ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Qualifiers
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We’re starting to get very excited here at Expat Sport about next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. As the event draws nearer we’ll be profiling the teams, players, venues and host countries giving you all the information you need to get the most out of this global festival of cricket. In this post we’re taking a closer look at the qualification rounds, who’s in, who’s out, and who should have been booking their place at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
What’s new?
In a substantial change to previous tournaments the number of teams eligible to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 has dropped from 12 to just 10. This has been a contentious move with many seeing it as a re-closing of the ranks of the cricketing elite nations at the expense of the Associate Nations, while the ICC insist it is simply designed to ensure the highest quality games throughout the tournament.
The format is a straightforward one: teams qualify to be one of ten in the tournament, with each team then playing the other 9 on a round robin basis, therefore nine matches per side at the group stage. The highest ranking 4 teams from the group stage then progress through to the knockout stages with semi-finals being played at Trent Bridge and Old Trafford and the final – on 14th July – being played at the home of cricket; Lord’s. So 45 games at the group stage, two semi-finals and a major final add up to cricketing feast.
Who’s in?
The cricketing great and the good had, by and large, already booked their places to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 by last autumn. By virtue of their host status, England get an automatic qualification place but would have easily qualified by ICC ranking otherwise. Hot on their heels coming to the party are the 7 top ranked ICC One Day teams as of September 2017. So the first 8 places, in alphabetical order, are:
● Australia
● Bangladesh
● England (automatic qualification as host)
● India
● New Zealand
● Pakistan
● South Africa
● Sri Lanka
Who’s in by the skin of their teeth and who’s out?
This is where it gets more interesting…With only 2 places remaining to make up the 10 finalists of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, a World Cup Qualifier tournament was held in Zimbabwe in March 2018. Notable absentees from the top 8 qualification places included the once mighty West Indies and rising teams such as Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan, UAE and hosts Zimbabwe. Not to mention spirited minnows such as the Netherlands, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong.
After a keenly contested tournament the West Indies qualified 9th and after Zimbabwe dramatically lost their final match against an in-form UAE, Afghanistan clinched the tenth and final spot at next year’s World Cup hosted in the UK.
It is the first time since 2007 that Ireland has missed out on World Cup qualification and the first time ever no Associate Nation has made it to the tournament.
So the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 finalists are:
● Afghanistan – With an ODI win ratio bettering any other nation this year, Afghanistan can boast of 8 victories from 12 matches in 2018 making them the hardest working of all the teams that qualified. 10th in the ICC ODI rankings they may just cause a few surprises next year.
● Australia – Beleaguered by the recent ball tampering controversy and the subsequent banning of their captain and talisman Steve Smith as well as vice captain David Warner and newcomer Cameron Bancroft. They will have a point to prove and a reputation to rebuild.
● Bangladesh – Outsiders for the tournament title but currently 7th in ICC ODI rankings they can beat most on their day.
● England – One of the favourites as host nation and with a successful 2017 ODI season behind them including an emphatic series victory over Australia, they are currently ranked 3rd in ODIs.
● India – Firm favourites and always in contention they are currently the No.1 ranked ODI team in the World and difficult to look past for the title.
● New Zealand – Consistently punching above their weight, having a very small pool of players to choose from, the Black Caps are beaten ICC World Cup finalists in 2015 and are currently ranked 4th in the World.
● Pakistan – Currently ranked 6th in ODIs, Pakistan have had a woeful 2017 losing all their 5 matches this year. Hopefully they can turn things around in 2018 and come to the tournament with some fire in their belly.
● South Africa – A team to be feared for sure. Ranked No.2 in the world they are consistently there or thereabouts in tournament cricket although their test form has been better than its ODI equivalent of late.
● Sri Lanka – Another tournament team, Sri Lanka had a steady season this year, winning three and losing 2 ODI’s. Last won the World Cup in 1996, runners up in 2007 & 2011, and currently ranked 8th.
● West Indies – There are glimpses of brilliance in amongst the problem beset Caribbean team. If they can sort out their game’s politics they just might bring their Calypso game next year. For the tournament’s sake, let’s hope so.
So after 2 years of the cut and thrust of ICC Cricket World Cup qualifying, we now know which teams will be represented at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 to be held in the UK. With few real surprises in qualification this promises to be a high quality and very entertaining tournament. Let’s see what the 2018 season brings by way of twists and turns as these ten teams make their final preparations and team selections before next year’s party begins.
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