CWC 2019 team profile: England

Cape Town - The 2019 Cricket World Cup gets under way on Thursday, May 30 when the Proteas take on England at The Oval in London. 

With the squads all confirmed and the IPL now a thing of the past, attention will move swiftly to the World Cup and South Africa's efforts to finally taste success in a tournament that has haunted them for decades. 

Sport24 will be bringing you all of the news you need to know before and during the showpiece. 

Over the next two weeks, we will be profiling all 10 of the sides competing, highlighting their chances at the competition and players to look out for.

ENGLAND

Overview

If there is one other major cricketing nation that can relate to South Africa's long history of World Cup woes, it is England. They have lost three finals and the fact that they have never been crowned champions is something that has hurt ever since the maiden tournament in 1979. This year, they have all of the ingredients to finally get it right. The pressures of playing at home will be very real, though, and the English public is always an expectant one. England have been a devastating batting side over the last two years and that is where they will look to win this tournament. 

Squad (provisional): Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Coach: Trevor Bayliss

Bookies prediction: Champions

Best WC finish: Runners-up - 1979, 1987, 1992

Batsman to watch

On paper, England have the most destructive batting line-up in the world, littered with individuals capable of winning matches by themselves. There is so much power, with the likes of Jason Roy, Jos Butler, Jonny Bairstow and skipper Eoin Morgan able to clear the ropes with ease. In Joe Root, though, England boast one of the best in the world. He may not possess the raw hitting ability of his team-mates, Root he averages over 50 in the format and still strikes at better than a run a ball more often than not. If Root provides a solid platform throughout the World Cup, he will give the rest the freedom to attack, and that is precisely what makes him so valuable.

Bowler to watch

Adil Rashid is the only England bowler ranked in the top 10 of the ICC rankings currently. The leg-spinner works in tandem with Moeen Ali, and together they will look to strangle opposition attacks. Rashid is one of the best leggies in the world right now, with his ability to strike at any time his major strength. England's bowling attack is considered one area where other sides might take advantage - they have shipped more than 300 in both of their last two ODIs - but in Rashid they have a player who can get them on the front foot quickly. 

Realistic expectation

England are expected by many to go the distance in 2019 and be crowned champions. As South Africans know all too well, however, being the favourites can count for very little when entering  major tournament. The pressure on Morgan and his men will be immense. This campaign has been four years in the making and the process began as soon as England were knocked out of the 2015 World Cup by Bangladesh in the group stages. The plans are in place, everybody is on the same page and there is no doubt that the quality is there to mount a serious challenge. Anything other than a first ever World Cup triumph will be considered a failure.  

Fixtures

May 30 v South Africa (The Oval)

June 3 v Pakistan (Nottingham)

June 8 v Bangladesh (Cardiff)

June 14 v West Indies (Southampton)

June 18 v Afghanistan (Manchester)

June 21 v Sri Lanka (Leeds)

June 25 v Australia (Lord's)

June 30 v India (Birmingham)

July 3 v New Zealand (Chester-le-Street)

Twitter: @ECB_cricket