Cricket World Cup 2019: I think the bowlers will win it – Proteas skipper

Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis believes that team that bowls the best will win the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

Du Plessis said his squad were excited to play a Cricket World Cup in a new format. The new format is similar to the one deployed in the 1992 World Cup, the difference being there are ten teams in the open round-robin stage as opposed to the nine who competed 27 years ago. The skipper is hoping to become the first man to lead the Proteas to a World Cup crown, after four semi-final defeats.

Speaking at the Captain’s media day Du Plessis said: “We are all really excited to try out this new tournament, to play every once I think is great.

“The way we use our resources will be vital, but every team has X-factor bowlers that will have a big say in the successes of the side.

“I think the bowlers will win it, the teams still in it towards the end of the tournament will be the teams that have done really well with the ball.”

Proteas batsman Hashim Amla feels there is less pressure on the side ahead of this tournament than their has been in the past.

“This year, you don’t see the same big names and that is why the focus is not on us but that has some good in it. There has not been much chat about us winning in comparison to the past,” Amla told ICC-Cricket.com.

“The fact there has not been a lot of chat at this World Cup means there is less expectation but in the team we think we can do well.”

England skipper Eoin Morgan downplayed his side’s favourite’s tag, saying he expected a close and competitive tournament.

“I don’t think anyone is head and shoulders above anyone else,” Morgan said.

“These are the ten best teams in the world, it will be extraordinarily competitive and some quality cricket will be played so we are really looking forward to it.

“Every captain sitting here would lose their left leg to play in a World Cup final at the home of cricket. It’s something every one of us would have dreamed of as a kid.

“We are as best prepared as we can be. We just want to play that first game now.”

That first game will be between England and the Proteas at the Oval on 30 May.

Proteas Cricket World Cup squad

Faf du Plessis (c), Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, JP Duminy, David Miller, Dale Steyn, Andile Phehlukwayo, Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Hashim Amla, Tabraiz Shamsi, Chris Morris.

Proteas Cricket World Cup fixtures

30 May v England, The Oval 
2 June v Bangladesh, The Oval
5 June v India, Rose Bowl
10 June v West Indies, Rose Bowl
15 June v Afghanistan, Sophia Gardens
19 June v New Zealand, Edgbaston
23 June v Pakistan, Lord’s
28 June v Sri Lanka, Chester-le-Street
6 July v Australia, Old Trafford