He said what? McGrath touts England as CWC favourites

Cape Town - Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath has touted hosts England as the favourites to lift the upcoming World Cup.

McGrath, who retired from one-day cricket in 2007 after lifting the World Cup three consecutive times, believes England are in the driving seat based on the regularity with which they post big totals.

"England, a very good one-day unit. To me, they are the favourites going into this World Cup, so I think they'll do very well," McGrath was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

"Probably! I can't remain biased my whole life. You've got to go on current form. The England team - the way they go about it, they have impressed me. They have scored some big, big totals.

"Most teams used to go hard in the first 15 and the last 15 and consolidate in the middle. But teams like England, India are just going hard the whole 50 overs, and that's the impact T20 cricket has had. So yeah, I don't think I've ever said 'England are the team to beat' or the 'favourites'," he added.

McGrath, who is now the director of cricket at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, however, thinks that Australia and India will push the hosts all the way.

"I didn't say they (England) were going to win the World Cup though! So they are the favourites and are going to be tough to beat in their own conditions, but fingers crossed, Australia can do well," he said.

"The two standouts to me were India and England, with fingers crossed, Australia doing well."