TEAM GUIDE: ENGLAND

THE HOST NATION EXPECTS...

Widely-fancied to end their long wait for a major international 50-over trophy, the hosts are blessed with tremendous hitting power at the top of the order and real variety with the ball. Watch out for the explosive opening pair of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, the inimitable talent of Jos Buttler and the spin threat of Adil Rashid...

THE RUNAWAY TRAIN

England have been nigh-on unstoppable in the build-up to the World Cup to date, doing away with most opponents - often with tremendous ease.

While they came apart in shock fashion at the hands of Scotland in summer 2018, Eoin Morgan's team have brushed aside everyone else.

Australia were hammered 5-0 on home turf just months after being beaten at home, and Sri Lanka did not put up much of  a fight in October.

PRE-WC 2019 RESULTS (most recent first): WW-WLW-LWW

ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID

England's relationship with major 50-over tournaments has been one of constant disappointment.

The country has never celebrated a World Cup win, nor victory in the Champions Trophy for that matter, and it is now well overdue. 

Having hosted the competition more times than any other nation (four times prior to this year's event) and they have reached the final on three occasions (1979, 1987 and 1992) but never gone all the way.

In fact, their World Cup campaigns have been more regularly associated with shock and/or substantial defeats. 

WORLD CUP RECORD

1975: Semi-final

1979: Runner-up

1983: Semi-final

1987: Runner-up

1992: Runner-up

1996: Quarter-final

1999: Group stage

2003: Group stage

2007: Super 8

2011: Quarter-final

2015: Group stage