Morris: Proteas have opportunity to create CWC history

Cape Town - The Proteas will go face to face with England in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 opener at The Oval after their schedule of matches in the May 30 to July 14 tournament was confirmed on Thursday.

READ: Proteas' CWC draw: The pros and cons

Proteas all-rounder Chris Morris revealed that he would love to feature in the next year's Cricket World Cup and be a part of, what could be, a historic event for South Africa.

Looking ahead, Morris said: "World Cup is a massive thing to every sportsman, not just to a cricket player. It is the pinnacle of a sportsman's career. 

"To be able to give yourself an opportunity to win a World Cup for your country, is an amazing journey to be a part of. It is not just a six-month journey, but a four-year journey building up to the tournament. 

"As a South African, you have the opportunity to create history as a cricketer and do something that no other cricketer has done."

The Proteas have not won a ICC event since the 1998 KnockOut Trophy (now known as the ICC Champions Trophy).

Morris believes that next year's tournament will one of the most open events in recent years.

"It is probably the most open World Cup, it depends what teams are peaking at the right time, but there is always an upset at a World Cup and you will always remember them," said Morris, who has scored 393 runs and taken 35 wickets in 34 ODIs to date.

"One individual can take a game of cricket away on the day, it will be very interesting to play against teams that some guys have not played against and new players that have never been seen coming onto the big stage, so it is exciting for all those involved," he said.

South Africa's schedule of World Cup matches:

30 May - v England, The Oval (d)

2 June - v Bangladesh, The Oval (d)

5 June - v India,  Hampshire Bowl (d)

10 June - v Windies,  Hampshire Bowl (d)

15 June - v Afghanistan, Cardiff Wales Stadium (d/n)

19 June - v New Zealand, Edgbaston (d)

23 June - v Pakistan, Lord’s (d)

28 June - v Sri Lanka, The Riverside (d)

6 July - v Australia, Old Trafford (d/n)

South Africa at the ICC Cricket World Cups:

- South Africa have a success percentage of 63.63, having won 35 out of 55 matches with two tied matches

- South Africa reached the semi-finals of the 1992, 1999, 2007 and 2015 events

- South Africa reached the quarter-finals of the 1996 and 2011 tournaments, but failed to qualify for the Super Six stage in the home event in 2003