to build the world's (allegedly) most expensive.
Riding India's Electric Two-Wheeler Wave
India's electric two-wheeler market is booming with over 640,000 units sold by December 2023, despite consumer apprehensions and the call for better infrastructure